Marshall-Logan County KS Archives Biographies.....Robinson, Morley P. 1869 - 
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Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

MORLEY P. ROBINSON.

    Morley P. Robinson, one of the well-known and successful farmers and
stockmen of Blue Rapids City township, Marshall county, and the owner of eight
hundred acres of splendid land, was born in Peterborough, Canada, on January 30,
1869, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Neely) Robinson.

    The parents of Morley P. Robinson were natives of Yorkshire, England, and
Ontario, Canada, respectively, the father having been born in the year 1812, and
when two years of age, was brought by his parents to Canada, and it was there
that the father and mother of our subject received their education in the common
schools. They were reared on the home farms in their respective communities, and
were later married. As a young man, John Robinson engaged in general farming and
continued in the work until the time of his death in 1872. The widow and her
children continued to live at their Canadian home until 1878, when they came to
Marshall county, and established their home on a farm in Center township, where
they had an undeveloped and unimproved farm of three hundred and sixty acres.
The mother, with the elder children of the family erected a house, sixteen by
twenty-four feet, and in this they lived for a number of years. The farm was
improved and developed and here the mother died in 1896 at the age of sixty-six
years. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were highly respected people and held in high
regard by all who knew them. Mrs. Robinson, in her prairie home, demonstrated
her ability as a manager, and with her children met with success as farmers and
raisers of stock. Their lives for the first few years were hard ones, and it
required a strong determination for a woman, with a family of children, to
settle on an undeveloped prairie farm among strangers. To her and her family
much credit and praise are due for the magnificent work that they accomplished.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were active members in the Methodist Episcopal church and
were prominent in all religious work. They were the parents of nine children,
only one of whom is now deceased.

    At the age of seventeen years, Morley P. Robinson took charge of the home
farm, and though but a lad, he met with success. He remained on the old home
place until 1894, when he purchased a farm of his own, of one hundred and sixty
acres in Franklin township. Here he engaged in general farming until 1901, when
he sold the place and moved to Logan county, where he owned two thousand acres
of ranch land, with a Mr. Suggett. During the time Mr. Robinson was on his ranch
in Logan county, his family remained at Carden. During the greater part of five
years Mr. Robinson was employed on his ranch, when in 1908 he purchased his
present farm. The place at that time was unimproved and undeveloped, but has
since been transformed into one of the fine farms of the district. The house is
a large and handsome residence and his barns, feeding sheds, silos and other
buildings are all arranged with a view to economy and comfort. Mr. Robinson is
an extensive buyer and feeder of cattle for the markets, and twice a year he
ships five hundred head of the finest animals. He also keeps many hogs and each
year places many on the market, for which he receives the highest market prices.
His reputation is known throughout the county, as a successful buyer and shipper
of stock and as a salesman of automobiles. He and his brother, Neil, are much
interested in the county fair association, being shareholders and are active in
its management. In 1916 Mr. Robinson exhibited a Shorthorn bull, on which he won
first prize, and at the same time he won second prize on a young mule that he
also had at the fair.

    On November 20, 1894, Morley P. Robinson was united in marriage to Laura
McKee, who was born at Peterborough, Canada, on April 16, 1870, and is the
daughter of John F. and Sarah (Chalmers) McKee. When the daughter, Laura, was
one year old, the family left their home in Canada and came to the United States
and established their home in Center township, Marshall county. The mother died
some years, ago and the father is now living in Elm Creek township, and is known
as one of the substantial men of the township, and one of the well-known farmers
of the county.

    To Morley P. and Laura (McKee) Robinson have been born three children:
Harold M., John Victor and Ethel. Harold M., now twenty years of age, is now at
home. He is a graduate of the Blue Rapids high school and has completed the
sophomore year at the University of Kansas. John Victor, seventeen years of age,
is also a graduate of the Blue Rapids high school and is at home. Ethel is
fourteen years of age and is a student in the Blue Rapids schools.

    Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are highly respected people and have many friends
throughout the county, who hold them in the highest regard and esteem. They have
long been active in the social life of the community. They are broadminded and
progressive, and take much interest in the educational and moral development of
the county. Politically, Mr. Robinson is identified with the Republican party,
and while he is not an office seeker, he takes an active interest in the civic
life of the township and the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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