Biography - Robert Hagood
ROBERT B. HAGOOD, a retired farmer of Hillsboro, has long been among the leading agriculturists of Montgomery County. He is a Kentuckian by birth, a native of Todd County, and was born February 15, 1825. His father, Buckner Hagood, Jr., was born in South Carolina, and his grandfather, Buckner Hagood, Sr., was supposed to be a native of the Pine Tree State. Rosanna Hagood, our subject's grandmother, was of Irish birth and came to America when thirteen years of age. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Ellen Paden, and was born in South Carolina in 1788. Her father, John Paden, was also a native of South Carolina, and sojourned during almost his entire life in his early home.
The parents of our subject were united in marriage in Todd County, Ky., and there settled on a farm. Buckner Hagood died in 1837 or 1838, and was buried from the old homestead to which he had brought his bride so many years before. He and his wife became the parents of four children, but two died, in infancy, John was a babe of eighteen months when he died; Thomas passed away when about one year old. James S. died in 1876, leaving our subject the sole representative of an honest family and honored name.
When, in 1838, the widowed mother removed with her two sons to Montgomery County, Ill., Robert was thirteen years old and a manly, earnest boy. He received instruction in the schools of his new home, and did such work as he found to do. He remained with his mother until her death, and then he and his brother stayed for some time in the lonely house. This proved a very unsatisfactory method of housekeeping, and in December, 1872, Robert B. and Miss Esther Hughes were united in marriage. Mrs. Hagood is a pleasing lady of lovely character and was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 23, 1839. Her parents gave her the advantages obtainable in their neighborhood and she was well fitted to make the home of her husband a happy one. Mr. and Mrs. Hagood became the parents of one son, James B. A brave manly boy, full of life and strength, the idol of the home, he gave his life for another and perished while trying to save a drowning companion. The shadow of this bereavement rested heavily upon the home, which had been gladdened by his merry presence.
The management of the farm, its general agriculture and stock-raising, kept our subject busily employed for many years. Financially prosperous, he had well earned a rest, and in 1890 he retired from active work and removed to Hillsboro. The farming properties which Mr. Hagood has accumulated are located in various townships of Montgomery County. He has two finely-improved farms in East Fork Township, eighty and seventy-eight acres, respectively; two in Witt Township, of forty and eighty acres, and ninety acres of very choice land in Irving Township. These farms are all situated in an unusually excellent agricultural district and form valuable possession.
Mr. and Mrs. Hagood enjoy most pleasant church and social relations. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which our subject has long been one of the Deacons. Mr. Hagood is independent in politics, the man and not the party determining his vote. He is, however, an unrelenting Prohibitionist. Deacon Hagood, as he is familiarly known among his friends and neighbors, is singularly free from the debasing habits which enslave so many of his fellow-men. He has never used liquor nor smoked nor chewed tobacco, the use of which weed he considers morally and physically injurious.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 369-370.
