RobertB. McMaster
ROBERT B. McMASTER was born in Highland county,Ohio, February 8, 1827, a son of David McMaster, who was born in countyDown, Ireland. The paternal grandfather, John McMaster, was a native ofIreland, of Scotch ancestry. He emigrated to America in 1807, and settledin Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he lived until 1818. He removed toOhio in that year, and located in Highland county. He bought a tract ofheavily timbered land, built a log cabin in the midst of the forest, andresided there until his death. He married Jennie McKee, of County Down,Ireland; she died on the farm in Highland county, the mother of four children:James, David, Arthur and Robert. David McMaster, the father of our subject,was a lad of twelve years when his parents crossed the sea to America.He was married in Virginia, and lived there until 1816, when he removedto Kentucky; at the end of one year he went to Highland county, Ohio, wherehe was among the pioneers; he bought a tract of timber land, erected thecharacteristic log cabin with a mud and stick chimney, and began the taskof clearing a farm. Cincinnati was the nearest market town, sixty milesdistant, wild game was abundant, and the mother carded, spun and wove thecloth with which her children were dressed. In 1836 Mr. McMaster sold thisfarm and came to Illinois, accompanied by his wife and six children; theymade the journey in a four-horse wagon, camping on the way. He first locatedin Fulton county, and in 1838 came to Schuyler county, and rented untilhe bought land in Rushville township, where he resided until his deathin 1866. His wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Wardlaw, a native of Rockbridgecounty, Virginia, and a daughter of William and Mary Wardlaw, natives ofScotland. They reared a family of six children: Mary C., William W., JohnM., Robert B., Jane C. and Sarah A.
A lad of nine years, Robert B. McMaster cameto Illinois, and well remembers many incidents of the journey and the trialsand privations to which they were subject on the frontier. He attendedthe pioneer schools, and received a training which fitted him for the ordinaryduties of life. He remained with his parents until 1850, and in March ofthat year started for the Golden State. He took the overland route, andaccomplished that perilous journey without accident or disaster. He arrivedin California in July, and at once engaged in mining; he continued thisindustry until 1852, when he returned to Illinois. He bought land includedin the tract he now owns on section twenty-two, Rushville township, andhas been one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers of the county.He was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he purchasedproperty in and adjoining Rushville, and erected a handsome residence whichhe now occupies.
Mr. McMaster was married in 1853, to RachelQuinn, and they had a family of three children: Curtis died at the ageof twenty-eight years; Jennie died in infancy; Mary married Marshall Finch,and has two sons, Robert and Wade T. Mrs. McMaster was born in Hardin county,Kentucky, November 14, 1836, a daughter of Thomas Quinn, a native of Virginia.He married Nancy Kennedy, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, and a daughterof Peter and Rachel (Colvon) Kennedy. In 1837 they moved to Illinois withtheir family of eight children, and settled in Schuyler county; the fatherdied in 1844, but the mother survived until 1886, in her eighty-fifth year.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 230-231.
Copyright1999-2006 Judi Gilker; all rights reserved. For personal use only.Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictlyprohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appearwith the information.
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