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ITEM: Robert C. Abercrombie
Biography
SOURCE: Portrait
and Biographical Album of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Chicago,
Acme Publishing Company, 1889
ROBERT C. ABERCROMBIE, one of the early settlers and prominent
citizens of Fond du Lac County, residing on section 7, in the town of
alto, was born in Lower Canada, July 5, 1827, and is of Scotch and English
descent. The founder of the branch of the Abercrombie family to which
he belongs, in an early day emigrated from his home in Scotland to America,
locating in the New England States. The maternal grandfather was a native
of England but became a resident of this country prior to the Revolutionary
War, in which he served as a commissioned officer.
Dr. Robert S. Abercrombie, father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire,
and wedded Miss Mary Been, a native of the Green Mountain State. After
completing his literary studies, he entered the medical college at Peachem,
from which he was graduated. In connection with the management of his
other business interests he engaged in practice and for thirty years was
also actively engaged in the lumber business. In his youth he removed
to Canada, as did also the lady who became his wife, and their they formed
the acquaintance of one another and were married. They were ernest Christian
people, highly respected by all who knew them, and reared a family of
eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was
fifth in order of birth. Mr. And Mrs. Abercrombie spent their entire married
life in Canada, where the death of the husband occurred at the age of
eighty-seven years, while his wife departed this life in [sic] when seventy-four
years of age.
The subject of this notice is numbered among the leading and influential
citizens of the county, and is one of its self-made men. The educational
advantages which he received were very meager. The school-house was three
miles from his home, and he was only permitted to attend a short time
during the year. However, by subsequent reading and an extensive and active
business career he has acquired a valuable fund of information and is
a man of more than average intelligence. He keeps himself well informed
on all leading issues of the day, both State and national, and is an interesting
conversationalist. At the age of twenty-two years he began life for himself
and for some time engaged in lumbering, in which enterprise he laid the
foundation of his future success.
On the 2d of April 1849, Mr. Abercrombie was united in marriage with Miss
Nancy Towne, a native of Canada, born June 29, 1830. Five years later,
in 1854, with his young bride he left his old home and emigrated to Wisconsin,
locating in this county. He then settled upon the farm where he yet makes
his home, but in the meantime, at intervals, has resided elsewhere. His
farm comprises 210 acres of fine land, which is highly improved and cultivated
and displays the industry and enterprise of the owner. He also owns some
property on the Pacific Coast, whither he has been three times. In 1869
he purchased a tract of land in Iowa, but after residing thereon for ten
months sold the farm at an increase of $4000 upon the purchase price.
For several years he was also engaged in the wholesale flour trade in
the east, representing the Brandon Mills. He carried on the Ensign House
at Brandon as early as 1856, and in 1886, in company with his son, embarked
in the cattle business in Kansas, but the drouth and fall of prices caused
them to abandon the enterprise after four years. Mr. Abercrombie has been
remarkably successful in almost all of his business transactions, and
has secured for himself and family a handsome competence. He is industrious,
energetic, sagacious and far-sighted, and possesses a steadfastness of
purpose which will not brook defeat. He is a close observer, and in his
extensive travels has gained a knowledge of the world and its ways, which
he could never have acquired from text books.
To Mr. And Mrs. Abercrombie have been born seven children, five of whom
are yet living: Ada A. is the eldest; Avaline A. married J. L. Patton,
and by their union have one child; Amanda E. died aged four years; William
R. is the next younger; Maud L. died aged three years; Nellie J. wedded
Nathan Ulm, and Loren T. married Jessie Ostrum, and has two children.
The parents are both members of the Universalist Church. In politics,
Mr. Abercrombie is a Greenbacker, with strong tendencies toward the Prohibition
party. He has been a member of the European Secret Service Force for nine
years, and is one of the honored citizens of this county, where he has
made his home for more than a third of a century. He commands the respect
and confidence of all by his upright life and sterling worth, and none
know him that do not esteem him. (Portrait and Biographical Album of Fond
du Lac County, Wisconsin, Chicago, Acme Publishing Company, 1889)
NOTES:
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