W. S. ROBINSON

View Portrait of W. S. Robinson

W. S. Robinson, living on section 14, Dayton township, where stock-raising and general farming interests claim his time and energies, was born in this township September 29, 1847. He is of Irish descent in the paternal line, his father, Thomas Robinson, having been born on the Emerald isle, whence he sailed to the new world in early manhood, locating first in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was married in that state to Miss Margaret Speare, who was born there, and in 1839 they sought a home in the middle west, coming to Cedar county, Iowa, among its first settlers. This was long before the state was admitted to the Union and in fact was yet a part of the territory of Wisconsin. Much of the land was largely in possession of the government and Mr. Robinson entered a tract and afterward purchased other land until he owned two hundred and forty-five acres. Upon this he placed improvements and there reared his family, continuing to reside upon the farm until his death, which occurred in 1864. His wife survived him for about twelve years, passing away in 1876.

W. S. Robinson is the only son in a family of seven children, and therefore in his youthful days the work of the farm largely devolved upon him. As opportunity offered he attended the common schools and afterward had the benefit of two years’ study in Mount Vernon. He later took up the task of farming the home place for his mother and so continued until her death.

On the 30th of November, 1870, in Dayton township, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Harriet McConkie, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, and was there reared. For a few years before her marriage she successfully engaged in teaching in this county. After Mr. Robinson married he continued to cultivate the old home place for a time and later purchased the interests of the other heirs in the property. He has since built a good residence, also a substantial barn and has further improved the place, utilizing good farming machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, while in his stock-raising interests he is paying close attention to the needs and care of high grade cattle, horses and hogs, so that his stock has found ready and profitable sale upon the market. His business judgment is sound, his discrimination keen, and that his labors have been continued along well defined lines is indicated in his success.

In 1878 Mr. Robinson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in that year, leaving three children: William, who assists his father in carrying on the home farm; John E., a farmer of Cedar county, who is married and has two children, Margaret and Hubert; and Irene, the wife of Frank H. Buckly, a farmer of Dayton township, by whom she has five children, Foster, Howard, Walter, Charles and Mabel.

In his political views Mr. Robinson is a republican and his first presidential vote was cast for General U. S. Grant in 1868, since which time each presidential nominee of the party has received his support. He has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions and for six years he filled the office of township trustee. For some years he was officially identified with the schools. He filled the office of highway commissioner and for four consecutive years has been assessor, while in 1910 he was nominated for another term. His entire life has been passed in this county, which he has seen develop from a wilderness. There was only one house between his place and Tipton in his youthful days, and Tipton has grown from a mere village to a city of considerable importance. He rejoices in what has been accomplished and has borne his share in the work of progress. Those who have had business transactions with him speak of his thorough reliability; those who have met him socially bear testimony to his genial nature and kindly disposition; and the number of his friends is indicative of the fact that his has been a well spent life.