My Genealogy Hound

J. H. ROBERTSON, blacksmith and wagon-maker, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, Downs; one of the old settlers; born in McLean Co., Ill., May 29, 1842; he is a son of James O. P. Robertson, who was born in Warren Co., Ky., and emigrated to McLean Co. at a very early day, and located in Old Town Township, where he lived until his decease. The subject of this sketch was raised upon a farm until 18 years of age, when, in December, 1861, he enlisted as private in the 8th I. V. I., and served in the Army of the Cumberland, Trans-Mississippi, and Department of the Gulf, and was in many severe battles — Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Jack son, Miss., Ft. Morgan, Spanish Fort and Ft. Blakely, and was mustered out of service May 4, 1866, at Baton Rouge, La., and received his discharge at Springfield upon the 16th of May, 1866, having served upward of four and a half years in the Union army; at Ft. Blakely, he was wounded in the arm by a piece of shell and had many narrow escapes. Upon receiving his discharge, he returned to McLean Co. and followed blacksmithing until 1870, when he opened the first blacksmith-shop at Downs, where he has since lived. He is also Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. His marriage with Elizabeth Beltzer was celebrated Oct. 11, 1866; she was born in Ohio May 8, 1847, and died Aug. 14, 1873, leaving two children — Eudora J., born Feb. 2, 1869, James O., born March 14, 1871. He was united in marriage with Isabel T. Lawdon Nov. 4, 1874; she was born in Zanesville, Ohio, Aug. 31, 1853; one child was born to them, and died in infancy.