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BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

of Fredericksburg; William H. H., Ellen W., Margaret J., Caroline, Mary E., Thomas S., who served in the Civil War, with the rank of lieutenant.     William H. H. Robertson, subject of this sketch, was reared upon a farm in Brush Valley township until nineteen years of age, attending the common schools during the winter, and still further educating himself by attending Mechanicsburg academy. He then clerked for a number of years, and in 1860 he went to Stoyestown and engaged in the mercantile and lumber business, and served as postmaster at that place. In 1863, when the State was invaded by the rebels, he removed the post-office and fixtures elsewhere, and raised a body of men and proceeded to Camp Howe. Not having enough men to entitle him to a captaincy, he returned to recruit enough men to form a company, it being understood that he was to be the captain of the same. On his way from the camp to the railroad station he was afflicted with a sunstroke, and for three months he lay helpless, sick almost unto death. This ended his service during the war. After recovering, he clerked for a time, and then took up agricultural pursuits in Indiana county. In the spring of 1866 he removed to Dilltown and engaged in mercantile pursuits.     In 1867, the old Robertson homestead being for sale, our subject purchased it and moved upon it, but, on account of his impaired health, was compelled to give up farming at the end of one year, and then sold out and removed to Mechanicsburg. From the above date until February 20, 1874, he was engaged in various lines of business, among which were farming, merchandizing, and real estate, at different places in the county. Upon the above date he removed to east Tyrone, Blair county,

where he took a position as a clerk in the office of the train-despatcher, but refused to hold the position long because he was called upon to work on the Sabbath. He shortly afterward went into mercantile pursuits at Bald Eagle, Blair county, but in 1876 returned to East Tyrone, and in addition to running a grocery store, served as justice of the peace.     In 1879 he returned to a farm in Brush Valley township, Indiana county, and farmed one year, next year went to Homer city, in the same county, and shortly afterwards to the town of Indiana, and in the spring of 1881, removed to Wilmore, this county, where he took charge of a store and lumber interests ; ran this until 1888, when he entered into a partnership with Philip Sherbine, and they carried on the mercantile business until 1891. During the latter year and in 1890, Mr. Robertson was engaged in the leasing of coal lands. In 1891 he moved to Tyrone, where he followed several lines of business. In 1895 he came to Morrellville and engaged in the mercantile business, where he is now located on Fairfield avenue. Mr. Robertson has been in business over thirty years, as the above record will show. He is a staunch republican and has held various offices at the different places at which he has been located; among them justice of the peace in his native township, at East Tyrone and at Wilmore, also constable of his native township. He belongs to a number of secret societies, among which are the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Masons and Chosen Friends.     Mr. Robertson has been three times married. His first union was with Miss W. J. Graham, and resulted in the birth of the following children: W. G. S., born September 20, 1863

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