Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Robinson, George ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:20 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 George Robinson Back to Connecticut in the old colonial days Mr. Robinson traces his ancestry, for the founder of the family in America was among those who aided in laying the foundation of the Charter Oak state. Isaac Robinson, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, on the river of that name, and was a farmer by occupation. During the Revolutionary war he served as ensign, an office now equivalent to that of second lieutenant, and loyally aided the colonists in their struggle for independence, remaining in the army until the British troops were forced to withdraw from American soil. He married Miss Sarah Dow, an own cousin of the celebrated Lorenzo Dow. They first located on a farm in Connecticut and then moved to New York in early pioneer days, and there he died, about 1813, between the ages of sixty and seventy years. He was a member of the Methodist church and a man of sterling character. His children were Don Alonzo, Zenas, Wesley, Isaac, Solomon, Polly, Esther, Millie and Phoebe. Don Alonzo Robinson, the father of our subject, was born on the Connecticut river, February 5, 1787. He enjoyed such educational privileges as were afforded in the schools of New York state at that time, and as an apt student he acquired a comprehensive knowledge that well fitted him for life's practical duties. He became a school-teacher and followed that pursuit throughout his life. He was largely self-educated, however, for he always continued his reading and study and was constantly adding to his broad fund of information. When a boy he accompanied his parents on their removal to Courtland county, New York, being at the time about seven years of age. In the Empire state he wedded Miss Nancy Cammeron, a sister of Rev. William Cammeron, who was a native of Scotland, and was a Methodist minister. The following children were born unto them: William Francis, who was born January 4, 1816, and Nancy, who was born February 19, 1821. The mother died in Chenango county, New York, and the father afterward married Miss Betsey Conick, who was born in Courtland county, May 3, 1802, a daughter of William and Martha Conick. Her father was a native of New England and served in a Vermont regiment throughout the war for independence, being at one time under the direct command of General Washington. He took up his abode in Courtland county, New York, thus becoming one of the pioneer settlers who secured and improved a farm in the midst of the forest. He afterward sold that property and went to Chenango county, New York, where he lived a retired life. He died in Chenango county in 1838, at the age of eighty-four years. His children were Robert, John, Peter, James, Sallie, Betsey and Polly. After their marriage Don Alonzo Robinson and his wife located on a farm in Chenango county, New York, where he engaged in teaching school through the winter months, his attention being given to the labors of the field and meadow through the summer months. In 1837 he went with his family to Seneca county, New York, where he continued teaching and farming until his removal to Michigan in 1844. He settled in Kalamazoo county, and in 1856 he came to Illinois. He was then well advanced in years, and made his home with his son Charles until his death, which occurred February 13, 1871. He was a Methodist in religious faith and served as a class leader in church. In the Empire state he served for many years as justice of the peace and was one of the school directors of his district. He lived an upright and honorable life and was highly respected by all who knew him. The children of his second marriage were James, born March 30, 1823; George, November 13, 1824; Fletcher, May 4, 1826; Mary, November 13, 1834; Charles, April 12, 1836; and John, January 22, 1838. All of this family were born in Chenango county, save Esther, who was born in Seneca county, New York, May 12, 1843. The mother, Mrs. Betsey Robinson, died in Mazon township, Grundy county, at the home of her son, Charles, September 23, 1880, and was a member of the Methodist church. George Robinson, who name introduces this review, was born in Chenango county, New York, November 13, 1824, and pursued his education in the schools of Seneca county, whither he removed with his parents when thirteen years of age. Very early in life he began to work as a farm hand, and at the age of nineteen years he removed to Michigan, where he was employed in that capacity. In 1849 he was one of the gold-seekers who went to California, making the long and arduous journey across the plains. He proceeded westward by railroad to Niles, Michigan, then by stage to Michigan City, crossing the lake on a steamer to Chicago. From there he went by the Frink & Walker line of stages to Rock Island, Illinois, thence down the Mississippi river to St. Louis, Missouri, and then proceeded by steamer up the