John Robertson, the father of our subject, and also a native of this county, was born in 1823, and here likewise has spent his entire life engaged in farming and stock-raising. The Robertson family is of excellent Scotch ancestry and was first represented in America probably during the colonial times. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Mary (Drinkwater) Robertson, is now deceased. One of her sisters settled in Polk County, Oregon, at an early day and is still living there.
The family of John and Mary Robertson included nine children, seven of whom are living, namely: John T., Mary, Frank, Cassie, Mattie, Richard and William L. John T. married Miss Lyda Matthews of Cass County, where he operates as a banker. They have five children - Richard, Nellie, Virgil, Frank and a babe unnamed. Mary became the wife of S. W. Eldred of Greene County, and they are living on a farm near Virden, Ill.; they have three children - John William and Louisa. Frank married Miss Nora Thomas, of Greene County, is a farmer by occupation and the father of two children. Mattie married Elon A. Eldred, and Cassie is the wife of A. E. Wilson, both farmers of Greene County. William L. married Mamie E. Rexwod of Cass County, they live on a farm in Morgan County.
The subject of this sketch was married Feb. 2, 1887, to Miss Ettie daughter of James and Lizzie (Hill) Humphrey, of this county, and there has been born to them one child, a son, Elon A. The parents of Mrs. Robertson were natives of Chester County, Pa. The father was born Sept. 21, 1824, and departed this life Dec. 25, 1872, in Sedalia, Mo. The mother was born April 30, 1836, and is living. Of the five children born to them four are living. Anna became the wife of Samuel L. Duncan, a barber of Chicago; they have no children; John H. married Miss Mary Allen and lives in Colorado; they have no children; Mary B., is the wife of John Smith, a commercial traveler and they make their home in Lincoln, Neb.
At the time the father of our subject came to Morgan County, the face of the country was mostly in its primitive condition - a wide, uncultivated tract of land with here and there the cabin of some adventurous settler. He has been a witness of great and wonderful changes during a long and busy life - a life which has been filled in with the usual amount of labor and struggle, but which is crowned with success. He is now in good circumstances and connected with the Jacksonville National Bank.
Our subject, politically, is a decided Republican and has already been quite prominent in local affairs, serving as Road Supervisor and School Director, and is a gentleman of whom much is expected in the future. He occupies a fine residence and the young couple are very comfortably established in life, being surrounded with all its comforts, and in the enjoyment of the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.