Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Tollington, Robert 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 4:03 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Robert Tollington, of English birth, came to the United States alone when 
sixteen years of age, and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his 
own resources for all that he has obtained and enjoyed in the business world. 
He was for a long period connected with commercial interests in Wilmington as 
a hardware dealer and is now enjoying life in comfort and ease, having retired 
from active business cares. He was born in Warmington, England, May 17, 1835, 
his parents being Thomas and Ann (Humberston) Tollington, who were likewise 
natives of England, in which country they were reared and married. The father 
died upon a sailing vessel in mid-ocean and was buried at sea. This was in 
1851, when he was sixty years of age. His wife had previously passed away, 
dying in England. He had followed the occupation of farming in his native 
country and had been a member of the Church of England there. He left his 
native land in order to better the financial condition of himself and family 
by establishing a home in the new world, but he was not destined to realize 
his hopes, for he became ill during the voyage and passed away, leaving a 
family of five children, who were with him on the ship. Three of the number 
are yet living: Thomas, who resides at Clear Water, Minnesota; Robert; and 
Jane E., who is the widow of William Ackhurst and resides in St. James, 
Missouri. Robert Tollington acquired his education in the schools of his 
native country and was a youth of sixteen years when he started with his 
father and the family for the United States. He landed at New York city and by 
rail proceeded to Buffalo, thence by way of the Great Lakes to Detroit, 
Michigan, on by rail to Chicago and over the Illinois & Michigan canal to 
Joliet. From the county seat of Will county he proceeded by stage to 
Wilmington, where he began earning his living by driving a team, for the death 
of his father had left him in extremely limited financial circumstances, so 
that immediate employment was rendered a necessity. After learning the tinners 
trade he followed that pursuit for a time and later went into the hardware 
business with Prindle & Tyler. He became one of the firm and after selling his 
interest in that enterprise he bought out the hardware business of Jessup 
Brothers, which he conducted for a quarter of a century, or until 1904, when 
he retired from active life. During that period he enjoyed a large trade, 
which was well merited by reason of his honorable dealing and his earnest 
desire to please his patrons. On the 20th of November, 1860, Mr. Tollington 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Monteith, who was born in 
Brownsville, Jefferson county, New York, December 25, 1839, and died July 2, 
1879. She was a daughter of Walter and Catherine (Vander Bogart) Monteith, who 
were natives of Scotland and had six children, Mrs. Tollington being the only 
daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tollington were born a son and daughter: William 
E., who is engaged in the hardware business in Wilmington; and Ethel C., the 
wife of David D. Elliott, in the railway postal service. They have two sons, 
Robert T. and Thomas. Mr. Tollington belongs to Wilmington lodge, No. 208, A. 
F. & A. M., and to Wilmington chapter, No. 142, R. A. M., while his daughter, 
Mrs. Elliott, holds membership with Wilmington chapter, No. 176, O. E. S., of 
which she is now matron. His political allegiance is given to the republican 
party and he has served as alderman of his city. He may truly be called a self-
made man, for his success has resulted entirely from his own efforts and as 
the years have gone by his life record has demonstrated the possibilities of 
successful accomplishment, which are open to young men of determination and 
force of character. Through the recognition and improvement of opportunity, 
through close application and unfaltering diligence, his progress has been 
marked by an unfaltering continuity until today he is enabled to enjoy well 
merited rest amid many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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