Missouri to St. Joseph. When he left home he took with him his "carpet-bag" containing his clothing, and in his purse had one hundred dollars. On the boat between St. Louis and St. Joseph he met a fellow traveler to the gold mines, William McKenny, of Ohio, who had an outfit consisting of oxen and cook. He was also to pay fifty dollars down and on reaching California fifty dollars more; but on reaching the Humboldt river he obtained a chance to drive oxen for a Mr. Bedford, from Kentucky, who was accompanied by his family and who had two wagons and five yokes of oxen. They took the Lassen route to Lassen's ranch, California, crossing the Missouri river at St. Joseph on the 10th of May, 1849. The train consisted of thirty-seven huge covered wagons, each drawn by from three to six yoke of oxen and containing provisions and supplies to last for several months. There were one hundred and twenty armed men in the party under the command of Captain King, who had served in the Mexican war. They were five months and four days in reaching Lassen's ranch on the Sacramento river, one hundred miles above Sacramento city. It was a great sight, - this almost interminable road across the plains for thousands of miles; and throughout the greater part of the time caravans of good-seekers with outfits similar to their own could be seen to the front or rear. Along the trail between St. Joseph and the Rocky Mountains there were many American adventurers and gold- seekers, all armed in case of an attack from hostile Indians, or murderous Mormons who, at Mountain Meadow, under the leadership of the infamous John D. Lee, massacred one of the largest bands of emigrants that ever crossed the plains. In the party were many women and children, and all were put to death without mercy, with the exception of a few of the little children whom the Mormons believed were too young to tell the story; but the impression remained strong on their minds and the awful tale was told, and many years later Lee was hung for his crimes. The train with which Mr. Robinson traveled saw a number of bands of Indians, but were unmolested. They visited a Sioux village on the Platte river, and Mr. Robinson, having some trinkets which he had bought for the purpose of trading with the Indians, left the wagon to make the exchange. He found the village deserted by all of the Indian men, who were out hunting, and he traded to some extent with the squaws, however. He discovered that his wagon train had passed out of sight and so hastened to overtake them. A short time afterward an Indian appeared and tried to take from him a handkerchief which he wore around his neck. This he would not allow, whereupon the Indian drew his knife and made signs that he would cut his throat. Thus threatened, and having no arms, Mr. Robinson was obliged to surrender the coveted article. On reaching the wagons soon afterward he missed a buffalo robe, and, seeing some squaws near by, making off with the stolen property, he recovered his robe and drove them away. However, the Indians as a rule were friendly, for the caravans were too numerous and the emigrants too well armed to allow them to make an attack. Another incident concerning Mr. Robinson's trip across the plains occurred when they forded the Platte river, meeting there a band of Sioux Indians. They were dressed in skins with all the paraphernalia of savage life, and, seated on ponies, they rode with the train five miles, having held a counsel with the whites and smoke the pipe of peace. Afterward their train passed through their village, and Mr. Robinson and several of the younger men stopped to trade with the redskins. He saw the Indians in all their savage wildness, but his experiences on the way left him with many memories which he now cherishes. Mr. Robinson was only twenty-four years old when he crossed the great plains, and, although he walked the entire distance and was often footsore and weary, his health remained good; and soon after reaching Lassen's ranch, on the Sacramento river, he went to Sacramento city, one hundred miles, on a pony which he had found disabled while crossing the plains. He secured employment with a man who conducted a "hotel" for the miners in a big tent at Drytown on Dry creek, forty miles east of Sacramento city, receiving three hundred dollars per month for his services. There he worked for a month, after which he engaged in gold mining on Dry creek for a few weeks. He was then taken ill and after two months, being very weak and unable to work, he secured transportation to Sacramento city, paying an ounce of gold (sixteen dollars) for the distance of forty miles, and finally obtained shelter in the Crescent City Hotel. When well enough he worked for his board until able to earn wages. He then engaged in haymaking on the Sacramento river, at ten dollars per day. So many men were in the gold mines that help could not be obtained at what we would call reasonable prices for other kinds of labor. Subsequently Mr. Robinson engaged in gold-mining in Nevada