Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Robinson, Henry Ridgley, Rev
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Doylestown M-Z


REVEREND HENRY RIDGLEY ROBINSON pastor of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, P.O. Doylestown, was born in Philadelphia, 
October 21, 1859, and is a son of Reverend William Colladay 
and Elizabeth (Sommers) Robinson, of German and English 
descent.  His father, when a mere child, removed to 
Germantown, and at an early age learned the tailor's trade, 
but never followed it.  He was a student of the old 
Germantown academy.  He was a member of the Haines Street M. 
E. church, which was the mother church.  When about 20 years 
of age he was a very devoted member of the church, and he 
became a local preacher, and afterward a regular pastor. His 
first ministerial charge was in Chester county, which he 
reached on horseback.  In 1821 he was received on trial in 
the Philadelphia conference, in 1853 was ordained as deacon, 
and in 1855 became an elder.  He was the father of eight 
children, six of whom still live:  Dr. George Sommers, 
William Colladay, Jr., Henry Ridgley, Mary Ella, Edward Ames 
and Elmira Friese.  Our subject's father has held some of 
the most important charges in the city, among which were the 
Tabernacle, Wharton street, Chester; Nazareth, Twelfth 
street, St. George's and Fifth street.  He has also been 
pastor in Lancaster, Wilmington, Dover, and Smyrna, Del.  He 
was presiding elder of the south Philadelphia district in 
1871-73.  Our subject was brought up in Philadelphia, where 
he received his early education.  In February, 1873, he 
entered the Central High school, and was graduated in 1875.  
He graduated from Pierce's Business college the same year.  
He then entered the shoe factory of Thomas R Evans, on 
Fourth and Chestnut streets, where he remained a short time. 
He afterward entered the employ of Schollenberger & Sons, 
leather manufacturers, Putnam and Mascher streets, as 
salesman and book-keeper, where he remained until the fall 
of 1876, when he entered Pennington seminary, in New Jersey, 
from which he graduated in the classical preparatory course 
July 3, 1878.  He then entered Dickinson college, sophomore 
class, in September, 1878, and graduated in June, 1881.  
While in the senior class he went to Pottsville and joined 
the Philadelphia conference on trial.  He was given an 
appointment by Bishop Harris at Kennett Square, Chester 
county.  He remained in this charge until March, 1883.  He 
was then ordained as deacon at Lancaster, by Bishop Bowman, 
and was in charge at Mount Pleasant avenue, Mount Airy, 
Philadelphia, until March, 1885, when he was ordained as 
elder by Bishop Foss, and was assigned to the Doylestown 
charge.