Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Robinson, Edwin H 
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Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

Edwin H. Robinson, one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of 
Maine township, is descended from sterling Huguenot ancestry. His remote 
ancestors were witnesses of the massacre of St. Bartholomew, and on account of 
religious persecution fled to England in 1772. From the progenitor of the 
family in England William Robinson was descended, and he was married on the 
6th of February, 1799, to Mary Taylor, of Oxfordshire, England. She was of old 
English stock, and the family were land-owners and farmers, having four 
hundred acres in Oxfordshire. Unto William and Mary (Taylor) Robinson were 
born the following children: William D., whose birth occurred December 1, 
1799; John, born March 21, 1802; Samuel, January 16, 1805; Elizabeth, 
September 15, 1806; Anna, December 3, 1807; Edward, March 29, 1810; and 
Frances Johanna, November 15, 1813. The father of these children was a wood-
carver to the crown of England. He was born and reared in London, obtained a 
good education in the French Huguenot College of London, and at the time of 
the invasion of Napoleon he was a member of the Home Guard. He held membership 
in the Church of England and died in London at the age of forty-four years. He 
was a man of upright Christian character and sterling worth.

John Robinson, his son, and the father of our subject, was born at St. Ann's 
Court, on Great Russia street, in London, March 21, 1802, received a liberal 
education and was graduated in the French Huguenot College in the metropolis. 
In his early youth he learned the wood-carver's business, and for many years 
followed that pursuit, meeting with good success. He was married at Box Hill, 
in county Surrey, England, August 13, 1833, to Elizabeth Hays, whose birth 
occurred near Bristol, in Gloucestershire, April 7, 1812. She was a daughter 
of John Hays, a carpenter and freeholder, who lived to be eighty-nine years of 
age, and died near his birthplace. His first wife died in early womanhood, and 
he was afterward married again. The children of the first union were: 
Elizabeth, Charlotte, Samuel, and several others whose names are not 
remembered. After the death of her mother Elizabeth Hays lived with her sister 
Charlotte, who had married Richard Teast, a well-known ship-builder of 
Bristol, England, who made his home in London. After their marriage John 
Robinson and his wife sailed from London, on the 28th of October, 1833, for 
New York, and after a voyage of seven weeks arrived in the American 
metropolis, on the 11th of December, 1833. They remained in that city until 
June, 1834, Mr. Robinson spending his time in looking over the country in 
search of a suitable location.

He finally took up his residence at Dublin, in Franklin county, Ohio, in June, 
1834, and in the following August purchased a farm, comprising four hundred 
acres of land which was covered with a heavy growth of timber. Bears and wild 
turkeys had their haunts in the wooded districts, and the work of civilization 
seemed scarcely begun in that section of the state. Mr. Robinson, however, 
began the development of his farm, and with characteristic energy prosecuted 
his labors, continuing the work until he had a good home there. In March, 
1853, he removed to Union county, Ohio, where he purchased two hundred acres 
of unimproved land, devoting his time and attention to its development and 
improvement until his death, which occurred December 12, 1893. Mr. Robinson 
was a man of broad scholarly attainments and superior scientific knowledge, 
being well known in the scientific world. He was a friend and associate of 
Louis Agassiz, Asa Gray and many other leading scientists connected with 
Harvard College. He classified and wrote the history of "The Habits of 
Mosses," culled by Dr. Kane in his Arctic expedition. Mr. Robinson also 
collected and classified the Fungi of Ohio, making accurate drawings of the 
same. He made a complete collection of the fishes and reptiles of Ohio, which 
he delivered to Professor Agassiz in their natural state. He was a skilled 
wood-carver and did much fine work from models, many specimens of which are on 
exhibition in the state house at Columbus. He entertained liberal religious 
views, and in politics he was an old-line Whig in early life, advocating 
firmly the abolition of slavery. He became one of the original supporters of 
the Republican party. His farm home was a station on the underground railroad 
and furnished shelter for many fugitive slaves escaping on their way to the 
north. He was one of nature's noblemen. His life was ever actuated by strong 
humanitarian principles, his sympathy was as broad as the universe and his 
intellectual attainment made him the friend and companion of the most eminent 
scientific men of the nation.

The children of John Robinson were: Edwin Hays, who was born April 11, 1834; 
Alfred John, who was born July 24, 1836; Reubens William, who was born April 
8, 1839, and died April 29, 1897; Arthur Saul, who was born November 9, 1841; 
Mary C. T., who was born February 11, 1843; Edward, born February 13, 1845; 
and Guido, born March 17, 1848. Mrs. Robinson was an excellent painter, not 
only of landscapes and other scenes but also of portraits.

