An ex-soldier of the civil war and a well-known and much respected citizen of Allen township, LaSalle county, Illinois, is found in the subject of this sketch, Robert Linfor, whose post-office address is Ransom.
Mr. Linfor dates his birth in Longsutton, Lincolnshire, England, October 1, 1846, and is a son of William and Dinah (Isaba) Linfor. He spent the first two years of his life in his native land and in 1849 came with his parents and other members of the family to America, their objective point being Ottawa, Illinois, where they settled and lived a short time and whence, in 1856, they subsequently moved upon section 20, Allen township, locating on a farm. Here the father lived until 1879, when he removed to Syracuse, New York, where he is now living, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The mother died February 28, 1879, at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of four children, namely: John, a resident of the same township in which his brother Robert lives, and, like him a veteran of the civil war; William, of Walnut, Iowa; Sarah Colder, who died in Kansas; and Robert, whose name introduces this review.
Robert Linfor was engaged in work on his father's farm at the time the civil war broke out. His love for his adopted country at once asserted itself by his enlistment in the Union army. As a member of Company C. First Illinois Light Artillery, under Captain M. H. Prescott and Colonel Charles Hathling, he went to the front, being with the forces that operated in the south. He was in the engagements at Kenesaw Mountain, Bentonville and Atlanta; was on that famous "march to the sea," and took part in the grand review of the victorious armies at Washington, D. C. June 12, 1865, he was honorably discharged and returned home.
Mr. Linfor has made farming his life work. Since 1875 he has owned and occupied his present farm, a fine tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Allen township. His modern residence he erected in 1891; he has large barns and other farm buildings, and the general appearance of his firm is indicative of thrift and prosperity.
June 9, 1867, was consummated Mr. Linfor's marriage to Miss Cynthia Alice Isgrig, of Allen township, LaSalle county, Illinois. She was born in Ohio and is a daughter of Wilson and Mahala (Loveland) Isgrig, natives of New York and now residents of Glidden, Carroll county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Linfor have four children, namely: Carrie, wife of Grant West, of Chicago; Lottie, wife of A. Berge, of Allen township; John W., at home, was a member of the Third Illinois Infantry, Illinois National Guards, from 1893 to 1897; and Mabel, at home.
Mr. Linfor has always given his support to the Republican party and has taken an active interest in local affairs, serving officially in various capacities. For twelve years he has been a member of the school board and he has served as township collector two years. He is a member of several fraternal organizations, including the Knights of Pythias, Lodge 312, of Ransom, and the G. A. R. post at the same place.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 224-225.
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