WM. J. ROBERTSON

ROBERTSON, MCMILLAN, POTTER, RUNYON, ANDERSON, HARRISON, VAN BUREN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/4/2020 at 20:16:18

WM. J. ROBERTSON, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, on the 29th day of October, 1812. He is the fourth son and seventh child of a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. There are four now living, two brothers and two sisters. His father, Thos. Robertson, and his mother, Hannah McMillan, were natives of Pennsylvania. He died in 1827, at the age of fifty-six, and she in 1862, at the age if eighty-two. She was a descendant of the Potter family, who lived in what was then known as Penn Valley. Mr. Roberson remembers hearing her relate that one of the Potter family was murdered by the Indians; hence they must have been among the pioneers in Pennsylvania. As far as can be traced, Mr. Robertson’s ancestors, on his father’s side, are of Scotch-Irish origin. In 1851, April 3, Mr. Robertson took his departure from his native State, and migrated, via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to Iowa.

He selected Lee County as his future home, and located temporarily in the north-west corner of Harrison township. Soon after his arrival, he purchased four hundred and thirty-five acres of land, most of which was raw prairie and timber. The next fall he bought one hundred acres of timber; and, in about one year from that time, he purchased for hundred and twenty acres of prairie, and one hundred and twenty of timber. About two years after his first purchase, he built his house and surroundings, a picture of which is seen in this atlas. The year before he moved to this State, he came through from Ohio on horseback to this State, and returned. The whole trip occupied only seven weeks, two of which he spent in examining the country.

Jan. 1st, 1843, Mr. Robertson was married to Catharine Runyon. She was born Oct. 28, 1813, in New York. Her ancestors on her father’s side, are of Dutch extraction.

Seven children have been born, five sons and two daughters. One son, Thomas Clinton, died Sept. 3, 1847, aged eight years, one month and twelve days. Three sons are married: Albert, John Mill, and Thos. Runyon. Louis P. is at home. One daughter Hannah, is married; she is the wife of Thomas J. Anderson. Sarah L., youngest daughter, is unmarried, living at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson early began work in the great cause of Christianity. About 1840, they united with the Presbyterian church; three children are also members. Mr. R. has served eighteen years as an elder in the church.

Mr. Robertson’s first vote for President was polled for Gen. Harrison, the Whig candidate. His next vote, however, was polled for Martin Van Buren, the Democratic candidate, since which time he has been a member of the Democratic party. His people have elected him to office several times, yet his desire has been to lead a retired life in the political field. He takes enough interest in politics to go to all the elections; and, before voting, he carefully weighs the several abilities of the candidates of both parties, and votes according to their worth. He is also a member of the Granger’s organization. He feels confident that they can do a good work for the country, if they carefully plan their operations. Their united strength must be given in opposing the great monopolies that exist at the present time. To do this they must work in harmony, keep party prejudices out of their meetings, elect honest men to office - men who will hurl back the empty offers that would disgrace their manhood, or buy their votes; they must be men who will scorn to indulge in such luxuries as the back pay steal, or the
Credit Mobilier fraud.

He now lives on a good farm in Harrison township. Altogether he possesses about eight hundred acres of land.

With a comfortable home, and a loving family, his circumstances are such that he can spend the remainder of his days in ease and enjoyment.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer