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William B. Robinson, one of the most prominent
business men of Delaware county, is identified with a number of enterprises,
being president of the Farmer's Savings Bank of Robinson and the Robinson Lumber
& Grain Company and also a director of the Ryan State Bank, while he and his
sons own and operate the Timber View Stock Farm, where they are engaged in
breeding full blooded short horn cattle. A native of Delaware county, Mr.
Robinson was born in Adams township, on he 12th of November, 1865, and he is a
son of William and Matilda Williamson Robinson. The father was a native of
County Fermanagh, Ireland, and, coming to this country, settled in Iowa many
years ago. About the same time that he emigrated to the United States his wife
also crossed the Atlantic from the Emerald isle, as she was born in County
Monaghan. They were married in Dubuque in May, 1858, and became the parents of
six children, namely Margaret, who married William Carrothers and resides in
Prairie township, Eliza A., the wife of William Temple, of Fort Dodge, Iowa;
James, deceased, William B., of this review; Sarah, deceased; and Anthony T.,
manager of the lumberyard at Robinson.
During his boyhood and youth William B. Robinson
attended the public schools in the pursuit of an education and was also a
student at Epworth Seminary for a time. At an early age he became familiar with
agricultural work and since attaining manhood has continued to devote his
energies to some phase of farming, being known as one of the most successful
breeders of full blooded shorthorn cattle in the county. He owns three hundred
and forty eight acres of land situated five and a half miles west of Ryan and
one mile north of Robinson, his farm being known as Timber View Stock Farm. The
cattle which he breeds command the highest price on the market and are eligible
for registration. Roan Masterpiece, No. 369000, a grandson of the international
champion, Cumberland's Last, is at the head of the herd. As stock breeders, Mr.
Robinson and his sons are widely known throughout Iowa and the volume of their
business is constantly increasing. Our subject is a thoroughly practical man, of
good business and executive ability, and usually carries forward to successful
completion whatever he undertakes. As president of the Farmers Savings Bank of
Robinson and the Robinson Lumber & Grain Company he has greatly promoted the
business interests of the town of Robinson.
On the 25th of February, 1892, Mr. Robinson was united in
marriage to Miss Mary A. Swindle, a daughter of Anthony and Lucy (Norris)
Swindle, both natives of Ireland. Her father was born in County Fermanagh, March
11, 1826, while the mother's birth occurred in County Cork. It was in January,
1847, that Anthony Swindle landed in the new world and for a time he made his
home in New Jersey, from which state he removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
where he resided for a number of years. In 1852 he came to Iowa, arriving in
Delaware county on the 8th of March, and about nine years later his future wife
located here. They were married in Quasqueton on the 9th of April, 1863, and
became the parents of eight children, of whom seven, five sons and two
daughters, are still living, Mrs. Robinson, being the eldest. The others are
Frank, a resident of Beldon, Nebraska; Bessie, who is the widow of William
Henderson and resides with her mother in Adams township; Charles, a resident of
Cleghorn, Iowa; Anthony J., of Tacoma, Washington; William H., of Earlville,
Iowa and Dr. Robert N. of Chicago. During the Civil War Mr. Swindle enlisted in
the Fourth Iowa Infantry and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After a
useful and well spent life he passed away on the 1st of November, 1906. His
widow still survives and makes her home on the old homestead.
The children born to Mr and Mrs Robinson are: Byron,
now assistant cashier of the Greeley Savings Bank of Greeley, Iowa; Milton, at
home; Anthony, attending high school at Manchester; Lucy, who was graduated from
the Manchester high school and received a scholarship to Cornell College at
Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she is now a freshman, and Lloyd who is also a high
school student at Manchester.
By his ballot Mr. Robinson also supports the men and
measures of the Republican party and for 9 years he acceptably served as County
Supervisor. He has likewise held a number of local offices. In 1890 he arranged
to have a post office established, being known as the Silver Creek Post Office,
and he was appointed postmaster in June of that year, continuing to hold the
office for nine years. It was afterward discontinued and in 1898 the rural route
was established which was one of the first in this section of the state.
Fraternally Mr. Robinson is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Knights of Pythias. His energy and ability have contributed much toward
the development of his section of the county and as a businessman and citizen he
is held in the highest esteem. |
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