Moving West: Thirteen Generations of a Smith Family

 Family Histories

Generation Seven
James Laughtery Robb and Mary Jane Kimmel


James L Robb and Mary Jane Kimmel
A special thanks to Jay Kimmel for sharing these pictures
(Note: The picture is a small thumbnail. Click on it to open the actual photograph)

James Laughtery Robb was born on 18 Sep 1819 in Sharon, Mercer, Pennsylvania and died on 14 Feb 1897 in Mercer County, Illinois at age 77.

James married Mary Jane Kimmel, daughter of Henry Kimmel and Anna Maria Hirst, on 29 Jul 1843 in Mercer County, Illinois. Mary Jane was born on 15 Apr 1826 in Trumble County, Ohio and died on 28 Jul 1886 in Fair Haven, Norton, Kansas at age 60. They had ten children: Warren H, Maria Louisa, David Alonzo, James Warren, Lucy E, Mary Catherine, Lois Elvira, Alice F, Esther Jane, and Sherman G

Warren H Robb was born on 24 Nov 1845 in Mercer County, Illinois, died on 2 Jan 1849 in Mercer County, Illinois at age 3, and was buried in Candor (Pope Creek) Cemetery, Seaton, Mercer, Illinois.  

Maria Louisa Robb was born on 26 Mar 1846 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois and died on 25 Feb 1903 in Bostwick, Nuckolls, Nebraska at age 56.  

Maria married Henry Albert Smith, son of Uri James Smith and Rhoda Pratt, on 14 Oct 1868 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois. Henry was born on 31 Oct 1835 in Colesville, Broome, New York and died on 14 Jan 1912 in Iola, Allen, Kansas at age 76. They had eight children: Rhoda J, Ralph M, Albert Ira, Mary Emily, Elmina M, Clyde Garfield, Edna Maria, and Uri James

David Alonzo Robb was born on 13 Apr 1848 in Mercer County, Illinois and died on 29 Dec 1930 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas at age 82.  

David married Tamson Louisa Smith, daughter of John B Smith and Margaret Boyles, on 19 Feb 1873 in Mercer County, Illinois. Tamson was born on 16 Apr 1855 in Marion, Indiana and died on 16 Sep 1926 in Phillipsburg, Phillips, Kansas at age 71. They had six children: Mary Margaret, Anna Louisa, Harriet Jane, David Alonzo, Della May, and Carrie Maud

James Warren Robb was born in Aug 1850 in Illinois and died on 24 Mar 1924 in Dane County, Wisconsin.  

James married Alwilda Andrews, daughter of Webster G Andrews and Cyrena Ann Benjamin, on 6 Jun 1871 in Fillmore County, Minnesota. Alwilda was born in 1854 in Wisconsin and died in 1912 in Chanute, Neosho, Kansas at age 58. They had five children: Warren, William, Mary, Eva, and Lucy

James next married Mary F Sutton in 1913 in Neosho County, Kansas.  

Lucy E Robb was born in 1852 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois and died on 12 Aug 1877 in Kansas at age 25. She did not marry or have children. 

Mary Catherine Robb was born on 21 Dec 1854 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois and died on 13 Oct 1924 in Seaton, Mercer, Illinois at age 69.  

Mary married Joseph Arthur Glancy, son of James Glancy and Sarah Jane Perkins, in 1876. Joseph was born on 16 Nov 1855 in Franklin County, Ohio and died on 23 Oct 1935 in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois at age 79. They had five children: James Clayton, Arba Robb, Faye Celeste, Lillie Mae, and Grace

Lois Elvira Robb was born on 19 May 1855 in Aledo, Mercer, Illinois and died on 18 Dec 1925 in Webb City, Jasper, Missouri.

Lois married Frank W Andrews, son of Webster G Andrews and Cyrena Ann Benjamin. Frank was born in 25 Sep 1855 in Wisconsin and died 9 Jan 1919 in Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri. They had nine children: Minnie, Fred, Horace, Edwin, James, Ira, Vera M, Goldie L, and William E

Alice F Robb was born in Aug 1858 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois and died between 1900 and 1910 about age 42.  

Alice married Leander Worth Furgison, son of Lilburn Furgison and Scynthia Margaret Miller, on 17 Dec 1881 in Phillips County, Kansas. Leander was born in 1855 in Franklin, Marion, Iowa and died before 1895. They had one child: Ethel.

Alice next married Amos Jenkins, son of Thadeus F Jenkins and Emily L, on 28 Apr 1895 in Dickinson County, Kansas. Amos was born in August 1861 in Aledo, Mercer, Illinois and died in 1942. They had one child: Gladys

Esther Jane Robb was born on 15 Jul 1862 in Aledo, Mercer, Illinois and died on 29 Mar 1955 in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor, Washington at age 92.  

Esther married Zadok (Joe) Alonzo York on 6 Sep 1880 in Prairie View, Phillips, Kansas. Zadok was born on 26 Feb 1858 in Balls Bluff, Illinois and died on 11 Mar 1949 in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor, Washington at age 91. They had four children: Ray Earl, Guy Talmidge, Mary Violet, and Eva E

Sherman G Robb was born on 22 Sep 1865 in Viola, Mercer, Illinois, died on 22 Dec 1887 in Abilene, Dickinson, Kansas at age 22, and was buried in Mount Olive Cemetery. He did not marry or have children.