Edwin H. Robinson, whose name introduces this review, was born in the city of 
Brooklyn, New York, April 11, 1834, and during his infancy was taken by his 
parents to Ohio. His childhood days were spent in the Buckeye state, and, 
though the school system was still in a primitive condition, he received 
excellent educational training under his father. His youth was spent on the 
farm, and he not only gained a comprehensive literary and scientific 
knowledge, but was also trained to habits of industry, gaining a practical 
understanding of the methods of planting and cultivating cereals. When twenty-
four years of age he was married, in Delaware county, Ohio, on the 16th of 
September, 1858, to Lucinda Hill, who was born June 4, 1835, a daughter of 
John A. and Esther (Marsh) Hill. Her father was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, August 4, 1793, and was a son of Stephen and Marian (Martin) 
Hill. The former was a son of Stephen Hill, Sr., who served as a soldier in 
the war of the Revolution, and was descended from a Pennsylvania Dutch family 
that was founded in America by German ancestors at an early day. Stephen Hill 
was the owner of a large farm in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and in his 
later life he went to Delaware county, Ohio, with his son Stephen and there 
died, at the age of ninety-six years. Stephen Hill, Jr., the grandfather of 
Mrs. Robinson, was born in Westmoreland county Pennsylvania, and married 
Marian Martin, also a representative of one of the old colonial families that 
were founded in Pennsylvania when the Indians outnumbered the white settlers 
in that state. In 1811 Stephen Hill and his family removed to a farm in 
Delaware countyr Ohio, becoming pioneer settlers of that locality, where he 
secured eleven hundred acres of land. He gave a farm to each of his children, 
and was instrumental in clearing a large tract of land, thus advancing the 
work of civilization. He and a number of his family are buried on the old 
homestead in a private cemetery. He was a Methodist in religious faith and a 
man whose upright life commended him to the confidence of all. His death 
occurred in 1840. His children were: Joseph V., George David, John H., 
Stephen, Benjamin, Josiah, Betsey, Richard and Sallie. Two of the sons, Joseph 
and George, served their country in the war of 1812.

John H. Hill, the father of Mrs. Robinson, was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania, August 4, 1793, and when fourteen years of age accompanied his 
father to Delaware county, Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm. He was 
married in Franklin county, that state, October 18, 1821, to Esther Marsh, who 
was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1799, a daughter 
of Benjamin and Martha (Bates) Marsh. Her father was a representative of an 
old New Hampshire family of English origin, and took up his residence in Ohio 
at an early day. He became a prosperous farmer, although by trade he was a 
carpenter. His death occurred in 1799. The Bates family, to which his wife 
belonged, was founded in the Empire state at an early day. After his marriage 
John Hill and his wife located on land in Concord township, Delaware county, 
Ohio, where he had two hundred acres. This he cleared from heavy timber, 
transforming it into richly cultivated fields. He built and operated a 
sawmill, engaging in the manufacture of lumber in connection with his 
agricultural pursuits. In the Universalist church he held membership, and 
politically he affiliated with the Whig party, becoming a Republican on the 
organization of that party. He lived to the venerable age of eighty-four 
years, his death occurring in Hardin county, Ohio, in 1877. He was twice 
married, his children all being born of the first union. They were: Joseph D., 
born August 26, 1822; Matthew B., May 22, 1824; Henry D., December 15, 1825; 
Clarinda, a twin sister of Henry; Almira, March 3, 1827; Claud, March 2, 1829; 
Mary J., February 5, 1830; Sarah, November 30, 1832; Lucinda, June 4, 1835; 
William, November 2, 1838; Hugh M., December 7, 1841; and Esther C., February 
13, 1846. All of the twelve children are living excepting Almira, who died at 
the age of ten years, and Esther, who died December 20, 1854.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Robinson located in Union county, Ohio, on a 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which was covered with heavy timber. It 
required arduous labor to prepare this for the plow, but he cleared away the 
trees and made a good home, residing there for six years. In 1865 he came to 
Grundy county, and on the 21st of March of that year took up his abode on the 
farm which is now his home, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. The place 
was unimproved save that an old house had been built thereon. Mr. Robinson 
began the work of development with characteristic energy, and has prosecuted 
his labors so untiringly that he has one of the best improved farms in the 
township at this time. He owns two hundred and forty-five acres of rich land, 
the greater part of which is under cultivation, yielding to him a golden 
tribute in return for his care and labor. He has erected a substantial two-
story frame residence and has built good barns and outbuildings. The home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson has been blessed with two children: Alfred D., born July 
24, 1859, and William R., born September 23, 1863, both natives of Union 
county, Ohio.

In his political views Mr. Robinson is a stalwart Republican, having supported 
that party since John C. Fremont was its first candidate. He served as school 
trustee for nineteen years, and the cause of education has found in him a warm 
friend, whose labors in behalf of its advancement have been most effective and 
beneficial. For three years he served as assessor and for two years as 
supervisor, discharging his duties in a most creditable manner. He is known as 
a progressive and public-spirited citizen and has given his active co-
operation to all movements calculated to advance the general welfare. He was 
instrumental in naming the township of Maine, and has ever done all in his 
power to promote its upbuilding and progress. His life has been characterized 
by uprightness in all business and social relations, and he well deserves 
mention among the representative men of the county.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p624-628

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