Biography - Cecil J. Rawlings
CECIL J. RAWLINGS is a general farmer and the owner of a fine tract of
land comprising one hundred acres on section 27, of Pickaway Township,
Shelby County. His place is highly improved and every aid that science has
brought to bear upon agriculture, has been made to favor the improvement of
his property. He has erected a good class of buildings upon his place, the
most important and central being his residence, which is attractive from
without and comfortable and convenient within. Prior to his becoming
proprietor of this farm he was engaged in farming in this county, in which
work he has been devoted since his majority.
Our subject came to Pickaway Township with his parents in 1865. His advent
here was made from Maryland, where he was born in Cecil County March 11,
1853. His father was John Rawlings. a native of Maryland, who came of
Scotch-Irish ancestry, and a cousin on the maternal side, to George B.
McClellan, his mother having heen an aunt to the honorable gentleman. John
Rawlings lost his father when very young and was reared by his mother until
he became of age. About that time he learned the wagon-maker's trade, but as
the work did not agree with him physically he left it to become clerk in a
store, in which position he continued for a time, after which he went to
Guernsey County, Ohio. He there lived until 1865 when he removed with his
family to this State, purchasing a large farm in Ridge Township upon which
he made some improvements. Later, in 1883, he came to Pickaway Township and
secured one hundred and sixty acres on section 34, and there made valuable
improvements, purchasing other land and owning in this county not far from
seven hundred acres. He made and improved his property entirely by his own
efforts, being a practical and thrifty farmer, and was so fortunate as to
make the proper investments such a time as to return large profits to
himself. He died at his home in this township, September 29, 1887, being
then past sixty-nine years of age.
Our subject is the eldest of six children yet living — two children having
passed away. He of whom we write acquired a practical education in the
common schools of the district. He had the advantages of a beautiful home
life and an example in both parents of uprightness, honor and integrity, and
an ideal being constantly before him of gentleness and patience, which are
the leading characteristics that the sect to which his father belonged
endeavor to cultivate. He became of age in Ridge Township, and there married
his wife in April, 1878. Her maiden name was Amelia T. Robinson. She was
born in Kentucky, February 8, 1856. She came to this State and located in
Shelby County, when but a girl, in 1867, coming hither with her parents,
James J. and Margaret (Gaines) Robinson, who are now successful farmers in
Todd Point Township, this county. Mrs. Rawlings is of good family having
been reared most tenderly. She has taken advantage of every opportunity to
add to her native attractions by making the most of all educational
opportunities, and is the possessor of many accomplishments. for some seven
years before her marriage she was engaged as a teacher, and as teachers
generally do, she makes a delightful home for her husband.
Mrs. Rawlings is the mother of five children. Two of these are deceased,
namely: Mabel M. who was ten years of age at the time of her death, and
Loren who was but five months old when called away. The living children are
Adrian C., Zena B. and Ethel S. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian
Church. His wife belongs to the Christian Chinch, and although by force of
habit and education they go their different ways in church matters, they are
one in their Christian life, striving to do unto others as they would he
done by. As was his father before him. Mr. Rawlings is a Democrat, believing
those principles to.be the ones most favoring freedom in the sense that as a
Republic, we desire.
Extracted 25 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 666-667.
