Robert Hume
This well-remembered pioneer was a son of William and Annie Hume, he a native of Virginia, and she of Pennsylvania, who were the parents of a large family, but who died when Robert was about fourteen years of age. Our subject was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1781, and in 1799 came with two older brothers to the vicinity of Westfall, Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he assisted in raising one crop. Thence he went to Chillicothe, and engaged as clerk in a store, remaining there until 1804, when he removed to this county, purchasing land in what is now Paint Township. In 1808 he marred Isabella Stockton Davis, a native of Morgantown, Va., and daughter of John and Isabella Davis, of that State. Of this union were born the following children: Alexander A., Annie (deceased), John D. (deceased), Robert (deceased), William (deceased), James S.. Thomas W. (deceased), Charles L (deceased), Eliza J. (the wife of Elihu Fallis), Evelina (deceased), Edgar (deceased) and Edmund (deceased). Mrs. Hume died in 1829, and he married Mrs. Elizabeth Huston, a daughter of John Arbuckle, who bore him two children—Edward (deceased) and Isabella (the wife of John Stroup).
The official career of Robert Hume spreads over nearly forty years of the county's existence. He owned about 600 acres of land, upon which he was living when Madison County was erected, and he was chosen as Clerk, and Recorder of said county, serving in both offices, respectively, from 1810 until June and July, 1815, at which time he resigned, removed to Chillicothe, and thence to Kentucky. In the spring of 1811, he erected a cabin on the site of John Dungan's residence in London, into which he removed from the farm the same year. A couple of years passed away, and the cabin was replaced by a substantial two-storied hewed log house, in which he kept a tavern until his removal to Chillicothe. During his absence from Madison County, a store was operated in London, under the name of Needham & Hume, these gentlemen supplying the capital. In a few years, he again came to Madison County, and in 1823-24 represented this district in the Ohio Legislature. He was County Treasurer from 1820, to June, 1838, and again Recorder from July, 1839, until his death May 9, 1854, his wife having died a few years prior to the latter date. Politically, Mr. Hume was a Whig, and an ardent supporter of his party. In size, he was of the ordinary cast of manhood, but although his life was a busy one, he seldom enjoyed good health, yet lived to the ripe age of seventy-three years. He was always regarded as a valuable citizen, and that the people had the utmost confidence in his ability and integrity, was demonstrated by the many official trusts they conferred upon him.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]