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R. H. TOLBART, mayor of the city of Aurora, Mo, was born in Muhlenberg County, Ky., October 25, 1840, and is a son of Oliver and Harriet (SMITH) TOLBART, who were of Scotch descent, and were born in the same county and State as our subject. Benjamin TOLBART, the grandfather of R. H. Tolbart, was killed by a falling tree when his son Oliver was but six years of age, and the latter was raised by a step-father. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and followed tilling the soil until his death, which occurred June 15, 1871, in his native county. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a Whig in early life. To him and wife, who died in 1887, were born ten children. The following are those living: Robert H., and Mary. The former spent his early days in assisting his father on his farm, but at the breaking out of the war enlisted, October 9, 1861, in Company K, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, and served nearly four years. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Murfreesboro, Knoxville, the Georgia campaign, and the siege of Atlanta, but was not wounded in any of these battles. He was mustered out in 1865 and returned home, where he remained three years, and then married and began doing for himself. In 1874 he removed to Hopkins County, Ky., where he remained until the fall of 1879, at which time he went to Kansas. In December, 1879, he homesteaded a farm in Barry County, Mo., but February 13, 1885, came to Aurora, where he has since resided. He was engaged in the sewing machine business for awhile, and in 1886 was elected justice of the peace, which office he still holds. In 1887 he was elected city mayor for two years. In 1868 he and Teresa A. WOODBURN were united in marriage. She was born in Christian County, Ky., and is the mother of five children: Romano C., Maud C., William O., Cora E. and James R. Mr. Tolbart and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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