Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 130

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The marriage of Mr. Rindt took place at St. Louis, Mo., October 29. 1863, when he was united with Miss Charlotte Rogers, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., October 28, 1843. Children as, follows blessed the union of Mr. Rindt and his wife: Edward F., born July 12, 1876; Daisy, August 12, 1880; Annie, Juiy 25, 1868; Lottie, September 24, 1872. All were born in Spring- field and the family reside at 2021% West Cook Street.

RITTER, Nicholas .- The building interests of a city like Springfield are always in an active

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condition, giving employment to those in any way connected with this hranch of industrial activity, and among those who have won a well- deserved reputation for excellent work and careful attention to the terms of contracts, Nicholas Ritter takes a leading position. Mr. Ritter was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 27, 1834, a son of John Ritter, born in Germany, Jannary 8, 1808, and his wife, Anna C. (Smith) Ritter, horn in Germany, November 27, 1807. The father was a carpenter and bronght his family to America in 1846, landing in New Orleans, whence they moved to St. Louis, in 1854. At this time Nicholas Ritter went to the sonthern part of Missouri, and while he was working there, for about one year, the family came on and lived in Springfield. The father found plenty of work at his trade in the capital city, and was kept busy nntil his death. He and his wife are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. They had one son and two dangh- ters, hoth of whom survived themn when he died May 20, 1885, and his wife some time later.

Nicholas Ritter attended the German schools and for a short time went to school after com- ing to America. When the family reached St. Louis, he secured employment in a bindery at one dollar a week, ont of which he had to board himself. The family were very poor dur- ing this time, living for a year in an old log cabin. When he went into southern Illinois, Mr. Ritter worked on a farm and at his trade. In 1855 he joined the family in Springfield, and by 1857 was able to purchase his present home at No. 1143 North Third Street. At that time the land was in the woods, bnt during the fifty- three years he has lived there he has wit- nessed many changes, and is now in the midst of a thriving community. During all these years Mr. Ritter has worked on some of the finest residences in the city, also on public buildings, and has always given complete satisfaction, for he was carefully trained in the beginning and takes great pride in his work. Some years ago Mr. Ritter was elected Superintendent of Streets on the Repnhlican ticket, and was the only Republican then elected, his personal pop- ularity causing him to run far ahead of . his ticket. At one time he was a member of the Springfield Gnards. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a strong Mason. The Presbyterian Church holds his membership.

Mr. Ritter was married March 27, 1856, in Cape Girardeau Connty, Mo., to Sophia E. Hagedorn, born in Germany, January 9, 1834, died July 23, 1908. Her parents came to Amer- ica at an early day, settling on a farm in Cape Girardeau County. The mother died in Cairo, Ill., in 1853, while on her way to Sangamon County, of cholera, which was epidemic in that year. The father came on to Springfield, where he lived with Mr. Ritter until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter had eight children, six of whom now survive: Edward F., who resides north of Springfield on a farm; William F.,

George H., and Charles G., all carpenters re- siding in Springfield; Henry L., resides in the Northwest; and Anna, wife of Frank M. Thompson, a carpenter of Springfield. Bernard N. and Angnst are deceased. There are six grandchildren and one great-grandchild in the family. In addition to his home, Mr. Ritter owns other valuable city realty and is in com- fortahle circumstances. He is an honest, reli- able, hard-working man, whose success has been won by steady effort and the practice of care- fnl economy. 'The death of his wife was a heavy hlow to him, for the two were devoted to each other, and she had been an excellent wife and mother.

ROACH, John N .- One of the best known and most highly respected men of Pawnee, Ill., is John N. Roach, who has reason to be prond of his war record, his business record and his position In the Social and public life of his community. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., July 20, 1843, son of John M. and Elinora (Robbins) Roach, both also natives of Wilson County, where they were married. The father tanght school in varions places and finally he- came President of a college at McLemoresville, Tenn., where he died in 1852, his wife having died in Angnst, 1843, the next month after the hirth of her son John N. The father of John N. Roach Sr. was a farmer and gunsmith, and a native of Virginia. He moved to Wilson County as a young man, and ahont 1848 re- moved to Macoupin County, Ill., thence to War- ren Connty, from there to Knox County, and finally to Logan Connty, where his death oc- curred, in November, 18SS. He had heen a Captain of Militia in Tennessee and served un- der Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. The father of Elinora Robbins was a native of Tennessee, where his entire life was spent.

