Biography - TILDEN ROBERTSON

Tilden Robertson, who is a valued factor in agricultural circles of Shaws Point township, was born at Moorhead. Minnesota, August 12, 1885, and is a son of William R. and Margaret (Guilder) Robertson. The father was born at Carlinville, Illinois, and the mother in Michigan. Dr. William A. Robertson, the grandfather of our subject, was a prominent resident of Carlinville in early days and became one of the landowners of Macoupin county. William R. Robertson was a lawyer, editor, business man and farmer, pursuing these vocations at various times in his life. He studied law in the Harvard Law School and practiced at Carlinville, gaining an enviable reputation as a competent and successful attorney. In young manhood he traveled across the country to Wichita, Kansas, and in partnership with another person acquired land where the city of Wichita now stands. He was not enthusiastic, however, over the development of a town which was then a gathering place for cattle men and disposed of his interest at a very moderate figure. He spent five years at Fargo, North Dakota, where he was connected with Major Edwards, formerly editor of a Carlinville paper, in the publication of the Fargo Daily Argus. Later he went to Clintwood, Virginia, and engaged in the sale of coal land. About the middle of the '90s he took up his residence in Florida and for several years was identified with the fruit business. In 1898 he returned to Macoupin county and settled on a farm in Shaws Point township, which he had inherited. Here he continued until his death, May 22, 1903. Mrs. Robertson is still living and is now fifty-eight years of age.

In the public schools of Florida and Macoupin county Tilden Robertson acquired his preliminary education, later becoming a student at Blackburn College, Carlinville. He has been in charge of the home farm ever since he was eighteen years of age. This place comprises one hundred and twenty-seven acres and is one of the highly improved properties of the county, being provided with all the accessories necessary in an up-to-date farming establishment. Mr. Robertson is a thorough agriculturist and is also well acquainted with stockraising. He is an admirer of fine stock and keeps a herd of fifty head of fine sheep, several registered Jersey cows and six head of horses. He is also the owner of several residence lots in Carlinville. He is unmarried and his mother presides over the household.

Politically Mr. Robertson gives his support to the republican party, the principles of which he heartily espouses, and is now serving as clerk of Shaws Point township. He and his mother attend the Methodist church, to which they are liberal contributors. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, whose principles of brotherhood and helpfulness find in his heart a cordial response. An honorable representative of the type of energetic and progressive young men of America, he is rightly numbered among the promising citizens of Macoupin county.

Extracted 18 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 144-147.