BIOGRAPHIES Memorial Record of Licking
Co., Ohio
containing Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the
County
together with Biographies and Portraits of all the
Presidents of the United States.
CHICAGO
RECORD PUBLISHING COMPANY
1894
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JOHN M. ROBINSON,
one of Granville's well known citizens, was born in Cadiz,
Ohio, July 4, 1836, and is the son of John and Susan (Vandament)
Robinson, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio
prior to their marriage. In his native city of our
subject received a limited education and at the age of
fifteen began clerking in a hardware store, where he gained
a thorough knowledge of that business. In 1861 he
opened a hardware store in Cadiz and by close application to
all the details of the business achieved success.
Under the administration of Abraham Lincoln he was
appointed postmaster at Cadiz in 1861, which office he held
for four years. He was well prepared for the efficient
discharge of its duties, having previously served for about
eight years as Deputy Postmaster.
In Licking County, June 1, 1864, occurred the marriage
of John M. Robinson and Miss Emma A. Devenney,
the latter at native of McKean Township. Her parents,
Pascal and Deborah (Sheldon) Devenney, were pioneers
of McKean Township, the former having come hither from
Virginia, while the latter was a native of Northampton,
Mass. Both are living at this writing (1894), Mr.
Devenney at the age of eighty-five, and his wife aged
eighty-four. Soon after his marriage Mr.
Robinson removed to McKean Township, where he engaged in
farming and stock-raising, meeting with signal success as an
agriculturist.
Retiring from that occupation in 1886, Mr. Robinson
came to Granville, where he has since resided practically
retired from active business cares. However, he still
superintends the management of his landed possessions,
aggregating three hundred acres, from the rental of which he
receives a good income. He is also interested in the
Granville Building & Loan Association and is a member of its
Board of Directors. Since casting his first
Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, he has
supported the men and measures advocated by the Republican
party, but has never sought or desired political preferment,
preferring to devote his own unaided efforts. He is
the friend and advocate of improvements and all projects
that will build up and enhance the good of the state and
nation. In the township, also, every good movement
receives his support.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of two
sons, Frank Sheldon and Hubert Devenney. The
pleasant family residence is the abode of culture and
hospitality, and hither their many friends often come, drawn
by the genial courtesy of the host and the warm welcome
offered by the hostess. The best years of his life
Mr. Robinson has passed in Licking County, and his
influence has been felt for good, both in business and
social circles. He is a man of broad and liberal
views, ever ready to do his share in benevolent enterprises,
and true to every duty has husband, father and friend.
Source: Memorial Record of Licking
Co., Ohio - Chicago - Record Publishing Co., 1894 - Page
160 |
William A. Robertson |
WILLIAM
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON enjoys the distinction of being
the oldest resident in the city of Utica, having been born
here Dec. 15, 1817. His father, William, was
born near Chambersburg, Pa., Dec. 7, 1787; he had six
brothers, one of whom remained in Pennsylvania, and John
settled in Wooster, Ohio, and afterward spelled their
family name Robinson and Robison.
Another brother, James, came to Licking County in
1808 and bought about seventy-three acres of land, a part of
which is now included in the corporate limits of Utica.
In youth William Robertson learned the trade of
a cabinet maker, and coming to Ohio in 1806, was thus
employed in Zanesville, where he bought a lot and built the
first house having a shingle roof. He came to the
present site of Utica in 1809, and bought a half-interest in
the land his brother had previously purchased. The
following year the brothers built the old log mill, the
first in the place of which he operated for about four
years, when William purchased his brother's interest
in the property and became sole owner. In January
1813, he returned to Pennsylvania, and at Chambersburg
married Sarah, daughter of Alexander Robertson,
and a cousin of his. Soon after their marriage the
young couple started for their new home in the then far
west, making the journey on horse-back. On arriving at
Newark they stayed all night at Judge Wilson's on the
North Fork. The next morning they swam their horses
across the Licking River and pursued their perilous journey.
Arriving in sight of the cabin which was to be their home,
they commenced crossing the creek, which was high and swift.
When near the middle of the stream Mrs. Robertson's
horse fell, throwing her into the water, but she was soon
rescued by her husband and safely landed on shore. On
the 4th of March 1813, they began housekeeping in their new
home. In 1816 he platted a portion of his land into
town lots and named the place Wilmington, but as there was
already a town by that name in the state, he changed it to
Utica.
Being a cabinet-maker, Mr. Robertson
manufactured the first coffins used in Utica, but after his
marriage he did but little work at his trade. In 1815,
he built a grist-mill, which still stands, being a part of
the Utica Mills. (In digging the mill race Mr.
Robertson unearthed three ribs which measured about four
feet in length, also a part of the vertebral column of the
same animal.) He also added a saw-mill, and in about
1822 he added wool carding machinery. In 1832 he
established a dry-goods store, and being successful, also
purchased other property. He conducted these various
lines of business until his death, which occurred Nov. 7,
1840. His wife survived him thirty-seven years.
In religious connections they were members of the United
Presbyterian Church. In public affairs he was a man of
some prominence and served as Justice of the Peace as early
as 1816.
There were seven children in the parental family, viz.:
Agnes, who married Jesse D. Arven and died in
Utica; Margery, who first married William McCune
and afterward became the wife of Samuel Patterson,
dying in Iowa City, Iowa; William Alexander; Margaret
who married Joseph D. Rogers and died at Fostoria,
Ohio; James, who died at Iowa City, Iowa; John D.,
whose death occurred at Utica; and Jane who became
the wife of Barton Condit and died in Champaign County, Ill.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Utica and can
well remember when the Indians were as numerous as the
whites. There were no schools worthy the name in the
vicinity, and children were much more familiar with manual
labor than books. In 1832, when his father opened a
store, he took the position of clerk, and also assumed the
responsibility of the business. When his father died he was
appointed executor of the estate and gave his attention to
it until settlement was made with the heirs. In
1845-46 he engaged in the mercantile business at Newark.
In 1848 he became a dealer in grain and wool and continued
the former until 1884, and the later until 1893. Thus
for sixty years he was a prominent business man of Utica, a
longer period than anyone else has engaged in business here.
He has met with success, after after having reared and
educated his family and started them out in life, he still
has a competence.
Nov. 9, 1844, Mr. Robertson was united in
marriage with Elizabeth S., daughter of Salathiel
Chapman, of whom further mention is made in the sketch
of S. A. Chapman. She was born at Ellington,
Conn., May 8, 1827, and by her marriage became the mother of
three daughters, namely: Alphonsene, wife of J. W>
Hoag, of Galion, Ohio; Jennie, who resides with
her father; and Lizzie, wife of John H. Arnold
of Leipsic, Putnam County, Ohio. Mrs. Robertson
died at her home in Utica July 3, 1890, and her remains were
interred in the cemetery at this place. In his
religious views Mr. Robertson is a Presbyterian.
Politically he was in early life a Whig, and since the
organization of the Republican party has been a stanch
supporter of its principles. He is a man of strict
integrity, the highest principles of honor and loftiest
ideals of truth and justice, and such has been the probity
of his life that among the people of the county he occupies
a high position.
Source: Memorial Record of Licking Co., Ohio -
Chicago - Record Publishing Co., 1894 - Page 331 |
NOTES:
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