By his first marriage John H. Roacb, Sr., had two children, John N. Jr. and Herschel L., and the latter entered the Confederate army and was never afterwards heard from, it being snp- posed that he lost his life in Texas. The father was married (second) to Miss Newsome, of Wilson County, Tenn., and they had three children : James, Lonisa and Elizabeth, all deceased.

John N. Roach Jr. was educated in the pub- lic schools of Atlanta, Ill., and lived with his grandfather nntil nineteen years of age, then enlisted in Company A, One Hundred Seven- teenth Illinois Volnnteer Infantry, August 5, 1862, at McLean, Ill., under Captain S. B. Kin- sey, serving to the close of the war. He was mnstered out and received his final discharge and pay at Camp Butler, August 5, 1865, ex- actly three years from the date of his enlist- ment. He participated in the Battle of Col- lierville, Tenn .; Queens Hill, Old Town and Meridian, Miss .; Pleasant Hill, and Marksville, La., in the Red River Expedition, participating in the capture of Fort de Russey. also in the battles of Yellow Bayon, Tupelo, Franklin,

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Nashville, and Fort Blakely, besides numerous other skirmishes and smaller engagements. On December 18, wheu the army was marching near Nashville, they passed through the cemetery where his mother was buried and he secured permission to visit her grave.

In the Battle of Nashville, December 15, 1864, Mr. Roach was on the skirmish liue and was lying with his companions in the weeds near the Confederate lines, when he was ordered to take six men and flank a small party of the enemy. Two Confederate soldiers were on the other side of the log and when he raised his empty gun and ordered them to surrender they threw up their hands to this single man. They laughed and sald, "Yank, did you know our guns were not loaded? He laughed and said, "No, but I knew mine was not," thus turning the joke toward them. He made them prisoners and marched them before the proper officer in his owu regiment.

At the close of the war Mr. Roach returned to Atlanta, later moved to Hopedale, Ill., and in 1892 settled in Williamsville, Sangamon County, lived there six years and in 1898 came to Pawnee, which has since been his home. He served ou the Board of Supervisors two terms in Tazewell County. He is a member of the Masonle order and of A. J. Weber Post No. 421, of Pawnee. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He Is a Republican and in Natloual affairs keeps his party principals strongly in mind, though in local affairs he votes for the man rather than the party.

Mr. Roach was marrled, at Tremont. Taze- well County, October 6, 1876, to Emma Waldon, a native of that county, born in 1852, daugh- ter of Johu Waldon, a native of Virginia, who came to Illinois as a young man and settled first In Logan County, but later moved to Taze- well County. Mr. Waldou died on his farm in November, 1875. His wife, Mrs. Loreua Waldon, was a native of Logan County, where she married Mr. Waldon, aud dled in Tremont, in 1865. They had seven children: Abraham. Joseph, Henry, James, Emma, Angellne and Louisa. There are two sons and one daughter now living, namely : Henry and James, of Taze- well County, and Mrs. Roach. Abraham served in the Mexican War, enlisting at Pekin, took part In the Battle of Cerro Gordo where he and three companions captured the carriage of Santa Ana, from which the old Mexican had just made his escape in the dark of early dawn on the out-rider's mule, when nearly overtaken, and within found hls wooden leg, which is now a trophy of war In Memorial Hall iu the Capitol Building at Springfield. The large sum of gold money found under the seat of his am- bulance-bed, was turned over to the United States Government, and his two little books- the story of Telemec, printed In Spanish and French (on alternate pages), were presented to the commanding officer, Major S. D. Marshall -General Shields having previously been lald

low with a supposedly mortal wound. One of those intrepid young Iilinols' soldier boys was Elmer Elwood Ellsworth, now of San Raphael, California. John Waldon, the father of Abra- ham Waldou and Mrs. Roach, was a soldier in the Black Hawk War.

Mr. Roach and his wife have four children : Edith M., born In Tazewell County, October 6, 1875, is unmarried and lives at home; Bessie B., born May 13, 1878, unmarried and living at home; Ruby G., born January 24, 1881, also unmarrled aud living with her parents; John Neal Logan, born June 24, 1884, Is a railroad clerk and Ilves at home.

Mr. Roach is one of the most popular meu of Pawnee and takes great Interest and pride in the village. He is proud of his famlly, who have always been identified with the best In- terests of any place they have called home, aud have served in many of the wars. He is now retired from active business Ilfe and is Poiice Magistrate, which office he has held the past sixteen years. He has a large number of friends and enjoys the confidence of all who know him.

