John McIntyre Robinson 1837-1913

ROBINSON, ROWAN, BRADLEY, PETERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/4/2010 at 23:35:00

Death of a Pioneer
John M. Robinson Passed Away at His Home in This City Wednesday April 23
Came to Emmet County in 1870
Resided Here Steadily Since That Time – One of the County’s Best Citizens

After an illness of only eight days John M. Robinson, one of the pioneer settlers of Emmet county, died at his home in this city, Wednesday night, April 23, of pneumonia, aged 75 years and 8 months.

Funeral was held from the Methodist Episcopal church Friday afternoon, and interment made in Oak Hill Cemetery.

John McIntyre Robinson was born August 22nd, 1837, in the north of Ireland. His parents originally came from Scotland. When four years of age he came with his parents to Canada. In 1865 he moved to Iowa and settled in his primitive home in Wright Co. near the town of Rowan. He was a successful and industrious farmer here until 1878 when he moved with his family to Cerro Gorda Co., settling near Clear Lake. Eight years later he traveled to Emmet Co., and took up his residence on a farm south of this city. After many years of continuous farming he retired to our city for rest but not idleness, but continued an active life. In the year 1863 he was married to Martha Rowan who proved to be a faithful wife and devoted mother.

While still a young man he was led to Jesus Christ through whom he received the forgiveness of his sins and in whom he found a Companion and Friend through all the changing seasons of life. Soon after his conversion he united with the Methodist Episcopal church of which he was a good member at the time of his departure. He was a careful and thoughtful reader of the Holy Bible and drew from it the manna that was sufficient for every need. He was faithful to the church and when age and the call of the Church allowed he was found in the discharge of his duty. He was a wise Sunday School Superintendent, a thoughtful teacher of classes and an earnest and helpful listener in the Sunday School hour. His attendance upon the means of Grace was commendable and caused many to mention his devotion.

He belonged to a hardy and sturdy race, suffering little from the ailments of the body during his whole career.

Firm in the observance of the duties that devolved upon him in the ordinary walk of life, he was stricken in the midst of life’s toil, on Tuesday, April 15th and retiring that night he never rose from his bed for the active life. He was tired and worn with the long and arduous journey but ready to serve further here if the Master wished it. After eight days of much suffering from hemorrhages, patiently borne, he passed away Wednesday evening sweetly but quietly with all the immediate family in the city at his bedside.

He discharged all obligations placed upon him fearlessly; in relation to his fellowmen of unquestioned integrity and uprightness. He was obedient to God and his Church.

The ripened grain of a good life has been garnered into the Kingdom of light and life forever with the Lord.

He leaves to be guided and helped by his consecrated life, a loving wife, one daughter, Mrs. Eva Bradley, of this city, and five sons, William, of Washington, Irwin, living near this city, Ira, of Boise, Idaho, Fred, of this city, Edward, of Nevada, and Mrs. A. O. Peterson, a niece, of this city, brother at Port Arthur, Canada, a sister at Julian, Mont., and a brother and sister at St. Johns berg, Vt.

Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. G. F. Whitfield, on Friday afternoon at the First Methodist Episcopal church. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, April 30, 1913)