Horton, Robert


HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
AND

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia 1879

Page 220

ROBERT HORTON.

The Horton family traces its history back to Virginia, from which state came so many families who have been identified with various portions of the Great West, and have assisted in its development and progress. The home of the family in the Old Dominion was in Fauquier county. Mr. Horton's grandfather, Augustine Horton, was born and raised in Fauquier county, and on reaching manhood married Mary Taylor. The birth of his father, Oswell Horton, occurred in Fauquier county, Virginia, May 26th, 1809. He was only two years old when the family moved to Green county, Kentucky, in 1811. He was raised there on a farm, and the opportunities he enjoyed in the way of obtaining an education were of a very ordinary character. Subscription schools were the only ones in existence, and these were held in log school-houses with puncheon floors and slabs for benches. The children of the present generation may congratulate themselves that they have advantages largely in advance of those belonging to those early pioneer times. He only went to school when quite small. As soon as he was large enough, so that his services became of much value, his father kept him at home. The principal experience which he remembers in his boyhood days, consisted in clearing up wild land and cultivating tobacco, the raising of which was a great industry in that country. He remained in Kentucky till twenty-one years of age, and then concluded to try his fortune in Illinois. He came to Morgan county, and secured employment as agent for a stage company, and was thus engaged for several years. He lived at Jacksonville a while, but most of the time at Springfield. He had charge of the line between Carrollton and Springfield via Jacksonville, and from Jacksonville to Beardstown. He afterward took charge of the Springfield and Peoria, and the Springfield and Terra Haute lines. His duties were those of a general superintendent, looking after the drivers, and seeing that the horses were in good order and the coaches in good repair. He was obliged to be on the road almost constantly, and the consequent exposure and loss of sleep had an injurious effect upon his health. Accordingly in 1842 he concluded to go to farming. He had saved enough money to purchase, in North Palmyra township, 120 acres of prairie and two hundred of timber. When he came to Palmyra township in 1842, only fifteen acres were improved, and he went to work and soon brought a fine farm under cultivation. He had been married in February, 1835, to Matilda Norvell, a native of Summer county, Tennessee. His wife died in 1844. By this marriage there were four children, two of whom died in infancy. The other two are living in North Palmyra: Robert Horton, and Mary, now Mrs. George B. John. In politics Oswell Horton has always been a member of the democratic party, though he has taken no active part in political movements, and has preferred living the quiet and retired life of a private citizen. During his residence in Macoupin county he has borne the reputation of an enterprising and progressive farmer, and a man of strict honesty and integrity.

ROBERT HORTON, the oldest child, was born at Jacksonville, in Morgan County, Dec. 26th, 1836. He was in his sixth year when he came to Macoupin county, where he has grown up and lived from boyhood. His education was obtained in the common schools of Palmyra township, and at a school in Morgan county, which he attended for some time. On the 22d of March, 1860, he married Rebecca J. Rice, daughter of Jasper Rice, an old citizen of North Palmyra township, a sketch of whose history may elsewhere be found. Mrs. Horton was born in North Palmyra township, on the 6th of May, 1843. Up to the year 1865 he was farming in partnership with his father, and has since carried on farming on his own account. He is the owner of the old homestead farm; has bought additional land; and now owns 670 acres, 620 of which lie in one body. He is known as one of the enterprising farmers of Macoupin County, and has been successful both as a farmer and a trader. He has made the matter of dealing in stock a specialty. He is one of the prominent agriculturists of the county, and a director in the Macoupin county Fair Association. He has had little to do with politics; is a man of energy, industry, and superior business qualifications. His four children are named Edward L., William H., John L., and Luther O. Horton.


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