ROBERTS, William P .- In these days of high land values, a man is wealthy who owns plenty of Sangamon County rich acreage, and when it has been accummulated through his own in- dividual effort, he can well afford to retire aud live free from the cares of business during his decliuing years. Illiopolis is the home of a number of retired farmers of this class, among whom is Willlam P. Roberts. He was born in Schuyler County, Ill., January 23, 1831, a son of Normau and Temperance (Lockhart) Ro- berts, born in South Carolina, October 19, 1800, and Washington County, Ky., November 17, 1796, respectively. The grandfather, Joseph Roberts was born In Virginia, but after several changes, died in Gibson County, Ind., being ac- cidentally killed by a gun shot.

Norman Roberts went in boyhood from South Carolina to Georgia, thence to Kentucky and from there to Indiana. He traded to some ex- tent on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, going as far as New Orleans, but eventually went to Schuyler County in 1830, and from there to Warrie County, Iud., in 1831. In 1852, he came to Sangamon County to engage lu farming. Finally he went to Macon County, Ill., where he died, near Niantle, in 1890. He was twice married, the first ceremony occurring June 13, 1821, and his first wife, Temperance Lockhart, bore him seven children of whom William P. Roberts was one. His second wife, whom he married September 18. 1840, was Mrs. Orpha (Whittinghill) Lockhart. To this union four children were born. Her husband, James Lock- hart, was a brother of the first Mrs. Roberts. The second Mrs. Roberts died February 6, 1870, aged sixty-three years, seven months and twen- ty-nine days.

Willlam P. Roberts went to the typical log school of his period, sitting on slab benches, and laboring under the usual number of disadvan-

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tages incident to that period, but he managed to lay a good fondation for a solid education that bas been of practicai value to him. Com- ing to Sangamon County with his father, he has made it his bome ever since, and was a farmer of whom the State may be well proud. Until 1902 he operated his fine 340 acre farm in Illiopolis Township, but in that year lie re- tired, still owning his farm, which is just a few feet east of the town line of Iiliopolis.

On1 January 28, 1858, Mr. Roberts was united in marriage by Rev. Nathaniel G. Averitt, in Macon County, Ill., to Nancy E. Boyd, born in Morgan County, Ill., March 12, 1841. Her father became one of the early settiers of Macon County, later removing to Missouri, he being Milton Boyd, and his wife bore the name of Polly Bobbitt before her marriage to him. Mr. Boyd was horn in Kentucky, October 15, 1809, while his wife was born in Missouri, Angust 6, 1813. Leaving Missouri, Mr. Boyd came to Sangamon County, hut his last days were spent in southwestern Missonri where he died, Feb- ruary 5, 1898.

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, five of whom survive : Mary A., wife of William J. Kaylor, living on a farm north of Illiopolis; Tampa Florence, wife of Alva Jeffords a farmer of Iliiopolis Township; Ida B., wife of Edward Baker, a farmer of II- liopolis Township; George H., a farmer of the same township, as is Harvey C., who also con- ducts the Farmers' Elevator Co. There are nineteen grandchildren and three great-grand- children in the family.

Mr. Roberts is a consistent member of the Christian Church to which he accords a hearty support. As a Democrat, he bas conscientiously cast his vote, and given his support to those ineasures which he believed were for the best interests of his community. All his life Mr. Roberts has endeavored to live according to his religious creed and is a true Christian man, hard-working and thrifty, who knows how to save his money and invest it profitably. Such sound, practical farmers as he has been, are a welcome addition to any community, and his success not only reflects credit on him, but ad- vances the standing of his locality, and encour- ages others to follow his example, and by ear- nest endeavor place themselves beyond the fear of poverty in their old age.

ROBERTSON, Marcus Browning .- Children horn of honored parents appreciate the record of their family history, which otherwise might be lost as time progresses. It is therefore really an obligation which their relation to them lays upon the shoulders of such parents, to set down in logical order what has been accomplished by those from whom these children sprung. One of the hest types of American citizenship in Sangamon County is Marcus Browning Rohert- son of Old Beriin, born in Missouri. January 31, 1857. The family moved to Kentucky in 1860, and to Illinois in 1871, where a year was spent

in Quincy, and then in 1872, location was made at Pleasant Piains. In 1877, anotber change was made, and a year was spent in Berlin. Follow- ing this Mr. Robertson went west and spent two years on the piains, but returned to Berlin in 1880, and this locality has since been his home.

