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Robinson Family
ROBINSON. The Robinsons of Hovey township are descendants of Elisha
Robinson, Sr., who came to this section of Armstrong county in 1814. He and
his posterity, in turn, have been associated with the development and history
of the region continuously since.The Robinson family is of old and honored standing in this country, where
it has been settled from early Colonial days. The emigrant ancestor, Isaac
Robinson, the son of Rev. John Robinson, of Leyden, and Bridget White, his
wife, was born about 1610 and came to New England in 1631, first settling at
Plymouth, Massachusetts.Lieut. Peter Robinson, son of Isaac by his second wife, Mary, was born
between 1653 and 1666-67, probably at Falmouth. He married Experience Manton,
daughter of John Manton, of Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard. He afterward removed
to Windham, Conn., where he resided until his death, which was some time
between Feb. 6, 1739, and April 15, 1740.Peter Robinson (2), son of Lieut. Peter and his wife Experience Manton, was
born about 1697 at Windham, Conn. He maried Ruth Fuller, daughter of Samuel
Fuller, of Mansfield, June 30, 1725, and died March 22, 1785.Experience Robinson, son of Peter (2), was born April 22, 1728, and married
Zerviah Palmer, daughter of Eliezer Palmer, Feb. 14, 1748-49. He died Sept.
10, 1807.Andrew Robinson, son of Experience and his wife Zerviah Palmer, was born
Aug. 1, 1762. He was married three times, first on March 10, 1785, to Olive
Hovey, daughter of Ebenezer and Dorcas (Corbin) Hovey, and sister of Dr.
Simeon Hovey. He died June 10, 1849.Elisha Robinson, son of Andrew and Olive (Hovey) Robinson, was the owner of
the land in Armstrong county, Pa., where oil was first discovered leading to
the development of the Parker and Butler county fields. He was one of the best
known of the early settlers in his section, where he lived from 1814. Mr.
Robinson was a native of Connecticut, born Dec. 4, 1791, in Windham. He
learned the trade of tanner with a Mr. Bingham, of his native town, and in
1814 set out for what was then the West, his uncle, Dr. Hovey, having promised
to build a tannery for him and make him his heir. In 1814 he located in that
part of old Perry township now known as Hovey, in Armstrong county, Pa., upon
the land where his son Elisha afterward resided. Here he engaged in shoemaking
and had a tannery, undoubtedly the first in the northern part of Armstrong
county, and carried on both lines, in which he met with steady success. This
industry was continued there for over fifty years, Mr. Robinson following same
for over thirty years, until about 1846, when he turned it over to his son
Samuel. For the next quarter of a century he devoted himself to farming, which
he always followed, having a gristmill also. The log school which he built for
his children is still standing. When he arrived in this region he began
improving part of the tract belonging to his uncle, Dr. Simeon Hovey (in whose
honor Hovey township was named), and his first purchase of land was the
“Thom’s run” property, a tract of 100 acres which he paid for in
shoes and leather, working to acquire his land. “A Revolutionary soldier
named Joseph Thom was a pioneer settler on the stream which is still known as
Thom’s run. He built the first sawmill in this part of the county, and
operated it for several years. He sold his tract of land to Elisha Robinson
(Sr.) And moved away.” With his wife Mr. Robinson inherited the property
of his uncle, Dr. Hovey, who was married but left no children, dying in 1837,
in his seventy-eighth year.As Mr. Robinson’s receipts after the opening of the oil industry were so
large as to place him among those who became very wealthy as a result of that
activity, it is only just to him to say that his well-directed industry and
good management as a business man and farmer had brought him independence
before then. He prospered by dint of enterprise and energy, becoming the owner
of 1,100 acres in his home farm, besides acquiring other interests. This farm
became one of the most noted properties in the entire oil region, for there
were made the first discoveries of oil leading to the development of the
Parker and Butler county fields. (The Grant farm in Butler county, which
became famous as oil territory and produced from $200,000 to $300,000 worth of
petroleum, was sold by Mr. Robinson for $100, and never paid for until its
value as oil property was discovered.) In 1865 a portion of the Robinson farm
a quarter of a mile north of Parker City was purchased by the Philadelphia
Company, and a well was sunk under the superintendency of W. D. Robinson, son
of Elisha Robinson. Oil was struck Oct. 10th of that year. This well (the
first oil discovered in the county) proved to have a production of about
twenty-five barrels a day, which was an important yield at the price of oil
which then prevailed — $8.50 per barrel. This well was controlled by the
