More on William Rosborough

Marjorie and I have entertained the theory that William Rosborough was a relative of Margaret McCloskey, reasoning from our grandfather's being named after him and what we knew of his history.  But I finally got smart and did a search on his wife, which led me to this ebook republishing a history.(I've corrected obvious problems in the scanning. )

WILLIAM ROSBOROUGH was a represent-
ative business man of Randolph County,
and well deserves representation in its
history. He was born in Ballymena, Ireland, in 1802,
and when a youth of sixteen crossed the Atlantic
to America, locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. There
he entered the employ of a Mr. Mahard, who was
engaged in the commission business, and with
whom he continued until 1833.

In that year Mr. Rosborough married Miss Mary
Mahard, a sister of his employer. To them were
born five children. Elizabeth is now residing in
the old home in Sparta. Robert H., a railroad con-
tractor and auditor, and also a dealer in coal,
married Elizabeth McCutcheon, and they have
five children: William J., a railroad conductor;
Rachel, Robert H., Jr., .John and Allen. Martha
R., the third child of the family, is the widow of
Dr. ?eeper, who was born in Beaver County, Pa.,
in 1832, and there grew to manhood. He pursued
his literary studies in .lefferson College, and studied
medicine in the State Universily of Pennsyl-
vania at Philadelphia. He began practice in Ches-
ter, Ill., and afterward removed to Coulterville,
where he followed his profession for twenty - flve
years. His name is always mentioned in the high-
est terms of praise by all who knew him. He
won an enviable position in his profession, and
was a liberal and public-spirited citizen. Anna
J., another member of the Rosborough family, is
the wife of Daniel P. Barker, of Sparta, Secretary
and Superintendent of the Sparta Natural Gas
and Oil Company. He served in the Union army
as a member of Company K, One Hundred and
Forty-second Illinois Infantry, and at the close of
the war returned to Sparta, where he has since re-
sided. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have four children:
Albert M., now connected with the Rocky Moun-
tain News; Lewis, a student in Champaign, III.;
Mary R. and Elizabeth. Mary M., the youngest
member of the Rosborough family, is the wife of
the Rev. Hugh Y. Leiper, of Pravo, Ohio. They
have had five children: William, Hugh. Earl (de-
ceased), Donald and Mary.

In 1833 William Rosborough came to Illinois,
locating in Randolph County, where he at once
embarked in merchandising. In 1840 he removed
to Sparta, and continued general merchandising
in connection with the manufacture of castor oil.
He also engaged in the packing business, and later
in the flouring business. In 1882 he laid aside
all business cares, and after living retired for three
years, he was called to his final rest, at the age
of eighty-three. In the accumulation of property
he was very successful, but at no time did he sac-
rifice his honor for temporal benefit. He had the
confidence of his entire circle of acquaintances,
who regarded his integrity as above question.