Introduction / Families / Hourston / David Hourston and Christian Drever / David Hourston and Janet Miller / Elizabeth Hourston and James Cormack

James Cormack and Annie Shearer

James Cormack (b. 1855) was the oldest of the four children of James Cormack and Elizabeth Hourston of Blackbanks, Eday.

He left Eday. On 6th September 1879, he married Annie Shearer (b. 28th August 1852) in South Leith. His address at this time was given as 412 Rutherglen Road, Glasgow and occupation was a draper’s salesman.

Annie was born in Eday but staying in Leith at the time of their marriage. Her parents were William Shearer and Eliza Goar. Annie already had a son, born in Eday:

• James Shearer b. 30th April 1875 at Hammer. Anne was a domestic servant at the time. No father is given in the birth register. It is noted that in the 1881 census, James was at Blackbanks, and stated to be the grandson of James Cormack and Elizabeth Hourston, James Cormack’s parents. James Shearer was to adopt the name James Shearer Cormack and married a lady named Florence about 1901. She was born in Washington State about 1885. They were living in Portland, Oregon in 1910 but had divorced by 1920. James died in Portland in October 1963, aged eighty eight.

In 1884, James and Annie emigrated to California. They had moved to Portland, Oregon by 1892. Their children included:

• Alfred John Cormack, born 20th December 1884, California. Alfred married Anna Louise Schoppe (b. 2nd July 1889) about 1913. Anna was the daughter of Fred and Melvina Schoppe. Alfred and Louise lived in Portland where they had three children. Alfred died on 9th July 1963 in Yamhill Co., Oregon and Louise in July 1976.

• Elizabeth Anne Cormack, born 20th April 1887, California. Elizabeth married John Zehntbauer (b. 4th August 1884 in Missouri) on 24th August 1910. John was the son of Joseph Zehntbauer and Lucinda Rentfrow. They lived in Portland and had family. Elizabeth died on 11th June 1969 and John on 3rd September 1969.

• William H Cormack, born 21st September 1889, California and died in Los Angeles on 21st October 1953

• Evelyn Ruth Cormack, born 18th October 1892, Portland, Oregon. Evelyn was with her parents in 1930 census but subsequently married a Mr Granning. She died on 14th February 1988.

The 1910 census indicates that Annie had given birth to six children but only five were then living. There was a state census taken in Oregon in 1895, which indicates there was someone in the household named Isabella Cormack. It is possible that this was the sixth child who later died young.

James Cormack died on 26th January 1951 in Portland and Annie died there on 3rd July 1953.