McNair, Robert R.

MCNAIR

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 16:04:09

ROBERT R. MCNAIR
born Mar 14, 1828, PA

R. R. McNair, one of the honored citizens of Warren county, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in a rude log cabin two miles from Somerfield, on the 14th of March, 1828. When not yet ten years of age his father was called away by death, leaving a family of six children and the afflicted widow, her youngest child being scarcely two years old. Our subject found a home with his grandfather, Robert McNair. The kind parent who departed this life so young was a native of Pennsylvania, his father having been an early pioneer of Fayette county, that State. The mother of our subject was a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. She struggled along with that kindly Christian fortitude, sad in the remembrance of her divided family circle, until 1888, when she joined her husband. One is laid at rest in Virginia and the other in Pennsylvania. Our subject was the third of their six children, viz.: Charlotte, wife of William Michaels, of West Virginia; Isaiah, a cabinet maker of Fredericktown, Ohio; R. R., the subject of this sketch; Catherine, now Mrs. Glass, of Ohio; Jane, widow of Abe Hophein, and a resident of Pennsylvania; and Andrew, engaged in agricultural pursuits in West Virginia. After attaining his fourteenth year Mr. McNair, the subject of this sketch, began work on his grandfather's farm. As soon as he was able to handle a team of horses he began to earn his own living among the neighbors. Being of a cheerful disposition, he always maintained an abundance of good courage, and by honest toil won his way into the hearts of his neighbors and employers. In 1861 Mr McNair began his Westward journey, eventually locating four miles from Columbus, Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he secured work. Two years afterward he journeyed on to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he rented land and again gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, remaining there about six years. In February, 1870, Mr. McNair started with a wagonteam for Iowa, crossing the father of waters at Burlington, and located on sections 26 and 35, Belmont township, Warren county. He has added to his original purchase of 160 acres, until he now owns 240 acres. He began the battle of life here in true pioneer style, possessing that courage characteristic of his race, being descended from Scotch ancestry. September 1, 1892, Mr. McNair moved to Milo, the pretty and growing city of his adopted county, purchasing the home of Lon Davis. In this pleasant home, in company with his good Christian wife, who has always been a great helpmeet and comfort to him, and in the companionship of his wife's mother, he chooses to pass his declining years, at rest from the more active toil of every-day life.
October 10, 1852, Mr McNair married Miss Nancy McNeer, a native of Fayette county, and a daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Clester) McNeer. The mother has resided with Mrs. McNair since 1885, and she is now eighty-five years of age, in possession of comparatively good health and all her mental faculties. Always childless, Mr. and Mrs. McNair took to their home William McNair when five years of age. They educated and started him on the high road of life, and he now resides in Belmont township, where he owns a fine farm of 120 acres. William knows no other filial love than that for his kind Christian parents by adoption, and is happy in their love. Alice, who also came into Mr. and Mrs. McNair's care at the age of two years, has never known other parents, and she enjoyed the kindly guardianship of this worthy couple until her marriage to E. J. Monfore, of Otter township, Warren county. Politically, Mr McNair affiliates with the Democratic party, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. Mrs. McNair worships in Rosemont Catholic church. Our worthy subject has always borne his part in the maintenance of this church, as he has also done in any honest enterprise for public good. The life of this good man has been an eventful one in many ways. Not born in the lap of luxury, he was early inured to toil, and without the aid or possession of a single dollar has won a place of affluence among the honored men of this county. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.304