JohnF. Robinson
JOHNF. ROBINSON, County Clerk of Cass county, is one of the prominent and influentialmen of the county. He is eminently a self-made man. Beginning life a poorboy, he has worked his way up to his present position of wealth and influence,being now classed with the leading citizens of his county. A review ofhis life gives the following facts:JohnF. Robinson was born in Crawford county, Ohio, May 31, 1851. His father,Andrew D. Robinson, was a native of the same State, and a son of JamesRobinson, one of the pioneers of Ohio. Andrew D. was quite young when hisfather died, and he was reared by his mother. He married in Ohio, and residedthere till 1852. That year, leaving his wife with her parents, he startedfor California, making the journey with teams across the plains. At thattime there were no white settlers between the Missouri river and California,except the Mormons. After his arrival in the Golden State, he engaged inpacking provisions to the mines, and subsequently assisted in operatingthe first threshing-machine in that State. He remained there till 1856,when he returned East via the Isthmus route, and located in Linn county,Iowa, on a rented farm between Marion and Cedar Rapids. A year later hebought a partially improved farm in Spring Grove, two miles and a halfwest of Paris, where he lived till 1887. Leaving his son James in chargeof the farm, he then removed to Center Point, where he now lives retired.The maiden name of his first wife, mother of John F., was Elizabeth E.Wachtel. She was born in Ohio, and her death occurred in Iowa, in 1865.The maiden name of his second wife was Eva L. Putney. He reared five childrenby his first wife, and of those born to his second wife three are living.
Thesubject of our sketch was an infant when his father went to California.In 1854, when he was three years old, he was taken by his mother and herparents to Iowa, making the journey with a horse and buggy. Iowa at thattime was thinly settled, and there were no railroads in the State for twoyears afterward. Young Robinson attended the common schools, and advancedhis education by attendance at the State University. In 1871 he came toCass county, Illinois, to seek his fortune, landing here with no capitalsave a willing hand and a determination to succeed in life. He found employmenton the farm, working by the month in summer, and during the winter of 1871-’72he attended school in Chandlerville. The following ten years he taughtschool a part of each year. In 1874, he made his first purchase of realestate–a farm of 120 acres in Richmond precinct. Since then he has beenan extensive and successful dealer in both farm and city property. He nowowns four farms in Cass county, and a half interest in five other farmshere. He is also interested in farm land in Clarke county, Iowa, and hascity property in Kansas City, Missouri, and Eureka Springs, Arkansas
InMarch, 1873, Mr. Robinson married Caroline (Houghton) Davis, who died April19, 1874, leaving one child, Ada L. In August, 1879, he was united in marriagewith Mary J. Witty, by whom he has two children. Lavina E. and Lee E.
Politically,he has always affiliated with the Democratic party. He cast his first votefor Horace Greeley. While teaching school he devoted a portion of his sparetime to the study of law.
In1882, Mr. Robinson was elected to the office of County Clerk of Cass county,for the legal term; was re-elected in 1886, and again in 1890.
Fraternally,Mr. Robinson is associated with Virginia lodge, No. 544, A. F. & A.M.; Clark Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M.; Hospitaller Commandery, No. 32, K.T.; Ashland Lodge, No. 341, I. O. O. F.; and Virginia Camp, M. W. A.
Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, pages 281-282.
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