The grandfather of Mr. Robertson was Mar- tin Robertson, who graduated from the Univer- sity of Edinburg, Scotland, in his eighteenth year. The family had been associated with that institution of learning from its foundation, and belonged to one of the important clans wbich played so aggressive a part in Scottish history, it being the same that ciaimed the dougbty MIc- Donalds and Campbeils, and they were aiso closely related to the Beckwiths. Martin Ro- bertson, donhtless for religions reasons, em- igrated in 1795 to the land of promise beyond the seas, where he found a bome in Virginia. There he married Mary Morton, daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter. Their son, W. R. Ro- bertson, father of M. B. Robertson, was born there in 1800, coming with his parents to Ken- tucky in 1815. He was graduated from the Transylvania Medical School of Kentucky in 1821, becoming one of the successful physicians of his day. He was also a large planter and siave holder. In 1855, he moved to Missouri, but at the outhreak of the Civil War, he re- turned to Kentucky, and from that State en- tered the Union service as a surgeon. Owing to the war, he lost heavily, and in 1871, moved to Illinois, where his death occurred at Pleas- ant Piains, March 23, 1876. He was a Whig and Republican in politics. The family faith was that of the Presbyterian Church. Of his three wives, the last was the mother of M. B. Robertson. She was Ann Davis Browning, a relative of Jefferson -Davis, horn in Harrison Connty, Ky., in 1819, coming of very good stock. One brother, Orville H. Browning of Quincy, Ili., was a United States Senator, and a member of President Johnson's cabinet, as well as an able lawyer. Another brother, Milton Browning of Buriington, Ia., was a prominent man of his period. Mrs. Browning's mother bore the maiden name of Sally Brown, and was an aunt of Captain James N. Brown of Inland Grove. The Brown family were prominent in legal circles and public life in both Kentucky and Illinois. This most estimable lady died at Quincy, at the home of her brother, O. HI. Browning, February 3. 1872.

M. B. Robertson taught school for four terms after his return from the west, and then enter- ing a mercantile line in Berlin. in 1881, was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. On June . 17, 1885, Mr. Robertson was married to Lon Scott of Berlin. III., born there in 1856, daughter of John W. and Martha (Yates) Scott, and grand- daughter of Andrew Scott who came from North Carolina to Sangamon County in the early 'twenties and located in Isiand Grove in 1824. The Scott family is of Scotch descent. Mrs. Scott was a sister of War Governor Richard Yates, and daughter of Henry Yates, who settied

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in Berlin in 1831, the family comlng originally from Virginia, but later from Kentucky. Nearly all the ancestors on both sides of the Robertson and Scott famillies were Revolutionary soldiers. Seven children were horn to Mr. and Mrs. Ro- bertson : William Scott died In infancy ; Colin Morton, born November 13, 1888; Harry Yates, born August 7, 1890; Pattle, born Octoher 30, 1892; Thomas Browning, born August 4, 1895; William Beckwith, horn July 6, 1897, aud Donald Alexander, born April 2, 1901.

Mr. Robertson was reared iu the faith of the Presbyterian Church, but united with the Chris- tian Church at Berlin in 1SSS. Iu politles he is a Democrat, and hls party has honored him by electing him to the following offices: Super- visor. Collector, Town Clerk, member of the Village Board, School Director and Justice of the Peace. He has held that office for ten years, and still occupies lt. He is a man of solld characteristics, and high standing, proud of his family and devoted to his wife and children. As a public official, hls actions have been gov- erned by justice and sound judgment, and no one is considered as better representative of the best interests of this part of the couuty, than he.

ROBINSON, James C. (Vol. I, p. 454.)

ROBINSON, John Wesley, M. D., who has built up an excellent practice in the vicinity of New Berlin, Ill., is a self-made man and well de- serves the success which has attended hls ef- forts. He is a member of the haud of physi- cians and surgeons who do their best for their patients in a careful, painstaking way, and always bear in mind the highest principles In their profession. Dr. Robinson was horn on a farm iu LaSalle County, III., August 26, 1871, of Scotch and English descent. Hls father, Alexander Robinson, married a Miss Day, who died when her son John W. was a child. After his mother's death the boy was taken by his grandfather, James Robinson, to rear, and re- ceived his early education In the schools of the locality. He was reared on a farm and llved with his grandparents until he was twenty-two years of age, then rented land and began life on his own account, as a farmer.

