My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT ROBERTSON. This venerable gentleman, though born across the water in Renfrewshire, Scotland, was an early settler of Randolph County, and the tract of land on section 29, township 4, range 5, where he located in 1849, he has ever since made his home. He is now enjoying its peaceful comfort in retirement from the hard labor of his early years, by which he developed one of the fine farms for which this locality is noted.

The parents of our subject, William and Jeanette (McCurdy) Robertson, lived and died in the old country. They reared a family of seven children, of whom James, who is living in Australia, and our subject are the only members living. The father was a weaver by trade, and with his wife was a devoted member of the Established Church in Scotland. Robert grew to man’s estate in his native country, where he received a common-school education and learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he followed for some time in Paisley. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was married, November 11, 1844, to Miss Jane Duncan, a native of Scotland, where her birth occurred in 1826. She is the daughter of John and Isabella (McFee) Duncan, both of whom departed this life in the Old Country, Mrs. Robertson is the eldest of five children, and besides her brother Daniel, who lives in New Zealand, is the only one living. Her father was a member of the Gaelic Church, while her mother was of the Old Light Covenanter faith.

Prior to making a permanent location in the New World, our subject came on a prospecting tour in 1841, and returning home a few months later, remained until the spring of 1849, when he emigrated with his family, landing in America July 9. His brother, who had previously come to this country, was living in township 4, range 5, of this county, and hither our subject came. He resided upon a portion of his land until 1852, since which time he has lived on his present farm on section 29. When locating here the property included only eighty acres, all in a primitive condition, and many were the privations and hardships he and his family were called upon to endure before he had subdued the soil and brought it to a high state of cultivation, making the various improvements that have so greatly increased its value. He now has two hundred and sixty-five broad acres, all under the plow with the exception of a small tract.

Of the family of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson only five are living, of whom we make the following mention: Isabella married John T. Finley, and resides in Washington County, this state; William, Janet, Agnes and John W. live at home. The youngest son completed his studies in the Sparta High School, and in 1889 was graduated from the Beaumont Medical College, at St. Louis, Mo. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Tilden, this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are influential members of the Presbyterian Church of Sparta. Our subject, who in early life was a Republican, now votes the Prohibition ticket. He has been School Director in his district, and at all times has done his part in furthering the best interests of his township. He has in his possession an old clock, eight feet high, which is one hundred and ninety years old and has been in the family during that entire period. Besides his fine farm he is a stockholder in the creamery at Sparta and is a man of untiring energy, being classed among the best citizens of Randolph County. After an absence of thirty years, Mr. and Mrs. Robertson visited their old home in Scotland, where they renewed their acquaintance with many friends of their younger years.