Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 108

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 108

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Dr. S. D. Robertson, physician and surgeon, Dover, Yazoo county, Miss., was born in Fairfield, S. C., in 1837, and is the second of a family of ten children. His parents are B. H. and A. M. (Dixon) Robertson, natives of South Carolina, where they still reside. The father is a farmer by occupation. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk, Mexican and Civil wars, and three of his sons served in the last named conflict. Seven of the ten children lived to maturity: Sarah, wife of Capt. Thomas Perry, of South Carolina; S. D .; Barnes, who fell at the charge of Drury's Bluff; Dixon, a planter of Fairfield, S. C .; Lee, a merchant of the same state, and two daughters who are living in South Carolina. Dr. Robertson was educated in the military school of Columbia, S. C., and came to Mississippi in October, 1857. Having chosen the profession of medicine for his life work, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which famous institution he was graduated in 1861. In May of the same year he entered the Confederate service, enlisting in company I, Eighteenth Mississippi vol- unteer infantry as first lieutenant. He was assigned to the army of Northern Virginia,

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and upon the reorganization of his regiment in 1862 he was elected captain of his company. He was wounded at Gettysburg, Penn., by a musket shot, after which he was on post duty for several months. He served through the entire war, and at the close of the struggle he returned to Mississippi. and located at Dover, Yazoo county, being among the earliest settlers there after the war. He entered on the practice of his profession, in which he has been very successful. With the exception of a short residence in Texas, he has been in Yazoo county since the war. He has a comfortable home, and is surrounded with peace and plenty. He was married in Hinds county, Miss., to Miss Sallie Garrett, a daughter of John and Mary Garrett. Five children were born to them and two lived, Annie and Mabel; the others died in infancy. Mrs. Robertson died in 1877, and in 1879 the Doctor was married a second time, being united to Miss Fanny Wilson, a daughter of S. J. and Caroline Wilson. They are the parents of three children: Wilson S., J. D. and Barnes. Dr. Robertson is a member of the Masonic order, belonging both to the blue lodge and chapter; he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor. Mrs. Robertson is a member of the Baptist church, in which she is a zealous worker. The Doctor is a stanch supporter of all home interests, and an ardent believer in both the developed and the undeveloped resources of Yazoo county.

W. T. Robertson, of Forest, Miss., was born in Georgia in 1836. His father, W. H. Robertson, was a native of Virginia, born in 1807. His mother, Elizabeth Hardman, was born in 1809. They had nine children, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. The marriage occurred in Georgia in 1828. There Mr. Robertson engaged in planting, and lived there until his removal to Scott county, Miss., in 1845, where he followed the same occupation with considerable success. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. The latter died in 1854, and the former in 1862. W. T. Robertson grew to manhood in Scott county, Miss., receiving a common-school education. He was married in 1860 to Miss Lou Moore, daughter of Lod Moore, and a native of Scott county. They have had born to them four children, all of whom are living: W. T. Robertson, Jr., was educated at Harperville, Miss., graduating in 1880; Anna B. graduated from the same place in the class of 1885; while Pattie was educated at French Camp. Misses Anna and Pattie are successful schoolteachers, and the son, W. T. Robertson, Jr., is a bookkeeper at Greenville, Miss. Mr. Robertson has about five hundred acres of land, about two-fifths of which are under cultivation. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and with the Knights of Honor, being a member of the lodges at Morton and at Forest respectively. In 1861 Mr. Robertson enlisted in the Thirty- ninth Mississippi regiment, commanded by Col. W. B. Shelby. He fought at Port Hudson, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Kenesaw mountain, Columbia and Franklin. He was once slightly wounded, but served until the close of the war, returning home from Ship island in 1865. Mr. Robertson is a liberal friend of schools, churches, and all public institutions, and takes a great deal of interest in all matters pertaining to the good of the community.

