Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



AMOS ROBINSON
 
            Amos Robinson was born in New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, 
February 6, 1833.  His parents were Kinsey and Hannah (March) Robinson, the 
former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio.  His father came from 
Scotch ancestry.  His grandfather, Jonah Robinson, a resident of Virginia during 
the Revolutionary War, and a soldier in the army, received wounds from which he 
subsequently died.  His wife was Johanna Daniels, and while her three brothers 
were in the Revolutionary War, she had the entire care of their families.
            Amos Robinson was reared in his native town until seventeen years of 
age, when he went to Pomeroy, Ohio, and learned the tinner�s trade.  After 
remaining there three years he started for California across the plains, being 
131 days on the trip, and a rough trip it was.  He went at once into the mines 
at Camptonville, where he remained eight years, working at Camptonville, Indian 
Hill, and Jamison Creek.  He worked two years at Timbuctoo, and two years at 
Marysville, and for two years had a shop at La Porte.  He then sold out and went 
East.  Upon his return to California, in the fall of 1867, he located in Gilroy 
and engaged in the hardware business.  After being alone one year he took in a 
partner, the firm being Robinson & Hitchcock.  Four years later Mr. Robinson 
bought out his partner�s interest, and has since continued in the business 
alone.  He erected his present building in 1868, the dimensions being 21x100 
feet, with a two-story warehouse in the rear, 30x20 feet.  Mr. Robinson carries 
a stock valued at about $6,500; does a general hardware and stove business, and 
makes a specialty of the manufacture of dairy work and dairy supplies, well 
casings, etc., his trade, in some lines, extending as far south as Bakersfield, 
and sends well casings to all the towns and cities within reach of Gilroy.  He 
made up over thirty tons of iron in this line in 1887.
            He was married in Wisconsin, October 21, 1869, to Miss Matilda 
Cline, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has one child, Herbert.  Mr. 
Robinson is a charter member of No. 54, I. O. O. F., and of A. O. U. W., No. 26. 
 He has passed through the chairs in the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. Lodges, and 
has represented both in the Grand Lodge.  He is also a charter member of the 
Vigilant Engine Company, and the only charter member left.  He has been Foreman 
three years, and First Assistant six years, which office he holds at present.  
In politics he is a Republican.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 340-341
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
Proofread by Betty Vickroy