Census Records

1850 census (image)
James L age 30 born in Pennsylvania
Mary J age 23 born in Ohio
Louisa age 4 born in Illinois
David A age 2 born in Illinois
James W age 1 month born in Illinois
County: Mercer Township: 13 N R 3 W State: Illinois Roll: M432_120 Page: 356

1860 census (image)
James L age 40 born in Pennsylvania
May J age 35 born in Ohio
Louisa age 14 born in Pennsylvania
David A age 12 born in Illinois
James W age 10 born in Illinois
Lucy E age 8 born in Illinois
Mary C age 6 born in Illinois
Gauis age 4 born in Illinois
Allice F age 2 born in Illinois
Township 14 N 2 W, Mercer, Illinois Roll: M653_211 Page: 817

1870 census (image)
James L Robb age 50 born in Pennsylvania farmer
Mary J age 43 born in Ohio
James W age 20 born in Illinois farmer
Lucy E age 18 born in Illinois
Mary G age 16 born in Illinois
Lois E age 14 born in Illinois
Alice L age 12 born in Illinois
Esther J age 7 born in Illinois
Sherman G age 4 born in Illinois
Greene, Mercer, Illinois Post Office Viola Roll: M593_260 Page: 190

1880 census (image)
James L. ROBB Self M Male W 62 PA Farmer IREL. OH
Mary Jane ROBB Wife M Female W 53 OH Housekeeping PA OH
Esther J. ROBB Dau S Female W 17 IL PA OH
Sherman G. ROBB Son S Male W 14 IL PA OH
Grant And West Union, Norton, Kansas Roll T9-0391 Page Number 394B

Obituaries

Obituary: Aledo Times Record February 25 , 1987

J.L. Robb was born in Sharon, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, September 19 , 1819. He died at the residence of Joseph Arthur Glancey, in Aledo , Illinois , February 14 , 1897 , being 78 years , four months , and 16 days old.
When a young man he learned the cabinet maker trade and came to Illinois and worked at his trade until his health broke down. After that time he devoted the greater part of his life to farming , until the death of his wife. He was married in August 1843 to Miss Mary Jane Kimel , who died July 28 , 1886. To them were born ten children , four sons and six daughters , three of which preceded the father to a better world. Two sons and five daughters still survive , one son living in Kansas , and the other  Wisconsin , two daughters in Missouri , and one in Oklahoma, one in Kansas and one in Illinois.
During the last eleven years he the deceased was a great  sufferer , but with great patience endured his suffering as one who was in the possession of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. His Christian life began early , at an age of about sixteen years , when he united with the Presbyterian church , and has continued to be a member of that church with the exception of short intervals when convenience caused   him to join other branches of the church of Christ.
He always felt at home in the church of his early choice , and during the last year of his life he was privileged to  enjoy his loved church relations , always attending divine services when he was able. He was always a great bible student , and few possessed so much bible knowledge as he did.
He loved the church , the ministry , and delighted in conversing upon the great doctrines of  the scripture. He was a loving  father and his children will  soon not forget the great lessons  that he taught them. But he is gone , his dear face we will see no more in this world , his voice is hushed in the silence of death , and we will hear his call  no more to the sick  bed , but we will meet him in a better and more glorious state of life  , where sickness , pain , and sorrow, and death will  never come.
Funeral services were held from the Presbyterian church in  this city on Wednesday morning at 10:00am. Dr. W.S. Davis officiated. The remains were taken to the Candor cemetery southwest of this city for burial.

Side note, Rev. J.W. Robb of Belleville, Wisconsin arrived here Tuesday evening to attend the funeral  of his father J.L. Robb. He expects to return to his home the end of the week.

A special thanks to Rochelle Phillips for sharing this obituary


Obituary: THE NORTON COURIER, August 5, 1886 - Cactus (Aug. 3)

There were three deaths in this neighborhood last week, Mr. Altman, Mrs. Robb and Paul Graphentine. All were buried in the graveyard by the sod church.

From the same paper, next page:

Died at Fair Haven, Norton County, Kansas, July 28, 1886, Mrs. Robb, wife of J. L. Robb, aged 60 years, 3 months and 13 days.  She had been a faithful wife, a good and devoted mother.  Wherever her lot has been cast she has evinced a spirit of meekness and Christian faith, ever ready to lend a helping hand to aid in deeds of kindness.  She leaves a dear companion whose health has been a daily care to her for the past two years, and whose trembling limbs remind us that he will soon join his loved one in that upper and better world.  Forty-four years of married life have been allotted to them.  Ten children have been given them to love and care for.  Her willing hands have done many things for their comfort.  Two of the children have passed on before her, eight are left to battle with life's tempestuous waves.  Yet they have a beautiful, beautiful example in the life of their dear mother, that w! ill act as a beacon light to guide their wandering feet to that haven of rest and peace.

A special thanks to Louise Hawthorne and Rochelle Phillips for sharing this obituary


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