Dr. J. R. Robinet, of Learned, Miss., was born in Yazoo county of this state in 1836, only child of J. R. and Winifred (Clark) Robinet, the father a native of the same state as himself. His ancestors came to the United States with the Count de Rochambeau during the Revolutionary war. Dr. J. R. Robinet received good educational advantages in his youth, and up to the age of twelve years was educated by a private teacher, at which - time he was sent to a military school near Raymond, then to the Mississippi college at Clinton, from which he graduated in 1855 with the degree of A. M. He then entered upon the study of medicine in the office of Dr. M. D. Brown, and in 1856 went to Albany, N. Y., entering a

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medical college of that place, where he remained ten months, at the end of which time he went to New York city and took a course of lectures in the Bellevue Medical college. His next move was to Philadelphia, Penn., in which city he graduated from the Jefferson Medical college in May, 1858, after which he returned to his home and for one year was a practitioner at Richmond. Then on account of poor health he returned to the hill country and located at Bennett's Wells, where he practiced during the year 1859. Since then his practice has been confined to the country adjacent to his home. In addition to his profession he con- ducts a large planting interest which he commenced in 1865. He purchased the Ephraim Wells place in 1870, containing five hundred and eighty eight acres of land, three hundred of which are under cultivation and one hundred acres heavily covered with valuable timber- oak, gum, poplar, etc. At the opening of the war the Doctor enlisted in the Charleston rifles, and was soon promoted to the medical department and assigned to the Second Arkansas regiment, then in the department of Tennessee. He took part in the Atlanta campaign and Bragg's invasion, during which time he was in Gen. Pat Cleburne's division. In 1859 he was married to a Miss Bush, a native of Mississippi, by whom he became the father of ten children, the following of whom are living: John Bush; Anna B., wife of Dr. Nelson, of Copiah county; Martin, Marshall, Frederick E. and J. R. Dr. Robinet has taken great interest in educational matters, is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

Col. Jephthah Robins has for many years been a most conspicuous and influential mem- ber of the bar of Mississippi, and is worthy of mention in this record of the men who have been important factors in the development and cultivation of the resources of the state. He is a native of Pickens district, S. C., born in 1814, and is a son of Albert and Susan (Norton) Robins, natives of South Carolina and Virginia respectively. Albert Robins was a son of Michael Robins, a native of North Carolina, and a farmer by occupation. When Albert was a mere lad his father removed to Greenville Courthouse, S. C. The father was one of a family of eight sons and four daughters. He and all his brothers were soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war. He lived to the allotted age of man, three score and ten years. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be grown. Albert was next to the youngest child, and was reared in South Carolina, where he resided until 1841. He then came to Fulton, Miss., where he lived at the time of his death, in 1849; he was seventy- eight years of age. His wife died two years later at about the same age. She was a consistent member of the Baptist church. To them were born three children: Levi died in South Caro- lina; Mrs. Arminda Copeland died in Fulton, Miss .; the Colonel was the second born. He passed his youth in South Carolina, and received his education in the common schools. When he had reached his twentieth year he went to Moulton, Ala., where he clerked in a dry goods store for one year. Thence he went to Fulton, Miss., in 1836, and there he was employed as a clerk for some time. He then engaged in the mercantile trade on his own account, and while in this business he was elected treasurer of the county of Itawamba. After dis- charging the duties of this office for one term he was elected probate clerk for two years. He was then made clerk of the chancery court, the district comprising Itawamba, Monroe, Chickasaw and Tishomingo counties. He held this office eight years, and during that time he read law, and was admitted to the bar at Aberdeen, Judge Rogers presiding. He prac- ticed his profession at Fulton until 1852, when he came to Lee county, and located at Gun- town. For several years he devoted himself industriously to the law, but of late years he has paid more attention to agriculture, and has turned his practice over to his son, John Quitman Robins, a partner of the Hon. John M. Allen. Colonel Robins was attorney for the

