R. K. Alderson, now living retired but for many years identified with
the agricultural activities of North Palmyra township, was born in North
Otter township, Macoupin county, on the 20th of February, 1849. His
parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Clarke) Alderson, who were natives of
Tennessee but were married in Kentucky. They were among the first
settlers of the county, locating on government ground which Mr. Alderson
cleared and cultivated until 1890, when he and his wife removed to
Kansas. There Mrs. Alderson passed away in 1894, but he survived for
three years thereafter, his demise occurring at the age of seventyfour
years. He always took a deep interest in all public questions and
political issues and voted for the democratic party.
The family
in common with other pioneers shared in the hardships and privations
incident to life on the frontier, and at the age of eight years R. K.
Alderson began to assist with the work on the fields and the care of the
stock. Such education as he acquired was obtained during the brief and
somewhat irregular period of the district school, which he attended
during the winter sessions at such times as his services were not
required at home. In 1869 he came to North Palmyra township and settled
on two hundred and forty acres of land owned by his wife. The
cultivation proved lucrative and he was able to add to his tract from
time to time until he had acquired five hundred acres, all of which he
improved and brought to a high state of cultivation. In connection with
the tilling of his fields Mr. Alderson made a specialty of the feeding
of stock for the market, netting him a very gratifying income. Although
he and his wife still continue to reside upon their homestead, he has
withdrawn from active farm work, having rented his land, and is now
living practically retired. He has been most successful in his
undertakings and in addition to his own extensive holdings he has
presented each of his children with a one hundred and twenty acre tract
of land.
In North Otter township on the 20th of February, 1868,
was celebrated the marriage of R. K. Alderson and Miss Lucy Nevins, a
daughter of James and Elizabeth (Sims) Nevins. The father was a native
of Kentucky and the mother of Tennessee but they were long residents of
Macoupin county and here they both passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Alderson
were born the following children: Minnie, who married Edward Walkington,
a farmer of North Palmyra township, and has one child; Mrs. Robert
Chapman, whose husband is a farmer of North Palmyra township, and who
has five children; Maude, deceased; Mettie, who became the wife of Owen
Nevins, a farmer of North Palmyra township, and has one daughter;
Mattie, who married a Mr. Trumbell, also a farmer of this township;
Millie, who married Steve Chandley, who is cultivating a farm adjacent
to that of her parents, and has two children; Melvin, who is married and
living on a farm in North Otter township; and Myrtle, the wife of Howard
Plowman, a farmer.
In political belief Mr. Alderson is a stanch
democrat, considering the policy of that party best adapted to subserve
the interests of the majority, while in matters of faith both he and his
wife affiliate with the Christian church, the principles of which have
ever served to guide their daily lives.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 695-696.
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