Biography - Charles Tobin
Charles T. TOBIN was born in New Orleans, La., August 25, 1849. His father, who was a grocer, moved to St. Louis when subject was two years old, and remained there three years, during which time four of subject's brothers died of cholera. The family then removed to Peoria County, Ill., in 1854, where the father died about four years afterward, leaving five small children, Charles T. being the second son living. The mother then moved with her family to Brimfield, Peoria County, where the boys worked at anything they could find to do for the support of the family. Charles T. worked on a farm in summer and attended the town school in winter. At the age of seventeen, he entered the office of the Carlinville Democrat, where he remained four years, and thoroughly mastered the business in its various branches; he then obtained a position as foreman on the Cape Girardeau News; stayed about a year, and came to Hillsboro, Ill., in March, 1870; became foreman of the Hillsboro News Letter, working half time in the office, attending the remainder of the day the Hillsboro Academy, and pursuing his studies at night; he purchased the News Letter September 11, 1874, and, in partnership with James L. SLACK, published the Hillsboro Journal, the successor of the News Letter. After six months, he sold out his interest in the paper to Mr. SLACK, and became foreman of the Illinois Sentinel, of Jacksonville, remaining in that position three months. He then went to Springfield, Mo., where he had been engaged as foreman in the office of the Springfield Leader. There he remained six months; was afterward foreman of the Shelbyville Leader for a short time, and, July 30, 1875, purchased the Hillsboro Journal, changed the name to that of the Montgomery News, and, after eight months, sold a half interest in the paper to Ben A. JOHNSON. After this firm had published the paper a year, George W. PAISLEY, on August 11, 1876, bought out JOHNSON's interest in the business; this new firm then managed the paper till February 23, 1882, when they sold out to Col. JOHNSON. PAISLEY & TOBIN then purchased the Litchfield Democrat, changed the name to the Litchfield Advocate, and have since conducted it under that name.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 176-177.