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Mobile & Ohio railroad, which position brought him many duties, and he still attends to all legal matters pertaining to the road. He is a man well read in all points of law and every class of literature. He is a man of rare judgment, quick insight and keen observation. He has won a wide reputation, and his ability is recognized in all legal circles throughout the South. He was married to Eliza D. Allen, a sister of the Hon. J. M. Allen, a native of Vir- ginia. (See sketch of John M. Allen.) Nine children were born to this union, one of whom is deceased: Mrs. Belle Gore, Mrs. Mollie Allen, John Q., Jephthah (deceased), William, James, Edwin, Annie, and Harrison Lamar. The younger children are now attending some of the best educational institutions of the South, and all have had superior advantages in that line. Colonel Robins served on detached duty during the late Civil war, and was on intimate terms with Jefferson Davis, McNutt, Foote, Prentiss and Poindexter. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Aberdeen, but the lodge is no longer in existence. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Colonel is a selfmade man, and is fully deserving of the honors that have been conferred upon him, and entirely worthy of the high regard in which he is held in the state.

Robinson & Brother, merchants, Friar's Point, Miss. These gentlemen are the proprie- tors of one of the largest, if not the largest, establishments in Friar's Point and have a patronage established that indicates appreciation of their reliable goods and fair dealing methods. They carry a full and well selected stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, hardware and a general line of plantation supplies. They do an annual business approximating $50,000. The members of the firm, Frank D. and James D. Rob- inson, are young men, natives of the town and are thoroughgoing and enterprising. Frank D. Robinson, senior member of the firm, was born in Friar's Point, Coahoma county, Miss., in 1854, and was the third in a family of eight children born to James D. and Catherine E. (Morton) Robinson. The father was one of the first settlers and merchants of Friar's Point and is spoken of as a good man and a law-abiding citizen. In 1861 he moved to Memphis, embarked in business as a cottonfactor and died there in 1868. The family then returned to Friar's Point, where the mother resides at the present time. Frank D. was educated in the common schools, took a legal course at Oxford, and graduated from that institution in 1878, standing fourth in a class of thirty-six. He at once began practicing with Messrs. Reid & Wynn, under the firm name of Reid, Wynn & Robinson, which continued until fall of 1879. Having previously graduated in bookkeeping in 1872, he gave up law and accepted a lucrative position at the desk, where he remained until 1882, when he and his brother formed the above-mentioned firm. In 1891 he was married to Miss Emma E. Slack, daughter of Dr. J. J. Slack, of Friar's Point. Mr. Robinson assisted in organizing the bank of Friar's Point, in which he is a stockholder, and is also a stockholder in the Friar's Point Build- ing and Loan association, besides being a promoter of other corporations at Friar's Point. He held the position of postmaster at that place for over eight years, giving eminent satis- faction. Though not a member of any church he is a Christian in its broadest sense, and his wish is to see all sects united in one faith, one purpose and one eternal hope in work- ing out the greatest good to all mankind. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Knights of Honor. In personal appearance he is a little under rather than above the medium size, and has brown hair and gray eyes; is quick and active in his movements and shows the thorough business man in word and action. He is now at the head of one of the most substantial firms in Mississippi. James D. Robinson, the junior member of the firm, was born in January, 1860, and educated in Friar's Point, his native place. For some time he filled the position of clerk in the drugstore of Dr. J. A. Cooper, and afterward held the posi-

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tion of assistant bookkeeper in the large furnishing house of J. W. Crowley & Co. In 1886 he was married to Miss Mattie L. Fisher, a native of Alabama, whose people were old settlers of Coahoma county. To them have been born two children: James and Milton. Mr. Rob- inson was one of the organizers of the bank at Friar's Point and is a director in the same. He and brother both own town property and a lot next to the bank building, on which they expect to erect a three-story brick block in the near future. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Knights of Pythias and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In personal appearance he is a blonde, of medium size and active in his movements; also a shrewd buyer and good salesman.

