| JamesN. Robison |
JAMES N. ROBISON of Lee township, was born inHuntingdon county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1823. His father, Henry Robison,was born in the same county, April 22, 1798, and his father was born inScotland, but spent his last years in Huntingdon county, dying when hisson Henry was six years old. Henry after his father’s death was obligedto earn his own living and remained on a farm in the same county until1824, and then with his wife and infant son emigrated to Ohio and livednear Cadiz for two years, then returned to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,there engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He bought stock in Ohioand drove the across the mountains to Philadelphia. He made considerablemoney, which he expended on a stage line, but failed in that enterprise.In 1837 he came to Illinois with his wife and four children by team toPittsburgh, then by way of the steamer, Rion, to Phillips Ferry, landingin Pike county. In August of that year he rented some land and exercisedhis natural good judgment in stock and farming and in six years’ time wasable to purchase land. He first bought eighty acres, which he soon soldand then bought 160 acres near Pittsfield, Pike county. He occupied thatfarm a number of years, then sold it and moved to Adams county, lived therea few years, then bought three miles west of Perry, Pike county, and thereremained until his death in 1870. The maiden name of his wife who was MargaretTaylor, born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert andMary (McElroy) Taylor. She died at her home, August 1, 1867.
James was in his fourteenth year when hisparents came to Illinois. At that time this section of country was butlittle improved, and deer, wolves and wild-cats were plentiful. There wasno railroads for years and the river towns were the only markets. He residedwith his father until twenty-one and then with a horse which his fathergave him he started out for himself. He went to school during the winterand worked for his board. In the following spring he rented land and farmedfor three years and then bought 160 acres in Lee township. It was militaryland and he soon lost that on account of a faulty
title, but he then bought another farm,of 120 acres. He has been resident of Lee township since 1847, with theexception of one year in Adams County. He now has 700 acres in Lee township,480 in Buckhorn township, 225 acres in Pike county and 370 in Johnson county,Kansas.He was married December 1, 1847, to MaryE. Caughenon. She was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, January14, 1829. Her father, Henry, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,and his father, John, as far as known was born in Pennsylvania of Germanancestry. He came to Illinois in 1887, settled in Pike county, then movedto Pea Ridge in Brown county, bought a farm and lived there until his death.The maiden name of his wife was Dorathea Lawrence of Lancaster county.She died in Pike county. The father of Mrs. Robison was reared and marriedin Pennsylvania and resided there until 1836, and with his wife and fourchildren came to Illinois. He lived in Pike county for two years and followedhis trade of miller and then built a mill on McGrees creek and operatedit for ten years. He then traded the mill for a farm, three miles westof Mt. Sterling, remained four years, then traded the farm for a stockof goods, engaged in the mercantile business in Clayton, Adams county,and remained there until his death in 1859. The first name of his wifewas Agnes, daughter of William and Nancy (Tayler), likely natives of Irelandand Pennsylvania. The grandfather was of Scotch ancestry. Mrs. Robison’smother died in Clayton in 1889.
Mr. and Mrs. Robison have eight living children:Henry, Mary, William, Robert, Enos M., Fred, Belle and Walter. The firstchild, Margaret, the wife of Rev. J. O. Jennings, died in California, January29, 1891. Three others died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Robison are membersof the Presbyterian Church, and he has served as Trustee of the churchand his wife has taught in the Sunday school. He has been a Republicansince the formation of the party.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 172-174.
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