 Shortly after his birth, Robert, his parents, and his older sister, Catherine, moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where they lived for the rest of his childhood.In 1833 he moved to Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio where he began work as a schoolteacher and later served for six years as a school examiner.On May 14, 1833 Robert married Martha Robeson the daughter of Charles Robeson.