FRANCIS MARION ROBERTSON          GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

Biographical Sketch

  Francis Marion Robertson was born November 19, 1841 in Dorchester county, Maryland and died in Coyville, Kansas on January 4, 1926.  He began his career as a school teacher.  When the Civil War began he entered the Union service, shipping on a transport in Chesapeake Bay.  Later he enlisted in the 11th Maryland Infantry and served with this regiment until the close of the war.

  He resumed teaching in Maryland went to Iowa in 1866, then to Illinois and came to Kansas in 1869, settling first in Riley county but coming in 1870 to Wilson county where he resided till his death.

  He took a claim and engaged in farming and teaching.  In 1883 he established himself in the drug business in Coyville and the same year was appointed postmaster there.  He added hardware and groceries to his store stock and acquired large holding of land along the Vardigris river.

  He was a member of the 1883 Kansas legislature as representative from Wilson county and was chosen state senator to succeed S. S. Benedict, who died after being elected in 1904.

  At the time of his death he was survived by his wife and four children, two sons and two daughters.  The daughters were Mrs. W. E. White of Chanute, Kansas and Mrs. E. T. Blackwood of Burlington, Iowa.  The sons were George of Coyville, Kansas and William of Toronto, Kansas.