ROBINSON, Dr. Sawyer - 1890 Bio (1817-1857)

ROBINSON, BROOKS, GRAY, SWAIN, HARRIS, COMBS, MOORMAN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/23/2007 at 20:11:56

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 509-510

Dr. Sawyer ROBINSON, deceased, was a pioneer physician of Jefferson County. The early history of this county would be incomplete without a sketch of the Doctor, who was widely known throughout the community both as a citizen and skillful physician. He was a native of Ohio, born in Middletown, January 17, 1817. His parents were James and Mary ROBINSON. Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, and on the completion of his literary education, having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of '41. Going to Collinsville, Ohio, he entered upon the prosecution of his chosen profession, and in that place formed the acquaintance of Miss Leah B. BROOKS. Their friendship ripening into love, on the 6th of November, 1845, they were united in marriage and began their domestic life in Collinsville. The lady was born near Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, June 2, 1826, and is a daughter of Tinley M. and Elizabeth (GRAY) BROOKS.

In the spring of 1846 Dr. ROBINSON decided to emigrate to the West, which he believed a better field for young men just starting out in a professional career. He came to Iowa and was so well pleased with Jefferson County and its future prospects that he made a location in Locust Grove Township, at what is now the town of Brookville. He lived upon a farm but devoted his attention to the practice of medicine until 1851, when he was elected Clerk of the Court. After serving in that position for two years, he spent twelve months in Wapello County, which time sufficed to convince him that he preferred Jefferson County as a location. On his return he engaged in practice for one year in Fairfield, but in 1855 again settled in Brookville, where he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 4th of June, 1857. Dr. ROBINSON was always ahead instead of behind the times, being by nature an enterprising and progressive man. In his profession he was possessed of such skill and ability that he took rank among the foremost physicians of his time in the State, and was an honored member of both the county and State Medical societies.

The Doctor and his wife were the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters. John D., the eldest, born December 5, 1846, married Melissa SWAIN and is living in Clarks, Neb.; Sawyer, born January 29, 1848, entered the Keokuk Medical College, but death ended his career on the 2d of June, 1871, ere he had completed his course of study; he was a soldier. Leah M., born August 26, 1849, died November 30, 1850; Emmett L., born January 16, 1851, married Anna HARRIS and is a practicing physician of Central City, Neb.; Mary E., born July 9, 1852, became the wife of the Rev. J. A. COMBS and died July 9, 1878; Melvin, born October 13, 1854, died April 19, 1855; Tinley, born May 13, 1856, died June 13, 1858.

Dr. ROBINSON was a Whig in political sentiment until the organization of the Republican party, when, among the first, he espoused its cause. However, he did not live to see the enforcement of the principles which it advocated. He was a man of great firmness of purpose and nothing could deter him from walking in that path of duty or pursuing any course which he believed to be right. He was a member of the Methodist Church, in which he served as Steward, and was also Superintendent of the Sabbath School. His last work in the church was the erection of the fine church building at Brookville, with which he had much to do. The cause of temperance found in him a warm advocate and the society known as the Sons of Temperance numbered him among its faithful members. Dr. ROBINSON is well remembered by many of the older settlers of Jefferson County, and this brief sketch of his life will be received by them with interest. His widow became the wife of the Hon. Thomas MOORMAN, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.