Doane Robinson Biography This file contains the biography of Doane Robinson from "Who's Who in South Dakota" by O. W. Coursey (1913) Scanning by John Rigdon , final editing by Joy Fisher from a book in the possession of Joy Fisher. This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes; all other rights, including the right to publish this file in any format is reserved. A SYMMETRICAL MAN Farmer 10 per cent, teacher 8 per cent, lawyer 14 per cent, editor 18 per cent, poet 22 per cent, historian, 28 per cent; total 100 per cent, of symmetrical manhood; such is our analysis of Doane Robinson, our present state historian. FARMER He was born on a farm, near Sparta, Wisconsin, October 19, 1856. There he spent his boyhood years and his teens, remaining with his father as boys of the former generation were wont to do, until he had reached his majority. Then he struck westward and filed on a homestead in Lyon county, Minnesota, Here again he became a tiller of the soil. Robinson's experience and observations on the farm, while a boy, ripened his judgment concerning crops, so that today he is regarded as an authority on prospective grain yields, not only in South Dakota but throughout the west; indeed the grain markets of Minneapolis fluctuate according to his forecast. TEACHER Our Subject was but five years of age when the Civil war broke out. Facilities in the wilds of Wisconsin at that time were not the best for securing an education. Young Robinson worked on his father's farm, and attended a country school for a few months now and then during the winter. Still, his studious habits found reward, and he finally fitted himself for a teacher. During the five years spent on his Minnesota homestead he taught school during the winter months. LAWYER While yet a young man Mr. Robinson saw that if he got ahead in life it would be through strenuous efforts on his own part, owing to the lack of educational advantages in his early years Therefore, during the time spent in holding down his homestead, and while he was teaching school he spent his even- ings reading law. In 1882-3, he took the senior year in the Wis- consin law school. Leaving the school he struck west again, going farther than he did the first time, and settled at Watertown, S. D., where he established himself in the practice of law. EDITOR After a few years, tiring of his chosen profession-law, he gave it up to enter the editorial field. For several years he edited the "Monthly South Dakotan," a magazine devoted to a spicy review of the early history of the Dakotas. He finally sold the magazine to the Educator School Supply Company of Mitchell. POET But Robinson, the poet, is far the most fascinating of all. In this field he launched out more than in any of the others, except history. But the latter is limited by the facts it records, and the for- mer has no limitations what- soever, except in the ability of the author. His best poetical produc- tions were published in the "Century Magazine;" later [photo - DOANE ROBINSON] they were gathered together and published in a neat little volume called "The Coteaus of Dakota." In his poetry, Robinson confines himself mostly to var- ious dialects. He is always spicy and entertaining; always original and terse. His poem entitled "About Sunrise," is brim full of good things and causes one to live over again the joyous spring mornings in Da- kota when the dew is on the young grasses, and when in the dis- tance you can hear the prairie chicken sounding his solemn notes, "Ding-Dill-Doo." We quote only the last stanza: "The soft sunlight Comes flashin' out, And 'fore you know What makes your singer go, You join the happy shout- The song without the words Sung by the mockin'-birds. I ain't got no ear for singin,' So I jest keep on a-flingin' Clods up in the apple-tree. Until I couldn't nowhere see A bird within a mile of me." His "Plowin'", "Morning in Galilee" ,"Helpin' Hay," and several other choice selections were equally refreshing. Several years ago we remember reading, of cutting out and preserving, a little ditty of his entitled "Consistency." The thing about it which caught our attention then, and which engages it yet, is the wonderful amount of suggestion contained in those few poetical words. It follows: CONSISTENCY Reproach me not, though it appear, While I true doctrines teach, I wholly fail in my career To practice as I preach. Yon guide-post has through countless days "To London" pointed on, Nor once has quit the angled ways And up to London gone. When we were young, twenty--seven years ago, we rode a bare-backed, western-fed donkey, and on him herded cattle on Dakota prairies, ten miles south of Huron, along the Jim river. Anything about herding always distresses us, except Doane Rob- inson's poem: HERDING No end of rich green medder land Spiked out with ever' kind of poseys. Es fer as I kin understand They's nothin' else on earth so grand Es just a field of prairy roseys. Mixed up with blue, gold-beaded plumes Of shoestring flowers and peavey blooms. Take it a warm, sunshiny day. When prairys stretch so far away Ther' lost at last in smoky gray. And hulkin' yoke-worn oxen browse Aroun' the coteaus with the cows,- The tipsy, stag'rin day-old calf, Mumbles a bleat and slabbers a laugh - And yearlin' steers, so round and slick, Wade in the cool and sparklin' creek While cute spring bossies romp and play With Ponto in the tall slough hay. Ye picket out the gentle Roany, Yer knowin,' faithful herdin' pony. And tumblin' down upon yer back Wher' gray sweet-smellin' beauties bide In posey beds, three counties wide, You take a swig of prairy air, With which old speerits ken't compare. And think and plan, and twist and rack Yer brains, to work some scheme aroun' To get a week to spend in town. Recently Mr. Robinson issued a pamphlet containing only four-lined Poems, entitled "Bits of Four." From it we culled the following: EACH HATH SOME GIFT Nor envy thou thy neighbor's gift; He covets thine in vain; The eagle through the azure drifts, The salmon threads the main. THE PRAIRIE MIRAGE To thirsty lands, where once in rhythm rolled Foam crested waves, to fret the rock girt coast, There comes to frolic in the sea path old The perished water's insubstantial ghost. ONLY A FEW Only a few are the friends I have won; Hearts of my heart in Love's cement set; Trusting me, spite of the ill I have done- Thanks be to God, I hold all of them yet. WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA EVOLUTION Youth pleads,-God taught his children so- "O give me joy; my happiness assure." Age prays,-God teaches men to grow- "All peace be thine; 0 may thy joys be pure." THE SCANDALMONGER'S PLEA Ye curse me, but for fear of me A man and maid from sin are free Why, e'en the priest is more discreet Because I wander in the street. HISTORIAN Robinson is the only state official who didn't get his job by popular vote, nor as an appointee of the governor. He was chosen by the State Historical Society, after the position of State His- torian and Collector of Vital Statistics had been created by leg- islative enactment. In all probability he will continue to hold down the job as long as he may care to. He is the author of "History of South Dakota," published by Bowen & Co., Indianapolis; of a "Brief History of South Dakota," published by the American Book Co.; a "History of the Sioux Indians," and dozens of miscellaneous historical articles. ROBINSON, THE MAN Doane is a jolly good fellow, with an even, happy temper- ament, always delightful to meet and hard to break away from. One feels as though he had met his brother and you somehow hate to part. When a sight-seer reaches Pierre and inspects our new capitol, after treading on that cuss-ed, dis-cussed-ed $1,200 rug in the governor's office, which refused to remain on the floor during the recent primary campaign, if he desires to know the significance of those weird high-priced Indian pictures painted on the walls of the rotunda, all he has to do is to ask for Doane Robinson, and he will receive an hour's lecture, gratis, that will keep him assimilating for several months to come. Try it! and be convinced. While practicing law at Watertown in 1884, Doane was married to Miss Jennie Austin, of Leon, Wisconsin, Their wedded life brought into being two sons-Harry, aged 24, and Will, aged 19. But Mr. Robinson's life, like that of all the rest of us, has had its thorns. Mrs. Robinson was suddenly snatched away from him by the Grim Reaper, January 23, 1902. Hereunto re- lated are the words of Taylor: "Life is just a little Of the good and of the bad, Of things that make us happy And the things that make us sad."