Clarion and Allegheny River Oil Company, and was known as Clarion No. 1. No
important results immediately followed the discovery, though within the next
few years the pioneer operators had demonstrated beyond doubt that the
territory around Parker’s Landing was rich in petroleum. Mr. Robinson began to
lease his land to operators for one-eighth to one-fourth royalties, and as a
large number of good wells were soon struck he found himself in receipt of a
substantial income. It was not until the latter half of the year 1869 that a
genuine oil excitement revealed the importance of the oil fields surrounding
Parker. About a dozen wells had been put down on the hill near Parker prior to
the time mentioned. But these test wells had proclaimed the value of the
Butler county oil territory in addition to that of Armstrong, and such an
impetus was given to the business that it speedily became known that Parker
was to become an important point as a base of operations for producers and
operators.In the fall of 1871 Mr. Robinson placed the oil business under the control
of his son Elisha, who succeeded him upon his death, which occured Oct. 17,
1874, after a short illness. His sons Elisha and Samuel succeeded to the
ownership of the homestead farm. He was a man of sterling character and high
moral standards, scrupulously honorable in all his dealings, benevolent in
disposition and highly esteemed by all. Politically he was a lifelong
Democrat.On Jan. 7, 1816, soon after settling in Armstrong county, Mr. Robinson
married Elizabeth Rohrer, of Greensburg, a niece of Dr. Simeon Hovey’s wife.
She survived him, passing away Sept. 21, 1881. Ten children were born to this
marriage, namely: Simeon Hovey, born March 20, 1817; Mary Ann, Jan. 14, 1819
(married George Bovard, of Manorville); William D., Oct. 20, 1820 (ran a store
at Parker’s Landing from 1843 to 1869, not conducting the business personally
all the time, however; he subsequently moved to Kittanning); Olive, June 28,
1822 (married Thomas McConnell); Simeon Hovey (2), May 2, 1824 (settled in
Hovey township); Frederick Augustus, Ma y 22, 1826; Andrew Jackson, April 17,
1828; Samuel M., March 10, 1830; Elisha, Dec. 4, 1832 (both settled in Hovey
township); and Frederick Rohrer, May 29, 1835 — all deceased.
Samuel Marshall Robinson, son of Elisha, was born March 10, 1830, on
the old homestead farm in Hovey township, near Parker’s Landing, was reared at
that place and had his home there throughout his life, his family still
occupying the farm. He received a good common school education and practical
training for life with his father, who not only taught him his trade but
business principles. Though only a youth when the tanning business was turned
over to him, he made a success of conducting it, which he did for twenty
years, until he embarked in the oil business, which he followed in Armstrong
and adjoining counties. He was one of the operators who produced largely, and
he also continued to follow farming, besides dealing to a considerable extent
in stock, frequently shipping fat cattle to the Eastern markets. His home
place contained 165 to 170 acres, over which he kept personal supervision, and
there in 1874 he built the substantial brick dwelling ever since occupied by
his family. He also owned a 208-acre tract in Butler county, highly improved
and profitable property, now owned by his son and daughter.In his active years Mr. Robinson was associated with many projects of
leading importance in the advancement of his section, and he gave his
encouragement to many others which enlisted his interest and in whose value he
had faith. As a citizen he was public-spirited, and not only took an interest
in the affairs of his communtiy but himself assisted in the administration of
local government, holding all the offices in Hovey township. In politics he
was a Democrat. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church
at Foxburg, and served many years as senior warden. His ability and
well-directed energy made him a valuable associate in any cause he chose to
support. His death, which occurred April 1, 1908, was regarded as a public
loss.On Sept. 13, 1860, Mr. Robinson married Emma Louisa Prosser, who was born
in Butler, Pa., Dec. 21, 1838, daughter of Charles and Eliza (Brinker)
Prosser, of Butler County, Pa. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel
Marshall Robinson: (1) Samuel, born June 18, 1861, died when fourteen years
old. (2) Charles, born Oct. 11, 1863, took the collegiate and law courses at
Harvard University and is engaged in legal practice at Pittsburgh, Pa. He
married Alma Lord, of that city, and they have two children. (3) Emma C., born
Jan. 11, 1866, died unmarried at the age of twenty-four years. (4) Elizabeth
R., born Nov. 4, 1869, who lives at home, received her higher education in the
Pennsylvania College for Women, at Pittsburgh. (5) Paul D., born May 3, 1872,
died at the age of twenty-nine years, unmarried. (6) Frederick A., born Sept.
