George C. Robinson, postmaster at Hettick, Macoupin
County, and one of the county's prominent and substantial citizens was born
April 18, 1855, in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England, and is a son of
James and Catherine (Crossland) Robinson.
The family and all its
connections are of English extraction. James Robinson, the father of our
subject, was born March 5, 1826, at Knottingley, Yorkshire, England, and
died in 1861 at Madras, India, from the effects of poison. For a number, of
years he was a sailor in the merchant marine service and our subject has in
his possession the paper showing his honorable discharge, as mate of the
"Ann and Mary," his last ship, bearing the date of May 24, 1848. He was a
man of business capacity as was .shown by his being sent to Madras as
overseer of the workmen engaged in the construction of the first English
railroad built in that land. Those were dangerous days for foreigners in
India, on account of fanatical prejudices, and his very useful life was cut
short by poison administered in large quantities by some of the natives. Mr.
Robinson was survived by a widow and six children, namely: John W., George
C., Mary C., Elizabeth, Charles C. and James. EJizabeth married Albert E.
Dennis, a farmer at Rockbridge, Greene County, Illinois, and they have had
seven children, those surviving being: George F., Sidney, James F. and
Catherine. Mary C. married Joseph G. Bilbrook, a farmer living near Hettick,
Macoupin County, and died in 1881. Charles C. married Kate Reddington,
daughter of John Reddington, a farmer of Hagaman, Macoupin County. Charles
C. was postmaster at Hagaman under President Cleveland, and is now coroner
of Macoupin County. He has three children — Leo, Mamie and Charles. John W..
resides at Hagaman, where he is deputy postmaster and conducts a general
store. He married Johanna O'Conner, of St. Louis, Missouri, and they have
four children, viz: John, James, Edward and Mary Ellen. James, who is
postmaster at Hagaman, married Grace Cooling, and has two children — Mabel
Margaret and James Byron.
After the death of her husband, our
subject's mother supported herself and children by selling garden products.
Two of her sons migrated to America in 1866, and in October, 1871, she came
with the others of the family, and settled at Hagaman, Macoupin County. At a
later date she married Robert Hayworth, a farmer living near Hagaman, who
was born in England and died in 1879. Mrs. Hayworth died October 8, 1902,
aged 75 years. She was a most excellent woman, a devoted mother and had
borne many trials with patience and fortitude.
George C. Robinson
came to America with his elder brother, John W., arriving in New York City,
October 12, 1866. They came immediately to Illinois, and after one week at
Alton located in Macoupin County. Our subject found work with his uncle,
William Crossland, and for his clothes and board worked for his uncle from
1866 to 1871, when his mother came to Hagaman. In 1871 he went to Jersey
County and remained five years with Charles Sanders, at $18 per month with
board, and two years with V. L. Dodge, a neighboring farmer. He then opened
a small store at Kemper, Jersey County, and was appointed village postmaster
by President Garfield. In 1 88 1 he sold his stock to Still Brothers and
removed to Chesterfield township, Macoupin County, where he opened a general
store and conducted it for two years, selling out in order to take a
pleasure trip to England with his uncle William Crossland. During its
duration of six months, he visited London and many other places of interest,
including his old home. Upon his return he again located at Kemper, with
less than $100, buying out the general store of G. B. Harland, and remained
in that village until the fall of 1886, when he sold out to B. C. Elliott
and purchased the store of John Burrell at Hettick, which pleasant village
has been his place of residence ever since. He has held the office of
postmaster under every Republican administration since James A. Garfield
became president in 1881.
Mr. Robinson is a large real estate owner,
his properties including 500 acres of prairie and bottom land, several
stores and dwelling houses in Hettick, 450 acres-of land in Shipman
township, near Medora, and the brick hotel in that place.
Mr.
Robinson was married October 7, 1880, to Margaret Kirkland, who is a
daughter of Thomas Kirkland, a carpenter and joiner of Kemper, Illinois.
Thomas Kirkland married Margaret C. Gilbert and their familywere all born in
England except the two youngest who were twins. Their names in order are
John Thomas, William, Margaret C., Luella, and Frank Huin and Charles
(twins). Mrs. Robinson as well as her parents was born in England and she
was four years old when she was brought to America in 1868. Six children
were born to this union, namely: Florence Viola, John W., George Thomas,
William, Edith May and James Theodore Kirkland. Mr. Robinson has been able
to give each of his children a good schooling and he and his wife are proud
of their sons and daughters, all being intelligent and highly respected in
the community.
In politics Mr. Robinson has always been identified
with the Republican party. He has been president of the village board for
two years and has held other offices at Hettick. He belongs to the Macoupin
County Agricultural Society, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America. The family belong to the Methodist Church.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 451-453.
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