Wayne County

Robert N. Jessop

1884 Biographical Sketches of City of Fairfield

ROBERT N. JESSOP, insurance agent, Fairfield, was born June 18, 1842, in Kings County, Ireland. His parents, Robert Jessop and Anna Sturgeon were natives of Ireland, where they grow to maturity, and married. They had a family of nine children, but three of whom are now alive. The names of the children were

  1. Samuel S.
  2. Mary
  3. Alexander S.
  4. Robert N.
  5. Anna
  6. Carrie
  7. John O.
  8. Joseph

Those living are Samuel S., Alexander S. and Robert N.

Their father, who was a Methodist minister, came to the United States in the year 1848, and was first located in New York City, where he preached four years, from where be was sent to Danbury, Conn., remaining there two years.

His next field of labor was Sag Harbor, from whence he came to Fairfield, Ill, in 1856, having been transferred to  Southern Illinois Conference. He was here engaged as the traveling agent for the McKendres College of Lebanon, Ill. He died in Wayne County in 1867, and his wife died in same county two years later.

Robert N. Jessop had good educational advantages in New York and at Danbury, Conn., and in 1862, he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, his brothers Samuel and Alexander having gone into the army the previous year. He was mustered in as a private, but was raised to the rank of First Lieutenant, which commission he held at the time of his resignation in August, 1864.

He was married in Wayne County, in October, 1867, to Miss Josephanna Hand, a native of Wayne County, and daughter of Isaac and Angeline (Wilson) Hand. She was born in February, 1849. They have four children living--

  1. Robbie
  2. Caroline
  3. Anna
  4. Katie Jessop

Two have died, named Etta and Katie Jessop

Mr. Jessop is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Select Knights.



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