20, 1878, is engaged in farming at the old Robinson homestead near Parker’s
Landing. He received his education in the schools of Armstrong county. (7)
Bertha May, born June 4, 1876, died when two years old.
Elisha Robinson, son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Rohrer) Robinson, was
born Dec. 4, 1832, on the home farm in Hovey township. He was one of the
foremost residents of that section throughout his active years. Reared on the
farm where he continued to reside, he received his early education in the
common schools and later attended the academy at Kittanning. In 1861 he
engaged in the general merchandise business at the mouth of the Thom’s run,
and for about five years carried on this store, which was located between his
residence and Parker City, in 1866 settling on the home where he resided until
his death, April 2, 1912. In 1871 he took charge of his father’s oil business
and continued to have interests in that line, succeeding his father upon the
latter’s death. He operated but little himself, however, leasing his land on
royalty. Mr. Robinson owned about seven hundred acres of valuable land in
Armstrong and Butler counties, all improved, and with up-to-date buildings,
and he was always considered one of the most progressive agriculturists in
Armstrong county, advocating modern ideas and putting the most approved modern
methods into practice on his estate, which is highly improved. He was also a
successful stock breeder, making a specialty of blooded stock, and purchasing
in Kentucky and Ohio. When the Petroleum Agricultural Association was
organized, in 1881, he became one of the first directors, and was considered
one of the most valuable members of that organization.Mr. Robinson was one of the oldest members of the Parker City Methodist
Episcopal Church, with which he united in 1857, and which he served as steward
and class leader. In 1902 he erected the Robinson Memorial Chapel on his farm
as a family memorial, and in 1902 built the parsonage. His wife also belonged
to the same church, though she was originally a Presbyterian. In politics he
was formerly a Democrat, but later a stanch Prohibitionist. He held the
township offices of overseer of the poor, school director and justice of the
peace, having been elected to the latter in 1868 and served three years,
resigning when he took charge of his father’s oil business.On Nov. 24, 1857, Mr. Robinson was married to Caroline Truby, of
Brookville, Jefferson county, Pa., daughter of Samuel and Anna (Sterling)
Truby, and ten children were born to this union: (1) Frederick Rohrer died in
infancy (2) Elisha M., who died at the age of forty, was a resident of
Pittsburgh and engaged in the store business. He married Virginia McClintock,
who now lives at Robinson, and three sons also survive him, Philip, Harold,
and Richard. (3) Annie T. married Rev. John E. Eggert, a Presbyterian minister
formerly located at Kansas, Ill., now of Harrington, Del. They have two living
children, Joseph A. and Elizabeth. (4) Samuel T., an oil producer and farmer,
resides at Robinson. He married Emma Leonard, of Parker, and has three
children, Elisha (married Mary O’Donnell), Helen (married James Berry and
resides at Oil City) and Malcolm (at home. (5) Elizabeth R. is the wife of A.
Sydney Wightman, president of the State Bank of Parker’s Landing, and they
have one child, A. Sydney, Jr. (6) Horatio is deceased. (7) Ernest William
married Mary Purvis. They have no children. (8) Olive G. married J. Bentley
Forker, of Oil City, Pa., and has three sons, Bentley T., Lee T and Truby. (9)
Alice M. is the wife of William Truman, of Brookville, Pa., and has seven
children, Olive, Henry, Ruth, Caroline, Elisha, William and Joseph Bentley.
(10) Chase S. served during the Spanish-American war, enlisting in April,
1908, in Company H, 10th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and receiving his discharge
in January, 1909, on account of disability. He had a severe attack of malarial
fever, from which he has never fully recovered. He now resides on the paternal
farm, having a tract of 200 acres, which originally formed part of the family
estate and to whose care he gives his attention. He married Rachel Collner.Source: Pages 981-983, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Joyce Sherry for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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