ABBOTT, ROBERT M.
Among the older citizens of Davenport who have retired from the active pursuits of business must be numbered Robert M. Abbott, who was for many years prominent as a grain and produce merchant. He is a descendant of one of the earliest families to settle in America. The first of his name to cross the ocean were George and Hannah (Chandler) Abbott, who settled in this country in 1640. They were natives of Yorkshire and Puritans in their religious faith and upon reaching Massachusetts located in Andover, where their house was a garrison during the early Indian troubles. Indeed, George Abbott became one of the important members of the little colony in those days and a monument was erected in his memory as its recorded in the annals of Andover. His son William married Elizabeth Geary, from whom was descended Philip Abbott, who was born April 3, 1699. He married Abigail Bickford and died in 1748, having been a participant in the struggles of the colonists. His son John enjoyed the distiction of having erected the first dwelling house in Wilkes Barre, Luzerne county Pennsylvania. It was erected in 1769 and was standing until 1812. There he was killed during the Indian troubles. He wedded Alice Fuller and of their union was born Stephen Abbott, the grandfather of our subject. He served in the war of the revolution and after its close returned to the estate his father had procured, where he followed the vocation of a farmer. He married Abigail Searls, July 14, 1799, and of their union was born John Abbott, the father of our subject. His birth occurred at the opening of the nineteenth century. Like his father he was a farmer and as he gained a success in his life's work he became a financier and man prominent in his locality. He married Hannah Courtright in early manhood and died November 23, 1860.
Robert M. Abbott, having as his heritage the record of ancestors who had become prominent in Wiles Barre, was born in that city, June 17, 1837. He received his early education in the place of his birth, which remained his home for several years after the death of his father. He engaged in agriculture, in which he attained proficiency, and about 1865 came to Iowa, locating in Davenport. Here he became connected with the grain business but after two years embarked in the hardware business, in which he remained for some time with Mr. Collamer. He then returned to the grain and produce business, to which he gave his attention until advancing years and a large competence suggested to him the feasibility of retiring from active life. During the years in which he was engaged in mercantile pursuits he evinced a keen appreciation of the value of grain and the operations upon the stock market, but, while he was never at a loss to profit by opportunity for bettering himself, the record of his dealings was never marred by any act which he might desire to keep hidden. His home is now at 1026 Brady street, where guests are made welcome and hospitably entertained.
On the 29th of December, 1864, Mr. Abbott was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Courtright. Like her husband she is a descendant of colonial ancestors. In the annals of Harlem the first member of the family bore the name of Sebastian Van Kortryck. He had come to this country from West Flanders, Holland, his people having gone there from Belgium in the seventeenth century. He was a man of wealth and social position and his descendants became prominent in the New Amsterdam colony. His son was known as Jan Bastian Van Kortryck, who in the course of years was the father of Hendrick Jans Van Kortryck. His son Cornelius wedded Christiana Rosencrans, and of their union was born Benjamin Courtright, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Abbott. He married Catherine Cuddebeck, and of their union was born John Courtright. He married Alice Abbott, nee Fuller, and became the father of Cornelius Courtright, the father of Mrs. Abbott. He in turn married Harriet Bailey, among whose children was Caroline Courtright, who on December 29, 1864, married Mr. Abbott and became the mother of three children. John Howard, was long known as one of the best young men in Davenport, where he was engaged in different pursuits. Recently, however, he has taken up his residence in Kansas City, where he is now engaged in the real estate business. Carrie Helene makes her home with her parents. She belongs to the Colonial Dames and takes an active part in the affairs of the society, while Mrs. Abbott belongs to the daughters of the American Revolution and also to the Colonial Dames. Robert Bruce is now in St. Paul, where for the past ten years he has been connected with a large department store.
Mr. Abbott has always been prominent in the public affairs of Davenport and many of the improvements of the city are the result of his suggestion or active work. In consequence he enjoys a large reputation besides the satisfaction of knowing that his sons profit by his example and are well advanced along the road to useful and successful lives.
This bio was extracted from the History of Davenport and Scott County, Vol. I and II, by Harry E. Downer, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. It was transcribed by Deborah Clough Gerischer.