Robert Whiteley, Sr., a prominent retired farmer of
Macoupin County, Illinois, the owner of a fine farm of 725 acres, and now a
most highly esteemed resident of Carlinville, was born on the river Ouse,
within 15 miles of the city of York, Yorkshire, England, in August, 1819,
and is a son of Robert Whiteley.
The Whiteley family is one of age
and prominence in Yorkshire. The old homestead there has been in the
possession of the family for the past 500 years. The father of our subject
was thrice married, Mr. Whiteley and a sister being the children of the
first marriage. The latter, Ann, married William Thompson, and resided at
Maryville, California.
Robert Whiteley came to America in 1844, when
25 years of age, landing at New Orleans and coming up the Mississippi River
to St. Louis, thence to Alton, Illinois, and later reached Chesterfield,
where he was employed first by Captain Gelder and then by a Mr. Rocklington,
remaining with the latter employer two years, at a salary of $100 per annum.
Mr. Whiteley then returned to New Orleans where he secured very lucrative
employment at draying, during the winter months, returning to Illinois for
farm work during the summers. Thus alternating, he spent seven years. In
1852 he located on a farm in section 9, Bird township, which he had
previously operated on shares, and in 1857 he purchased the property. It
contained 265 acres, to which Mr. Whiteley later added 200 acres. This farm
under his capable management improved year by year and when he retired from
its active operation, in 1891, was considered one of the very best farms
in the county. Mr. Whiteley rents the property and since 1891 has resided in
a very handsome home at Carlinville.
In the spring of 1852, Mr.
Whiteley was married to Adelaide Morris, who was born in Macoupin County, of
English parentage. Her death took place in December, 1869, three of the
family of 10 children still surviving, namely: Mary, who married G. C.
Tunison, a farmer near Whitehall, Greene County, Illinois, and they have one
child, Ennis; Oello, who married J. E. McAliney, a farmer near Donaldson,
Bond County, Illinois, and they have one son, Emmett; and Robert, Jr., who,
since 1899, has been engaged in an agricultural implement business at
Carlinville, — in 1891 he was united in marriage with Laura Denby, who is a
daughter of P. L. and Margaret (Trible) Denby, the former of whom is a
retired farmer residing at Carlinville.
In politics Mr. Whiteley is
identified with the Republican party. In religious faith he is an
Episcopalian.
Few citizens of Carlinville are held in more esteem
than is Mr. Whiteley, whose hearty friendliness and pleasant, genial manner
makes even the stranger appreciate his hospitality. For many years after
becoming a resident of the United States, he found continued industry a
necessity, but this he never regarded in the light of a hardship. In the
evening of Hfe he finds himself surrounded with all that makes life
desirable,— large means of his own gaining, respect of his fellow citizens
which he has earned through upright living, and the care and affection of
his kindred.
Extracted 2018 May 04 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 34-36.
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