Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 460 - 461 

HENRY ROBINSON is a leading citizen of Garden Plain Township, where he owns a large stock farm, and is extensively engaged in rearing cattle and in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Barren County, Ky., June 14, 1832, and is the son of Robert and Martha (Howard) Robinson, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. His paternal great-grandfather came from Ireland, and his grandfather was probably born in Virginia; his maternal great-grandfather was a native of Germany.

      The following is the record of the eight children born to the parents of our subject: Elizabeth, Rebecca, Harriet M., Henry, Christopher, Benjamin, Robert and Eliza. Elizabeth is the wife of John W. Howard, a farmer of Kentucky; they have fifteen children. Rebecca was the wife of Robert Boyd; she died leaving eight children. Harriet married Woodford Boyd ; she died leaving three children. Christopher married and died, leaving a family of children; Benjamin lives in Wichita; he is married and has one child. Robert, a farmer in Iowa, is married and has a family of three children; Eliza married James Peyton, lives in Kentucky, and has six children. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were respectable farming people, and had gathered together enough of this world's goods to enable them to bring their children up in comfort, and give them the advantages of a fair education in the common schools, besides the good home training they received.

      When about twenty years of age our subject left the parental roof to make his own way in the world. Shortly after, on the 3d of February, 1853, he took a most important step in the direction of establishing a home by his marriage with Miss Margaret Jones, the youngest child of Harvey and Lydia Jones. Her mother, who is still living, was born near Jonesboro, Tenn., Jan. 29, 1804. The father was born not far from the same town, Aug. 11, 1795, and died March 11, 1857. They were the parents of five children—Caroline, Jesse W., Nathan B. (deceased), Clinton A. and Margaret. Caroline married Richard Hammer, and died, leaving a family of five children; Jesse lives in Texas, is married, and has seven children; Clinton lives in Macomb, Ill., is married and has a family of six children; Margaret, our subject's wife, was born in Monroe County, Ky., April 10, 1837.

      After his marriage our subject farmed for one year in Kentucky, but in March, 1854, he moved with his family to Illinois, which then presented better opportunities for a poor man than were to be had in his native State, and located in McDonough County. At that time his means were very limited; be had but one horse, and was obliged to go in debt for nearly everything else that he needed in order to farm successfully. In about four years he was enabled to buy a quarter-section of wild land, but the hard times which preceded the war coming on, he feared he could not hold it, and sold it again, continuing to rent land after that until 1864, when he bought eighty acres, and in 1870 purchased an additional eighty acres. While a resident of Illinois Mr. Robinson took an important part in the administration of public affairs. He held the office of Supervisor for three years, and so popular and efficient was he in that office that his fellow-citizens wished him to hold it for a longer term of service, but he refused re-election. He was also Road Commissioner for seven years and Treasurer of the board.

      In 1879 Mr. R. suffered severe financial embarrassments and lost nearly all of his property, but he honestly paid all of his debts, and with the little he had left began anew to build up a fortune. Kansas, with its productive soil, its fine climate, and its many other advantages, seemed to him a land of promise, and he came here to re-establish himself, and at once bought the 160 acres of land where his home is now situated. Since that time he has been greatly prospered, and has added to his original purchase until he now owns 960 acres of land, which forms one of the best stock farms in this vicinity. He has 350 acres of it under plow and the rest of it in grass. Over this beautiful farm large herds of cattle roam, some of which are fine specimens of graded stock.

      To our subject have been born ten children, six , of whom are now living, as follows; William L., born Oct. 21, 1862; Edward E., Sept. 5, 1866; Elnora May, Aug. 18, 1868; Alfred H. and Albert B., March 21, 1871 ; Henry, Oct. 31, 1875. William married Miss Hattie Carr, and has one child, George Walter. Elnora married James T. Garnett, of Grand River, and has one child, Daisy May.

      Mr. Robinson is an influential member of the Democratic party, and takes a conspicuous part in public life. He has been Treasurer of the school district in which he lives for seven years, and is now Township Treasurer. His course as an office-holder has always been marked by strict fidelity to his trusts and by exceptional ability.

      The pleasant social and hospitable qualities of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are widely known, and they enjoy the esteem and respect of all in this community to a marked degree. They are well worthy of a place in this work.

[ Home ]