county, California, and was afterward employed at ranching and teaming. He returned to the state by way of the Nicaragua route across Lake Nicaragua, making that journey at the time the celebrated filibuster chief, Walker, and his band were making raids in the Central American states. A company of these filibusters had been on the boat from San Francisco, but they left the vessel at San Juan del Norte, on the Pacific coast. The two hundred and fifty passengers rode on mules twelve miles, almost entirely without arms, to San Juan del Sur, on Lake Nicaragua. In the market place they bought supplies from the natives, and while thus busily engaged a company of Nicaraguan soldiers came up and fired upon them, killing five before they made a pretense of discovering that the passengers were not filibusters. It was found that the belts of the five who had been killed were cut and that their money had been taken from them. On Lake Nicaragua the boat was fired on at the head of the San Juan river, and turned back; and it was some time before it entered the port of Grenada, about thirty miles distant, where the United States had an American consul. However, after many hardships and varied experiences, Mr. Robinson reached his home in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in November, 1855. Immediately afterward he came to Kankakee county, Illinois, where he engaged in farm work. He was married in that county on the 21st of April, 1858, to Miss Maryette Dickinson, who was born April 5, 1829, in Connecticut, at Simsbury, Hartford county. She is a daughter of Lewis and Avilla (Case) Dickinson, both representatives of old colonial Puritan families of Connecticut. Her father was born in that state, March 9, 1799, and died in Kankakee county, Illinois, March 4, 1876. He was a farmer and traveling salesman, and traveled throughout the southern states selling clocks for thirty winters, and during the summer time he lived on the farm with his family and gave his interest to agricultural pursuits. He had but one brother, who died at the age of twenty-five years, and no sisters. He was married in Simsbury, Connecticut, August 28, 1821, to Avilla Alden Case, and after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson located on a farm, making a substantial and comfortable home at Simsbury Connecticut. Their children were: Mary J., born April 25, 1825; Janette R., February 11, 1827; Maryette, April 5, 1829; Selah, Ap;ril 13, 1833; Luke T., January 8, 1835; Timothy C., March 19, 1837; and Anna H., April 6, 1841. Mr. Dickinson was a member of the Connecticut state legislature and a prominent and enterprising man. He was greatly respected for his sound judgment, and as a result of many years' faithful service he was always known as Squire Dickinson. Of strong intelligence and force of character, he was well fitted for leadership, and through his extensive travels he gained much practical knowledge and experience. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church, and were people of the highest respectability, enjoying the confidence and good will of all who knew them. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Robinson located in Pilot township, Kankakee county, on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which was little but improved. A small tract had been plowed and a small shanty built. There they lived for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Robinson sold the property and rented land in Will county for three years. He then came to Felix township, Grundy county, in the spring of 1865, and purchased eighty acres of land upon which some improvements had been made. He conducted the work of developing that farm until 1871, when he removed to Wauponsee township and purchased eighty acres of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. There he energetically and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits until March, 1892, when he retired from active life, taking up his abode in the village of Mazon. To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have been born the following children: Willie, born March 18, 1859; Arthur L., February 27, 1862; Nettie, January 22, 1868; and Jessie, January 1, 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are members of the Methodist church, in which he has served as a class leader and steward for several years. In politics he is a Democrat, and was a justice of the peace of Felix township for six years, while, in Washington township, he held the same office for two years, and was also a township clerk of Kankakee county; and he ever discharged his duties with promptness and faithfulness. His life has been one of industry and enterprise, and in his younger days he passed through many stirring scenes and through many hardships, but now in the evening of life he is quietly resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p411-416 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/robinson633nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 15.6 Kb