The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this paragraph is one of
the successful men of Union county. He is by primary vocation a farmer and
by admirable example has done much to advance and promulgate scientific
agriculture. His small but valuable farm of fifty-five acres has been
utilized to marvelous advantage and there is admiration and respect for a
man who can raise six hundred and thirty bushels of corn on nine acres,
which Mr. Rich succeeded in doing in 1911. He also manages his father's farm
of two hundred acres. However, he does not limit his energies to
agriculture, and since 1899 has engaged in the commission and brokerage
business in Cobden.
Robert L. Rich was born October 30, 1864, on a farm a mile and a half from
Cobden. He is the son of John M. Rich, who was born in 1828, in Alabama, and
the grandson of Thomas J. Rich, a native of North Carolina. The Rich family
came originally from England and are of Puritan stock, three Rich brothers
having been of the brave and pious little company who crossed the Atlantic
in the Mayflower and landed on bleak Plymouth Rock in 1620. Mr. Rich is thus
a Pilgrim son and one of the oldest and most honored stock in America. One
of these brothers went south, one to the northwest.
The father of the subject married Annie Uffendale, who was born in England
and came to America with her parents, the father's name being Michael
Uffendale. He subsequently found his way to Anna, Illinois, and there
engaged in mercantile business until his death. John M. came with his father
and the rest of the family from his native state in 1832, as a little lad,
the journey being made by ox team. They located on government land in Union
county and were of that fine pioneer stock which laid the foundations of
Southern Illinois' present prosperity. Thomas, the subject's grandfather,
fought in the Black Hawk war and lived until 1869, having in his lifetime
witnessed other American wars. He departed this life in the old house which
he had built on his pioneer farm. Mr. Rich's father and mother are both
living at advanced age, serene and respected in the pleasant sunset of life.
They make their home on the original homestead, which still remains in the
family. This consists now of two hundred acres, and the old gentleman still
cultivates several acres in fruit and vegetables. He has been a prosperous
farmer and has reared the following family of eight children: Thomas J.,
deceased; William C., residing at Anna; Michael M., a farmer located near
Cobden; George D., also located near Cobden and a farmer; Delia, now Mrs.
Randleman, of Alto Pass; Annie M. (Cox), living in Tennessee; Robert L.; and
Carrie (Parks), who makes her home at Anna.
Robert L. Rich was educated in the Public schools and subsequently
matriculated at Champaign University. He engaged in farming for a time and
in 1882 removed to Alto Pass, where he clerked for several years in a store
owned by his father and brother-in-law. This establishment was the property
of John M. Rich for a decade. In 1889 the subject removed to his father's
farm and conducted its affairs until 1894, in which year he was appointed
postmaster of Cobden, and he served faithfully and efficiently for four
years and four months under the Cleveland administration. In the years 1898
and 1899 he traveled for the commission company of C. P. Love & Company of
Chicago, and since the year last mentioned he has engaged in the commission
and brokerage business on his own account. He also manages his farm and that
of his father, the acreage under his cultivation being utilized as follows:
Apples, thirty acres; asparagus, twenty acres; rhubarb, twenty acres;
tomatoes, eight acres; melons, five acres; fifty acres in corn and the
remainder in pasture and hay land.
Mr. Rich was married in November, 1888, at Alto Pass, to Emma B. Abernathie,
daughter of William C. and Mary Abernathie, of Alto Pass, the father a
prominent farmer. The demise of this admirable lady occurred May 18, 1909,
at the age of forty-two years, and her only child, a son, Raymond Lee, died
at six months of age.
Fraternally Mr. Rich belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Cobden and he is a
member of the Congregational church, to whose tenets his Pilgrim origin
predisposes him. He is a Democrat in politics and is influential in party
councils. He is serving at the present time as precinct committeeman.
Extracted 13 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, volume 3, pages 1109-1110.
| Jackson | Williamson | |
| MO |
 |
Johnson |
| Alexander | Pulaski |
