Robert McDONOUGH, deceased, who for many years devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born in 1832. His father, Henry McDONOUGH, was likewise born in Pennsylvania and was a Scotch lineage. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, valiantly aiding the colonists in their struggle for independence. Henry McDONOUGH became a farmer by occupation and was a good business man. His wife, Margaret, was also a native of Pennsylvania and they became the parents of nine children, of whom two sisters are now living in Iowa, but the others have passed away.
Robert McDONOUGH acquired his education in the common schools of his native county, was reared to farm life and always carried on general agricultural pursuits. Leaving the east in 1856, when a young man of twenty-four years, he located in Saratoga township, Marshall county, and became a prosperous farmer. As the years passed he added to his possessions, and at his death left two valuable quarter sections of land in Saratoga township. He had retired from the active work of the farm in 1878 and had removed to Henry, where he lived until his death, which occurred on the 4th of June, 1906. He was then seventy-four years of age and his had been an honorable and active career, in which prosperity had been gained through diligence, perseverance and business integrity. He was very conscientious in all his dealings and was never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction.
In 1859 Mr. McDONOUGH was married to Miss Mary D. JONES, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1842, a daughter of William and Margaret JONES, who came to Illinois and located in Saratoga township, Marshall county, in 1854. They were valuable pioneer residents of that locality and there they reared their family of three children: Emma J., who became the wife of David McDONOUGH, and after his death married Charles BEARDSLEY; Mrs. Robert McDONOUGH; and James T., who is a ranchman in Nebraska.
Unto our subject and his wife was born a daughter, Jennie, who died in 1881 in her nineteenth year, her loss being the occasion of deep and widespread regret to her many friends as well as to her parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. McDONOUGH held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and were . interested in its work and growth. In politics he was an unfaltering republican and he held several township offices, while in Henry he served as a member of the city council. His interest in public affairs was often manifest in tangible ways and his influence in behalf of general improvement was far-reaching and beneficial. He stood very high in the esteem of his neighbors and friends, and left behind him an untarnished name.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
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