Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Robinson, William 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

William Robinson, who owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Wilton 
township, of which eighty acres is comprised in the home place, is an honored 
veteran of the Civil war, having loyally served his adopted country as a 
defender of the Union cause. He was born in Nottinghamshire, England, March 
13, 1840, a son of Charles and Ellen (Candlin) Robinson, who emigrated to 
America in 1849, the ocean voyage requiring six weeks. The family home was 
established in Lockport, Will county, Illinois, where the father worked at 
farm labor for a time, for he was in limited financial circumstances. He 
worked industriously and perseveringly in order to provide for himself and 
family, and while so doing also saved some money, so that he was at length 
enabled to engage in farming on his own account, operating rented land for a 
time. In 1855 he came to Wilton township and purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres, on which stood a little shanty, while the land was partially cleared. 
He improved the place and carried on farming for many years. As he prospered 
in his work and added to his financial resources he invested his money in more 
land, so that at his death he left to his family an estate of four hundred 
acres. He died on his farm sixteen years ago, when he had reached the age of 
seventy-two years, while his wife passed away August 8, 1885. He was a 
republican in his political views and affiliations, and both he and his wife 
held membership with the Methodist Episcopal church. William Robinson of this 
review is the eldest of their six children, the others being: Robert, a 
resident of Joliet; Emma, the wife of James Barton, of Peotone; Joseph, who 
enlisted in Company H, One Hundredth Illinois Volunteer infantry, during the 
Civil war and died at Nashville, Tennessee, December 16, 1863; Mrs. Hannah 
Rauworth, a resident of Chicago; and Charles, who died at the age of nine 
years. William Robinson was a little lad of nine years when he accompanied his 
parents on their emigration to this country, and he can well remember the 
incidents of that long and tedious voyage across the Atlantic. He was reared 
under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when, on the 25th of 
April, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company F, of 
the Twentieth Illinois Volunteer infantry, which was organized at Joliet. He 
proved a loyal and faithful soldier, never faltering in the performance of any 
duty that was assigned him. At the engagement at Briton's Lane, Tennessee, Mr. 
Robinson was shot in the thigh. He served with his regiment for four years and 
three months, being discharged July 22, 1S65, having made a most creditable 
military record. Following his return from the war, Mr. Robinson spent two 
years in the lumber woods of Wisconsin, after which he came to Wilton 
township, Will county, Illinois, and worked for his father for two years. In 
the meantime he was married, in 1868, to Miss Alice Rauworth and at the end of 
two years they received a little money from her father's estate, which made it 
possible for them to purchase eighty acres of land, which had been partially 
improved. After a residence of five years thereon they sold that property and 
purchased their present place of residence, the farm comprising eighty acres. 
All of the improvements which are here seen have been placed by Mr. Robinson, 
and everything about the place is kept in excellent condition, and he ever 
follows the best methods of farm work in the prosecution of his labors in the 
fields. In addition to his home farm he also inherited one hundred and sixty 
acres from his father's estate, this being operated by his son. Mrs. Robinson 
was born in Yorkshire, England, June 6, 1846, a daughter of Benjamin and 
Martha (Armistead) Rauworth both of whom were natives of that country, whence 
they emigrated to the United States in 1862. The father was a wholesale and 
retail butcher in England and came to America to establish his sons in 
farming, intending to live here the remainder of his life, but died before his 
work was done. He had gone back to England to settle up his estate and died 
there. His wife passed away in this country twenty-two years ago. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Robinson have been born eleven sons, the eight surviving members being: 
Joseph, who follows farming in Iowa; Wesley, who operates his father's farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Wilton township; Amos, a painter and paper 
hanger, making his home in Joliet; Herbert, who follows farming in Oklahoma; 
William, at home; Lawrence, also at home; Walter, a resident of Oklahoma; and 
Vernon, at home. The deceased members are: Charles, the oldest son, who died 
at the age of fifteen years, while his twin died when only two weeks old; and 
Albert, who was two years of age at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. 
Robinson are consistent Christian people, holding membership with the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and their example is exemplified in the lives of 
their sons, who are noble and honorable men—a credit to the communities in 
which they reside. The father has never used tobacco or intoxicants in any 
form and his temperance habits are strictly adhered to by his family of sons. 
The influence of this worthy couple is also felt throughout the community 
where they make their home, and there are no citizens of Wilton township who 
are more highly honored or have a larger circle of warm friends than does Mr. 
Robinson and his estimable wife. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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