John L. Robinson is a native-born resident of Madison county, Miss., his birth having occurred on December 9, 1852, and comes of one of the prominent families of the state. He is the eldest of the children born to John and Sarah (Lowe) Robinson, natives of Mis- sissippi. The father was an extensive planter in Madison county, and was one of its leading citizens. He died in 1879. The mother died in 1859. The paternal grandparents, John and Nancy (Collins) Robinson, were natives of Georgia and Mississippi, respectively, and the maternal grandparents, John and Sarah (Gatlin) Lowe, were natives of Mississippi. Our subject, John L. Robinson, is now residing on the old homestead. He was reared there, attended the public schools of the county until seventeen years of age, and then entered the Summerville institute, Noxubee county, Miss., where he remained for two years. Since that time he has followed planting, and of the two thousand five hundred acres in his plan- tation, one thousand five hundred acres are under cultivation. Miss Annie S. Hinton, who became his wife in 1878, is a native of Mississippi and the daughter of Eugene H. and Annie (Jones) Hinton, natives of the Old North state. Five children have been born to this union: Annie M., Helen B., Sarah, John and Pauline. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are mem- bers of the Episcopal church. Mr. Robinson is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is democratic in his political views. All worthy movements receive his hearty support and he is a liberal contributor to the same. He is pleasant and agreeable in his intercourse with all and has many warm friends.

John W. Robinson, (deceased,) who was for many years one of the foremost business men of the state of Mississippi, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., and began life as a clerk in a country store in his native county. After continuing this occupation for some time he determined to seek his fortune in the South, and prior to attaining his majority he located in Jackson, where he continued his labors as a clerk for some time. He afterward engaged in business for himself in partnership with William Richardson, a brother of Ned Richardson, who in later years became the cotton king of Mississippi, and although he started out with limited means to begin with, he possessed correct business principles, and even then gave promise of becoming a shrewd and successful financier. Prior to the Civil war he became a citizen of Jackson, and here he opened a mercantile establishment in connection with a Mr. Windley, which they successfully conducted until the opening of the war. After Lee's sur- render and the war-worn soldiers had returned home, the business of Robinson & Stevens was established and became one of the most extensive and prosperous wholesale and retail establishments in the city. He was one of the incorporators of the Mississippi cotton mill at Wesson, which is now one of the largest in the South; owned the Edwards house, one of the finest and best conducted hotels in Jackson; built the Jackson street railway, which he managed until his death, and also erected the Robinson operahouse of Jackson, besides many fine business houses of the city. After being prominently identified with the business life of Jackson for many years, Mr. Robinson was called from life in April, 1881, after

