Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 361 - 362 

GEORGE S. ROBERTSON. Among the active farmers and stock-raisers of Eagle Township the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch holds a prominent place. He is a native of Illinois, born in Mason County, Oct. 28, 1852, the son of Samuel and Martha (Jones) Robinson, both natives of Kentucky, where they spent their earlier years. His father departed this life at the age of sixty-one years. He was a man of great force of character, and after removing to Illinois took an active part in general and local affairs. He was a very successful agriculturist, and was engaged in that occupation until his retirement from active life about fourteen years prior to his decease, he having accumulated a comfortable competence. The mother is still living on the old home place in Illinois. To him and his wife were born five children, namely: John Wesley, Elizabeth, George S., Alice and William; two others are dead. 

     The subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof-tree until fourteen years of age, attending the district school, where he received a good common-school education. He then engaged work as a farm laborer, continuing thus occupied the ensuing four years, when he returned home. The following year, being then nineteen years of age, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Wilson, daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Fink) Wilson, natives of Ohio. Neither are living, her mother's death preceding that of her father's, which occurred in 1872. 

     Mr. Robertson has always been engaged in general farming and has been exceedingly prosperous in that occupation. After remaining several years in his native State he concluded to cross the Mississippi and test the truth of the brilliant accounts of the advantages offered to those engaged in agricultural pursuits in sunny Kansas. Accordingly, in the fall of 1880 he removed to Sedgwick County. He did not purchase a farm at once, but the first year rented a farm on section 26, Eagle Township, where his labors were rewarded with such good harvests that he was encouraged to buy a farm. He therefore purchased 160 acres of land on section 24, where he lived for eighteen months, then disposed of his property to Boone Watts, and bought eighty acres on section 25, of F. M. Furnish. Subsequently Mr. Robertson bought of the Santa Fe Railway Company eighty acres more on the same section, joining his previous purchase on the northeast. This tract of 160 acres he has improved from raw prairie land, on which a furrow had never been turned, to one of the best cultivated farms in the township, producing some of the finest crops in the vicinity. It is well watered and has great natural advantages, being well adapted to tillage or grazing. Our subject makes a specialty of stock-raising, having commenced with ten head of milch cows, and has increased the number each year, having now eighty-four head, though he has had as many as 110 head. He sells principally in the home market. He has a good grade of cattle, among them being some Shorthorns. His horses are of good blooded stock, one stallion being a cross of Morgan and Norman. His mares are Clydesdale and Morgan crossed, and were shipped to him from his native county, Mason, Ill. Mr. Robertson is one of the representative men of Eagle Township, and an important factor of the farming and business community, being a wide-awake, energetic man, willing to aid any work that will assist in developing the resources of the township. 

     To Mr. Robertson and his excellent wife have been born nine children, namely: Charles Henry, Eliza Belle, Joseph Marion, George Lester, Frederick C., Birdie May, and three who are dead: Samuel died Feb. 22, 1880; Julia L., Dec. 2, 1882, and William A., June 26, 1887. Their pleasant home is a center of attraction to a large circle of friends and acquaintances, whose esteem and confidence they have won by their cordial manners, kind acts, and hearty sympathy with all. Mr. Robertson is a member of the Union Labor party, and an earnest worker.

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