Charles Benjamin Robertson was born on September 2, 1865 to Joseph Robertson and Candace Caroline Dean. According to his obit, Charles was born in Marion, however, the first census record he was found in was the 1870 census and the family was living on a farm in Southern Township at that time near Pulley’s Mill. His father, Joseph 56, and mother, Candace C. 44 were working the farm and had nine children including 4 year old Charles. His sibling’s names were Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Martha, Eugene, Lucy, Jasper, & Arabelle. His father owned the farm they lived on and valued the real estate at $1,000 and his personal estate at $600.
Ten years later, when that 1880 census was taken, his 65 year old father and his 52 year old mother, Candace were still working their farm in Southern Township and only had two sons left in the home, Charles 14 and Joseph H. 17.
Charles completed his 8th grade education in the rural one room school houses of that area and at the age of 21 got married to 16 year old Fannie Swindell on December 13, 1885 in what was then called Union Precinct but would be Creal Springs Township today. Fannie was the daughter of W.T. Swindell and Francis Willard. Only ten months later on October 19, 1886, Fannie gave birth to a daughter named Annie Laura Robertson, Fannie then died in childbirth. Since no records have been found on the daughter it is presumed that she also perished during the childbirth.
On November 4, 1891, Charles again remarried to his second wife, Mary Ann Hightower, in Cobden, Illinois. Mary had been born near Murphysboro, Illinois on July 31, 1872 to Andrew Jackson Hightower and Caroline Hines. Mary Ann was a graduate of Cobden High School (then a 2 year program).
When the 1900 federal census was taken, Charles 34 and Mary 28 were living in Cobden, Illinois and Charles was working as a bartender. They owned the home they were living in but it had a mortgage. The couple at the time reported that they had birthed 2 children and both were living in the home. One was named Doris aged 3 and the other daughter was 4 months old, but no name was given for her on the census.
By 1907. Charles and Mary were listed in a Marion street directory as living at 1309 W. Cherry Street and working as a carpenter
By the 1910 census, they were still living in a home they owned free of mortgage at 1309 W. Cherry Street. Charles 45 and Mary 37 had three children in the home, Doris 13, Forest C. 7 and Paul aged 3. No mention as to the young unnamed daughter from the 1900 census was noted. Also, living with the couple was Mary’s widowed 61 year old mother, Catherine Hightower. Charles was listed as working the carpenter trade as a builder.
In the 1910 Marion city election, Charles was elected as a city alderman under Mayor J.C. Mitchell and then again in 1911 under Mayor J.H. Burnett.
An article in the Marion Leader from 1914 noted that Catherine Hightower, mother of Mrs. C.B. Robertson had passed away at the home of her daughter at 1309 W. Cherry. She was the widow of Andrew J. Hightower.
When the 1920 census was taken, Charles 54 and Mary 46 were still in their home at 1309 W. Cherry St. and had two children left in the home, Forest C. 16 and Paul J. aged 12. Charles was then working as a lumber salesman. A city street directory from 1922 indicated that Charles was manager of the Marion Lumber & Fuel Company, which was located on W. Main Street where Bob Stotlar Building Center is located today.
Charles and his wife were still listed in Marion city directories through 1923 but clearly moved to the Carbondale area to live in 1924 where they were listed on tax records in Carbondale Township through the late 1920’s.
In the 1930 federal census, the couple were located living at 307 S. Norman in Carbondale renting a home at the rate of $27.50 per month. Charles 63 and his wife Mary 56, had one son left in the home, Forest C. aged 27 who was working as a salesman for a paint factory. Also in the home was Forest’s wife, Lucille, aged 23, and their daughter Patricia. No one listed an occupation in the family except Forest which meant he was likely paying the rent, even though his father, Charles, was listed as head of household.
By the 1940 census, during the depression, Charles 74 and Mary 55 had returned to live in Marion at 505 S. Bentley Street which they owned and valued at $1,000. It was noted in the census that Charles had completed his 8th grade education and Mary had completed 2 years of high school. No occupations were listed so it is assumed the couple were in retirement.
On March 20, 1946, Mary Robertson died at their home at 505 S. Bentley Street. She was survived by one daughter Mrs. Laney (Doris) Adkins, and two sons, Charles Forest Robertson of Gibson City and Paul J. Robertson of Rantoul, Illinois, and one sister, Mrs. W.A. Dew, Wenatchee, Washington. She was a member of the Second Baptist Church in Marion. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
After Mary’s death, Charles went to live with his son, Charles Forest in Gibson City, Illinois where he lived in the Ford County Nursing Home at Paxton, Illinois for two and a half years until his death on July 15, 1950.
Mr. Robertson was a lumber dealer in Marion for many years. He is survived by two sons, Charles F. Robertson of Gibson City, Paul J. Robertson of Crystal Falls, Michigan, a daughter, Mrs. Laney (Doris) Adkins of Marion. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
His body was returned to Marion for interment with his wife Mary in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Notes on Children:
Annie Laura Robertson, (by first wife) born and likely died in childbirth along with her mother, Fannie, on October 19, 1886
Doris Robertson Adkins, born in Cobden, December 5, 1896, married Laney Adkins, died October 28, 1986
Charles Forest Robertson (aka Forest C.), born in Vienna, February 4, 1903, married Margaret Lucille in Michigan on March 3, 1920, died March 22, 1982
Paul Joseph Robertson, born February 24, 1907 in Marion, married Mattie M. Johnson in August 1932 in Iron County Michigan, died August 16, 1992 in Crystal Falls, Michigan, buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.
(Sources: Federal Census records, Marion city street directories, Marion city cemetery records, Williamson County Marriage records, The Leader, the Southern Illinoisan, the Marion Weekly Leader. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 1/24/2024)