CHARLES ROBINSON

Charles Robinson has proven himself a man of unusual energy and sound business ability, as he has in the course of his life become the owner of four hundred and twenty-two acres of fine land and that without aid from any one. He was born in Nottingham, England, on the 11th of November, 1845, a son of John and Jane (Eliott) Robinson. He accompanied his parents to the United States and the family settled in North Fork township, this county, on the 3d of May, 1855. They resided upon a farm in that township belonging to their son George, who had previously emigrated to America. At the end of two years their son William bought twenty acres of land in Delhi township and they moved there. The father was a bricklayer and mason and followed his trade in England, but after he came to the United States devoted the greater part of his time to the cultivation of his land. He and his wife were the parents of three sons, the brothers of the subject of this review being: George, who was born April 5, .1828, and died in Cleveland, Ohio, in April, 1891; and William, whose birth occurred August 26, 1838, and who now lives in Earlville, this state. The father died at the age of eighty-eight years and the mother lived to the unusual age of ninety-three years.

Charles Robinson received his education in the common schools of this county and as he was reared in a farming community he early became familiar with the various operations that together make up agriculture. Upon starting out in life for himself he decided to concentrate his energies upon the cultiva­tion of land and the raising of stock and also determined to become a landowner. He worked steadfastly toward that end and success has rewarded his labors, as he now owns four hundred and twenty-two acres of fertile land within two miles of Earlville, on section 12, Delhi township. He follows general farming, giving especial attention to the raising of cattle, and he has a fine herd of Herefords.

Mr. Robinson was married on the 11th of November, 1879, to Miss Mary E. Simons, a daughter of George and Sarah (Short) Simons, natives of Ohio who came to Delaware county in 1860 and settled upon a farm in Delhi township. Her father enlisted in 1861 in Company K, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served at the front for three years. At the close of the struggle he returned to his farm, where he resided until 1887, when he went to England and passed away there the following year. His wife had preceded him in death, her demise occurring in 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson eight children were born: Kate, the wife of Henry E. Irons, who is principal of the high school at Clarence, Iowa, where they reside; Blanch, the wife of Lewis Gibbs, a farmer of Delhi township; Frank B., who lives at home; Cora, who married Robert Shearer, a farmer of North Fork township; Jennie, at home; John E., who is in the draying business in Earlville; and Sarah and Zora, at home. The wife and mother passed away June 13, 1912, and was buried in the Fairview cemetery at Earlville.

Mr. Robinson is a republican in his political views and for many years held the office of road supervisor and also that of school director. His ideals of citizenship are high and not only does he faithfully discharge his duties as an official but in his private life he places the public, welfare before individual gain.

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