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CAIRNS, son of Thomas and Elisabeth (White) Cairns, was born in Perthshire, Scotland,
November 22, 1833. His family moved to this country in 1853, and settled in Delaware
County, New York, and there his parents lie buried.
Our classmate prepared for college at Walton Academy, Walton, New York. He
entered our Class at its formation and completed his course with us. I cannot find that
Cairns while in college was identified with more than one of the voluntary societies. He was
a member of Mills Society.
After graduation our classmate spent two years in teaching school and studying theology.
He was ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1865, and has spent his life
in the pastorate of that denomination, largely in the southern and western sections of the
state of New York. He has been pastor at Whitney's Point, Moreland, etc. After writing of his family, Cairns reports concerning himself: "As for myself, would
say that I have been in the ministry (Presbyterian) since 1865, but am now about laying off
the harness, on account, mainly, of age. During these years, I have tried in my poor way
to exalt the cross of the dear Master, Jesus. Blessed be his holy Name, forever and ever.
Amen! John Cairns."
We all remember the excitement that stirred our Class at its last meeting, in Griffin
Hall, when every man had something to say, and was bound to make confession of aught
that the Class was entitled to know, as Cairns, our oldest, most steady and proper member,
whose deportment mark must have been "Ten," term in and term out, through the years,
told us with a calm, unshaken voice that he was a married man! It was even so, and he was
nigh to being a father at that very moment. Quod est demonstrandum. Cairns married, in
November, 1862, Miss Magdalene Hardie, daughter of Mr. Hardie, whose farm adjoined
the Cairns homestead. There have been four children, two sons and two daughters.
1. Thomas C., born August, 1863; a graduate of Hamilton College, Clinton, New York.
In business in Alabama and Salt Lake City, Utah; married Miss Mae Gilmore, Wellington,
Kansas.
2. Fred I., born March, 1865; a graduate of Hamilton College and of the School of
Mines, Columbia University, New York City. General manager of the "Amalgamated Copper Company" at Anaconda, Montana. Married Miss Marie Budd, daughter of Samuel
Budd, of New York City, and has one son, Samuel Budd Cairns, four years old.
3. Anna B., born May, 1868; a graduate of Elmira College. Died about seven years ago.
4. Mary Etta, born March, 1870; a graduate of Elmira College. Living at home.
Source:
Class of Sixty-Three Williams College Fortieth Year Report, by
the Class Historian, Thomas Todd Printer, Boston, 1903
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