ISHMAEL, ROBERT. - Among the oldest farmers in period of residence who are still owning and operating farms of any considerable extent in the vicinity of Oakford, Cass County, Ill., is Robert Ishmael, the greater part of whose life has been spent in the labor of cultivating the tract on which he lives. The farm is comprised of 210 acres, situated in section 20, township 19, range 8, and Oakford is the name of the postal station by which Mr. Ishmael may be reached in correspondence.

Mr. Ishmael was born in Cass County July 12, 1847. He is a son of William and Polly (Lynn) Ishmael, both natives of Kentucky, where his father followed the occupation of a farmer. In his boyhood days he had slender opportunity for improving his mind, and attended the district school of his neighborhood very briefly, as nearly all of his time was devoted to assisting his father in the work on the home farm. So slight was his schooling that, although he learned a little reading and writing from his teacher, he allowed it to slip from his memory through lack of practice, and now can neither read nor write.

Mr. Ishmael has been six times married, having been five times left a widower. Four children have resulted from these successive marriages, born in the following order: Tilton, July 8, 1877; Robert, March 24, 1886; Howard E., September 2, 1908; and Eula, June 15, 1913. The last two are the offspring of the sixth marriage. The maiden name of Mr. Ishmael's last wife, to whom he was wedded in Cass County, Ill., February 16, 1908, was Emma Skagg, born in Menard County, Ill., a daughter of James and Ellen (Haynes) Skagg, both natives of Cass County.

Mr. Ishmael is an industrious and prudent farmer. The first steam threshing machine in the neighborhood of Oakford was introduced by him and was used for the purpose of operating a sawmill and cornsheller. In politics he is a Democrat. He has taken no very active part in local political affairs, but has served as a school trustee. His religious connection is with the Baptist church. He is a man of very sociable disposition and is well liked among his neighbors and the people of the township.