Montgomery County – Its Early Officers and Citizens

By A. H. H. Rountree, in the Anti-Monopolist , May 06, 1874

Robert KIRKLAND was born in North Carolina in 1785 and moved to Tennessee when still young and there married Jane LONG.  They lived in Tennessee until after the birth of eight children: Eleanor, Daniel, John, Elizabeth, Nancy, James, Stephen B., and James K.

In 1829 with his large family he moved to Illinois and bought a small improvement from Ben ANDERSON at what has since been known as KIRKLAND grove and there uncle Robert lived the rest of his long life.  Another child, Martha A., was born to him there.  In 1831 his wife dead, an estimable woman, a true, pious wife, with big heart, big energies, patient, living, kind and like all pioneer women of that day; generous, hospitable and useful.

Uncle Robert after remaining a widower for some years married a second time, a widow lady named Mrs. GARRISON who also had a large family.  The bringing together was followed by the usual results.  Differences among the children that made their married life so uncomfortable that they mutually agreed, but kindly agreed, that it was best to separate.  The old lady with her own family (with perhaps one exception) went to Texas.

Uncle Robert in 1848 married a third time to Rebecca SACKET, a married that lasted nine years; when she died leaving no children.  He did not marry any more.  He died in 1862 at the age of 77.

Of the children of Robert KIRKLAND, Eleanor his oldest daughter married John K. LONG in 1831 (John was her cousin) and to them were born twelve children, only three of whom lived to become heads of families.  William J. LONG married Maria MCPHAIL and to whom one child was born and shortly after both father and child died, and his widow married Louis ATTERBURY, and they have one child.  Sarah K. LONG married Frank M. REDDING and died early, leaving one child – a daughter who is still living with her father near New Douglas.  Daniel S. LONG, the only living child of John K. LONG is married and has two children, and lives in Bond County.