A
prominent and influential citizen of Carlinville, whose
energies have always been devoted to educational, scholarly and literary
pursuits is Professor Charles Robertson. His birth occurred here on the
12th of June, 1858, his parents being William A. and Nancy, commonly
called Nannette, (Holliday) Robertson, the father a native of Virginia
and the mother of Cincinnati. William A. Robertson was born in Liberty,
Bedford county, Virginia, on the 27th of October, 1803, the eldest son
of Dr. William Robertson, who was a practicing physician in Virginia,
whence he removed to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1803. from there he went
to Lexington, Kentucky, but later settled in Harrodsburg, that state,
where he engaged in the practice of his profession during the remainder
of his life. He married a Miss Burton and to them were born the
following children: William A., the father of our subject; Archie;
Robert; Mary, the wife of Lawson Moore; and Harriet, who became Mrs.
Messick.
The preliminary education of William A. Robertson was
obtained in the New London Academy in Virginia. Later he studied
medicine with his father, following which he took a course of lectures
in a medical college at Lexington, Kentucky. Subsequent to his marriage
he came to Illinois, settling in Edwardsville in 1830, and from there he
went to Alton, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for a time,
subsequently devoting his energies to farming. In 1835 he came to
Carlinville and ten years later he embarked in the general mercantile
business, which he carried on for some years. He had absolute confidence
in the agricultural future of the state and invested his money in land,
which he sold at a good advance. The proceeds realized from the
transaction were used to purchase large tracts of cheap land that he
later disposed of at a good profit, thus keeping his money in constant
circulation. This proved to be very lucrative and enabled him to acquire
considerable wealth. Dr. Robertson was twice married, his first union
being with Miss Ellen Clark, a native of Kentucky, whom he wedded in
1829. She passed away soon after they located in Carlinville, and on the
18th of October, 1844, Dr. Robertson was united in marriage to Miss
Nancy H. Holliday. Mrs. Robertson was born in the vicinity of
Scottsville, Allen county, Kentucky, on the 14th of November, 1821, a
daughter of the Rev. Charles and Sarah (Watkins) Holliday. Her father
was educated for a Presbyterian minister but later in life he united
with the Methodist denomination. He was one of the pioneer ministers of
Macoupin county and was for some time located at Chesterfield, Illinois,
where he and his wife passed away. They were the parents of two
children, the daughter Nannette, who became Mrs. Robertson; and a son,
George. Mr. Holliday had been previously married, however, and by that
union there were born several children, among them being Mrs. Jane
Cowden, Mrs. Alexander and Mrs. Newland. George Holliday, the son of the
Rev. Charles, was at one time prominently identified with the public
life of Macoupin county, being a member of the board of commissioners at
the time the present courthouse was erected.
Unto Dr. and Mrs.
Robertson there were born eight children, three of whom died in infancy.
Those who attained maturity are as follows: Elizabeth, who was the wife
of A. W. Edwards and died on the 12th of June, 1911; Ellen, the deceased
wife of John Mayo Palmer; William, also deceased; Annie, the wife of
Senator F. W. Burton, of Carlinville; and Charles, our subject.
Dr. Robertson withdrew from active business life in 1851, living retired
from that time until his demise, which occurred in 1878, at the age of
seventy-five years. He was a man of scholarly instincts and tastes and a
lover of good literature. His well stored mind, fine intellect and well
trained habit of thought made him a most delightful companion, as he
could intelligently converse on almost any subject. Although a firm
believer in the Christian philosophy and its beneficial influence upon
humanity, he was too liberal in his views to be conscientiously able to
conform to the tenets of any church of his period. When first granted
the right of franchise he supported the whig party, but in later life he
cast his ballot for such men and measures as he deemed adapted to best
subserve the interests of the majority. He was one of the progressive
and enterprising pioneers of the county, whose ideas and influence did
much to mould the early history of the community in which he resided for
so many years.
The hardships and privations of pioneer life in
this section were practically over before the advent of Charles
Robertson, whose boyhood and youth were passed amid the pleasant
environment of a comfortable home. He entered the public schools of
Carlinville at the usual age, remaining a student therein until his
graduation, following which he pursued a course in Blackburn University.
In 1880 he was called to the faculty of that institution, where for six
years he taught botany and Greek. In the summer preceding the beginning
of his duties he pursued a special course in botany at Harvard
University, thus more ably qualifying himself to impart his knowledge on
the subject to others. In 1888 he took a course in hymenoptera at the
University of Illinois. Two years previously his alma mater had honored
him by conferring upon him the degree of Master of Science. In 1897 he
took the chair of biology in Blackburn University, which he retained for
twelve years.
Professor Robertson has been a frequent
contributor to various scientific journals, among them being The
Botanical Gazette, Canadian Entomologist, Entomological News, Science,
American Naturalist, and Transactions of the St. Louis Academy of
Science. He holds membership in the Illinois Natural History Society,
Cambridge Entomological Club, Entomological Society of France, Indiana
Academy of Science, Academy of Science of St. Louis, Western Society of
Naturalists, Naturalists of Central States, and Botanists of Central
States. • He has been a very close student and observer of both flowers
and insects, devoting special attention to their relations, his
discoveries and observations in the latter connection having been very
fully treated in his contributions to various scientific periodicals.
On the 12th of November, 1879, Professor Robertson was united in
marriage to Miss Alice McDonald Venable, a native of Indiana and a
daughter of James and Mary (McDonald) Venable. Her father was born in
Shelbyville, Kentucky, a son of James and Elizabeth (Carver) McDonald,
who were the parents of six children, as follows: Samuel, John, James,
Sarah, Mary and Martha. The paternal grandfather, James Venable, was a
native of Virginia, but removed to Kentucky during the pioneer days and
there he passed away at the age of seventy-six. His wife was about the
same age at the time of her demise. He was a veteran of the war of 1812.
In the maternal line Mrs. Robertson is of Scotch extraction. Her
grandfather, who was a lawyer, emigrated from Scotland to the United
States in the early part of the century, locating in Indianapolis. He
met with excellent success in his profession and became a judge of the
supreme court. For his wife he chose a Miss Mary Miller and of their
union there were born four daughters and two sons: David Hume, Curran,
Mary, Eleanor, Flora and Lilia. The parents both passed away late in
life. Their daughter, Mrs. James Venable, was only thirty-six at the
time of her death, which occurred in Indianapolis in 1868. James Venable
subsequently came to Illinois, locating in Carlinville, where he
continued to reside for several years, engaging in agricultural
pursuits. He was living in Parsons, Kansas, at the time of his death,
which occurred in 1868 at the venerable age of ninety-four years. To Mr.
and Mrs. James Venable were born five children: Eleanor; Alice, now Mrs.
Robertson; James; David, and William.
Professor and Mrs.
Robertson are the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, Mary
and Charles. In matters of religion they affiliate with the Protestant
churches, while politically Professor Robertson has always been
independent. His ballot is cast in support of such men and measures as
he deems best qualified to meet the exigencies of the situation,
irrespective of party connection. Although he has never taken a
prominent part in political affairs he is a public-spirited man and
takes an active and helpful interest in the welfare of the community,
assisting to forward every movement he feels would in any way prove
beneficial to the citizens generally. Professor Robertson taught until
1909, since which time he has been devoting his attention to his private
affairs and his literary pursuits. He and his family are among the
highly esteemed citizens of Carlinville, where they have many friends.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 462-467.
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