Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Harold Vance Newlin was born October 15, 1896 at Hardinville, Illinois. He is the son of LeRoy Newlin and Louise (Vance) Newlin. He received his education in the public schools of Hardinville and Robinson. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1917. June 1, 1917 he reported for air pilot training. This took him from Ohio to California to Texas and Louisiana. Out of service in 1919 he worked in Texas, Western Canada, California and Costa Rica. Because of illness in the family he came back home. He taught high school one year at Arlington Heights, Ill., then went into the bond business which took him to Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis. He opened a finance company in Robinson in 1923 and operated that until 1929 when he became manager of the Ford Agency and garage in Oblong. Since 1939 he has operated his farm at Gordon. Kappa Sigma fraternity, American Legion, of which he was a past commander, and B.O.P. Elks have been his affiliations. He served on the Ration Board during World War Two and also on the Selective Service Board after the war. He married Vera Carlisle December 15, 1935.
Vera Carlisle Newlin was born June 16, 1900 at Robinson, Illinois. She was the daughter of Drs. Jonas W. Carlisle and Besse (Ross) Carlisle. She received her education in the Robinson public schools and then graduated from Lindenwood College and University of Wisconsin. She taught in Robinson grade schools, Oblong High School and Robinson High School. She has been head librarian at the Robinson Carnegie Public Library since 1929. She was married to Harold Vance Newlin December 15, 1935. She is a member of the Methodist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Robinson Woman's Club, American Association of University Women, Illinois library Association, American Library Association and Alpha Chi Omega.