ROBERT B. NEWLON
Robert B. Newlon bought one hundred and sixty-eight acres of land on section 1, Noble township, in 1868, and settled on it in the spring of 1869.
Robert B. Newlon came to this county in 1869, and bought one hundred and sixty-eight acres of land on section 1, township 14, range 36, now known as Noble. He settled on the place the following spring. He is a native of Indiana, born in Washington county, Mary 10,1838. His parents were Smithson and Nancy (Wilson) Newlon. The former was a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. When Robert was one year old, they removed to Edgar county, Illinois, where he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools. He was reared a farmer.
In 1853 he went overland to California, being six months on the way. He engaged in livery business at Viaseta, one and one-half years, then worked at mining until 1856, when he returned home, via Nicaragua. he engaged in the drug business at Dallas City, Hancock county, Illinois, continuing there until April, 1861, when he enlisted for three months. In May he re-enlisted for three years in company I, of the Sixteenth Illinois Infantry, and served until the expiration of his term of enlistment. He took part in the battles of New Madrid, siege of Corinth, Stone River, Lookout Mountain and others. He was wounded in a skirmish before Nashville. he was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, and returned to Dallas, Hancock county, where he remained until 1869. He was married in that year to Mary E. Bright, a native of Vermillion county, Indiana. They have ten children -- Nettie, Sarah, Leander B., Alta, Bebee, Hiram, Ella, Emma, May and Oliver. Mr. Newlon was one of the men who assisted in the organization of the Republican party in Hancock county, Illinois, and was intimately acquainted with Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 656-657.