After carrying on farming for himself for three years, John W. Robinson decided to begin the study of hls chosen profession, and held a sale of his farm Implements aud horses. In 1895, he entered Illinois Medical College, at Chicago, where he took a four-year course, be- Ing graduated In 1900, after which he was ap- pointed interne at St. Ellzabeth hospital. He re- maiued In this post eighteen months, gaining valuable experience and rendering excellent ser- vice. He then entered the office of one of his preceptors, Dr. McGee, near hls old home at Tonica. He had studied with Dr. McGee during his vacations and had received advice from him on difficult problems, at different times. This arrangement lasted until 1903, then the younger doctor hegan practice hy himself, at Berliu, San-

gamon Couuty, where he at ouce met with suc- cess, and in November, 1905, he moved to New Berlin, where he has established himself In the confidence and esteem of the community aud has an excellent practice.

Dr. Robinson has one of the best equipped offices in the county, aud the latest appliances for the practice of both medicine and surgery, as well as a fine laboratory. He keeps ahreast of the latest literature of his professiou and the times in everything. He compounds most of his own medicines and in this way greatly adds to his success. He is sympathetic and courteous in manner and speech aud In all things shows promise of a bright future In his career. He belongs to varlous medical societles. He is one of the medical examiners for the M. W. A. of New Berlin and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. Every public enterprise finds In him a ready sympathizer and he is much luterested iu the progress and development of his commuu- ity. He has for several years been a member of the Presbyterian Church. Readily maklug and retaining friends, he is well knowu In his part of the county as an upright, useful citizen. Dr. Robinsou has performed several surgical opera- tions during the time he has practiced In San- gamon County, and for this purpose takes his patieuts to the hospital at Springfield.

ROBINSON, Joseph A .- Lancaster County, Pa., has given Illinois some of Its most substantial citizens, aud Sangamou County has always heeu proud to welcome them to her confiues. Que of the representative families from that local- Ity which has become well known here is that of Rohinson, and a prominent member of it is Joseph A. Robluson, of Riverton. He was horn In Laucaster, Pa., September 26, 1844, a son of Daniel and Narcissa (Colson) Robinson. The fatber was a blacksmith and farmer, whose op- erations extended over Perry and Cumberland Counties in Pennsylvania. He was also a local preacher of the Methodist faith and traveled ahout considerably, dylng at last in York, Pa. His wife died when Joseph A. Robiuson was but a child, and there were three sous and three daughters in the family in addition to him. Susan, the eldest, married A. J. Gordon, now deceased, and she lives in Lancaster, Ohio; Re- hecca married James Howett, of Riverton, now deceased, and she resides in that town; Jesse W., of Marysville, Pa .; Martha J., wife of Robert Boyd, of York, Pa .; William J., of Lancaster, Ohio, and Joseph A.

Joseph A. Robinson was educated in Penn- sylvania, working with his father during his boyhood. Later he went Into business for lilm- self. When the war broke out he enlisted from Berks County, in Company A, Third Pennsylva- nia Artillery for three years. In a few months he was transferred to Company A, One Huudred and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, Volunteer In- fantry. being made Sergeant under command of Colonel Bowen. A little later he was made First Lieutenaut of the One Hundred and

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Eighteenth Regiment of colored troops. After a service of twenty-two months he resigned, on October 1, 1865. During his period of service he participated in the engagements at Dewey's Bluff, Cold Harbor and Fort Ilarrison, and was wounded September 29, 1864. Ile was also in the Siege of Petersburg. After the close of his brave career as a sol- dier, Mr. Robinson returned to Cumberland County, remaining there aud in Perry County until 1871, when he was attracted towards Illi- nois, and settled in Schuyler County, but a short time later moved to Sangamon County. For some time Mr. Robinson was engineer iu a mill and distillery, and was fireman and engineer on the Northern Central Railroad. Upon jo- cating in Riverton Mr. Robinson became en- gineer at Ilowitt's distillery, but later became engineer for the old paper mill, then for the new inill. Following this he acted as engineer for the old shaft. For several years he was engineer for the electric plant, which he built. Still later he returned to the old shaft, where he has since discharged the duties of engineer. He has been promineut in public affairs, being elected President of the Town Board on the Republican ticket. also Assessor, member of the School Board and Aldermau, aud has faithfully discharged the duties of all the offices held. He is a member of Stephenson Post. No. 30, G. A. R., and was Past Commander of Camp Butler Post, which was disbanded. Ile is a member of Riverton Lodge, No. 786, A. F. & A. M., and its Chaplain; belongs to Clear Lake Lodge, No. 445. I. O. O. F., and is its Treas- urer, having belonged to that order for forty-two years. He is very prominent in fraternal mat- ters of all kinds. The Methodist Church holds his membership and he is one of its Trustees. Mrs. Robinson belongs to the Eastern Star.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 130

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774