Biography - Robert Chism
Robert CHISM, proprietor of the Raymond House, Raymond, was born in Grayson County, Ky., June 24, 1831, and was brought to Macoupin County, Ill., when one and a half years of age, and his education was received in the common schools of that county, and his early childhood was spent upon the homestead farm, assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits. When he attained the age of twenty years, he entered upon the battle of life for himself, continuing in the same occupation he had followed at home, until 1857, when he opened a hotel at Litchfield, Ill., where he remained one year; sold out, and again took upon himself the duties of a farm life, this time in Greene County, where he remained two years, and removed to Macoupin; remained there two years, then returned to Montgomery County, where he remained three years. He then purchased a farm consisting of eighty acres of prairie and timber land, in Macoupin county, part of which was improved, and the balance of which was improved by himself. He remained upon this farm about twelve years, when he sold his property, and followed in the stream of emigrants westward, and eventually located in Kansas, where he located 320 acres of land, and again opened a hotel. He remained in Kansas only two years, and then removed to Missouri, and found employment in a machine shop, operated by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company. He remained in the employ of the company two years, at the end of which time he returned to Macoupin County, Ill., and again took up agricultural pursuits. Four years later, he removed to Raymond, and entered a hotel upon the 22d day of August, and on the same night the building was destroyed by fire with its contents, the inmates barely escaping. However, being an energetic and enterprising man, and possessing a stout heart, he did not give up to despair, but immediately commenced the erection of the building he now occupies, which he moved into about three months after the fire, and where he is now performing the duties of mine host in a manner pleasing to all his guests and where he has succeeded in building up a large and steadily increasing trade. He was married in Macoupin County, June 24, 1852, to Catharine SKAGGS, a native of Kentucky, born in 1830, and died July 4, 1869, leaving to the care of her husband six children, viz.: Lizzie, Edward, Sophronia, Mally, Laura and Robert. Mr. CHISM was again married in the same county, March 21, 1871, to Helen (EUBANK) REED, widow of A. H. REED, and daughter of Stephen G. and Sarah (WAGGONER) EUBANK, he a native of Tennessee, and died in 1872; she, born in Sangamon County, Ill., and is still living. Mrs. CHISM was born in Menard County, Ill., August 31, 1846; she is the mother of three children, viz.: Alice Beryl, Bessie May and Sarah Grace. Although Mr. CHISM does not take much interest in politics, he is identified with the Democratic party. He has been a member of the A., F. & A. M. for a number of years.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 213-214.
