My Genealogy Hound

Robert C. Folger was born in Nantucket, Mass., January 6, 1810, his parents being Charles and Judith (Coffin) Folger. The father was also born in Nantucket, his birth occurring in 1780, and he was a son of Charles Folger, grandson of Frederick Folger, and great-grandson of Peter Folger, who was born in England, and came to America on account of religious persecution in his native land. On his way to this country he became acquainted with an Irish girl by the name of Mary Morrel, whom he married in Boston, and soon after settled at Nantucket, where he was engaged in milling and weaving, and reared a family of seven daughters and two sons, his youngest daughter, Abiah, becoming the mother of Dr. Franklin. The father of our subject was a whale-boat builder, a carpenter, and owner in whale ships. He was very successful in early life, but afterward lost $20,000 on sperm oil, in 1842-48, on account of the introduction of coal oil. He died in Nantucket in his eightieth year. His wife was born in 1785, and died in 1848, and became the mother of seven children, two of whom are living, Robert C., and Mrs. Mary Ray, who resides in Rootstown, Ohio. Robert C. learned the carpenter’s trade in Nantucket with his father, and followed this occupation for some time after attaining his majority. He located in Illinois in 1845, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until 1884, when he sold out and came to Laclede County, Mo., where he has a farm of 220 acres, nearly all under cultivation. He has traveled quite extensively, having been in all the Northern and Eastern States and Canada, but thinks Laclede County, Mo., the finest place he has ever been in, owing to its many natural advantages and its healthy climate. He was first married to Laura Ann Snow, in Nantucket, who died in 1849, having borne four children, two of whom are living: Nelson, who resides in Fulton County, Mo., and Everett, who resides in Illinois. In 1850 Mr. Folger married his second wife, whose maiden name was Melissa Cross. She was born in Ohio in 1835, but afterward moved to Illinois, where she was married, and is now the mother of these children, who are living: Ginevra (wife of J. Doner), Rosella, Samuel, Winslow (who resides in Iowa) and Clarkson, who is at home. Mr. Folger is a Republican.