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which the mercantile firm in Jackson was dissolved. He was an exceptionally able financier, was a man of great force of character and profound intelligence, and his leading character- istics were a kindly and generous disposition, extreme frankness, honesty of purpose and indomitable will and energy. From a very small beginning he built up a business of mag- nificent proportions, and at his death he left a large fortune to his widow and children. He was keenly alive to the sufferings and misfortunes of others, and was never appealed to in vain for consolation or succor, for his early struggles to gain a foothold on the ladder of suc- cess made his heart warm for those less fortunate than himself. He was in every respect a model American citizen, and his career is eminently worthy of being emulated by the youth of the present day. He was married to Miss Mary J. Bradford, a native of Huntsville, Ala., and to their union six children were born, five of whom are now living: Mattie L. ; Annie M., wife of R. L. Saunders (see sketch); John W .; Mary J., wife of C. M. Williamson (see sketch); Joseph F .; and a child that died in infancy. Mr. Robinson was a member of and an earnest worker in the Episcopal church, in which he had long been a vestryman, and socially he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. He was prepossessing in personal appearance, was above medium stature and had black hair, and clear, intelligent gray eyes. John W. Robin- son, his eldest son, was born in the city of Jackson, in 1862, and in his birthplace he received a thorough and practical education. In 1890 he opened a wholesale and retail grocery house in Jackson, in connection with H. C. Roberts, of Raymond, Miss., and they are now doing an excellent annual business, which testifies to the correct business principles which they practice and to the reliability and variety of the goods they carry. Their place of business is situated on Pearl street, and was formerly occupied by Mr. Robinson's father. Mr. Robinson possesses in a marked degree the business attributes of his distinguished father, and these combined with a careful consideration for the needs of the public, have made his establishment a recognized synonym for all that is popular, progressive and honest. Mr. Robinson is the owner of a large amount of city and plantation property, one plantation being in Hinds county, and another in Madison county, there being seven hundred and eighty acres in each with one thousand two hundred acres under cultivation. All this land is fertile and that portion which is under cultivation is finely improved. In January, 1891, he was married to Miss Ida, the beautiful, accomplished and amiable daughter of Doctor Mitchell, and granddaughter of ex-Governor McWillie, of Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Robin- son are worthy members of the Episcopal church. Joseph F. Robinson, a brother of John W., is a partner and the efficient treasurer of the Friedmau-Shelton Clothing company, of Jackson, and was born on the 28th of January, 1869, the youngest son born to John W. and Mary J. (Bradford) Robinson, but was educated at Sewanee, Tenn., where he acquired a thorough and useful education. In 1886 he became correspondent for the First National bank of Jackson, the duties of which position he ably discharged for four years. On the 2d of March, 1891, he was one of the organizers of the Friedman-Shelton Clothing company, of Jackson, which has a capital stock of $20,000, and was immediately elected its treasurer. Their stock of goods, which is valued at $45,000, comprises a large line of ready-made clothing of all grades, including the finest imported goods and the best domestic fabrics. This establishment is fitted up with every convenience and auxiliary adapted to its success- ful prosecution, and as great care is taken in the selection of the stock, a large trade is enjoyed. Joseph F. Robinson owns some valuable business and residence property in Jack- son, besides four fine plantations in Hinds, Yazoo and Rankin counties. Mr. Robinson is the youngest merchant of Jackson, and has adopted a business career from choice. Both he and his brother are destined to follow in their father's footsteps, and are agreeable and satisfactory gentlemen to meet.

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Lee B. Robinson is a rising and successful young banker residing at Gloster, Miss., and as a business man has displayed a more than average amount of shrewdness, tact and ability. In all ages of the world's industry, perseverance and energy, where intelligently applied, have achieved the desired result, and Mr. Robinson is a striking example of what can be accomplished when the spirit of determination is exercised in connection with the every- day affairs of life. His enterprises have resulted most satisfactorily, and he is now wealthy. He was born near Liberty, July 4, 1850, to Col. John G. and Thirza (Jenkins) Robinson, a short history of whom is given in the sketch of Van W. Robinson, that appears below. The paternal grandfather, Moses Robinson, was of Scotch descent, was from one of the Carolinas, but during the early history of this section became one of its pioneer settlers. When only three years of age Lee B. Robinson was left motherless, and two years later his father also died. In his boyhood he was deprived of any great amount of schooling, but, like his brother, he possessed a naturally active mind, and managed to pick up here and there a con- siderable amount of valuable information. At the age of eighteen years he began clerking for G. H. Barney & Co., one of the leading firms of business men of Liberty, and here he was grounded most thoroughly in the practical and useful part of the business, and laid a solid foundation for future success. After remaining with this firm for about five years he engaged in the mercantile business for himself, but in a very humble way, and notwith- standing the fact that he had no money of his own, and that his capital was borrowed, he soon acquired a fair trade, for while with Barney & Co., he had, by his genial, accommodating and friendly manners, acquired many friends who gave him their patronage in his hour of need. By methodical business habits and superior management his business grew rapidly, and in connection with this he also dealt in cotton, and of late years has handled as high as two thousand bales annually. The annual sales of his mercantile establishment soon amounted to $200,000, but this establishment he sold out in December, 1889, with the view to taking a respite from his labors. In the summer of 1890 he decided to engage in the banking business at Gloster, and at that place he erected a suitable building, formed a stock company with G. H. Barney as president, L. B. Robinson, cashier, and E. S. Atkinson, assistant cashier. This bank was opened for business the first of September with very flattering prospects, and each month the business increased very rapidly and beyond the expectations of all. He was married in Liberty, November 21, 1873, to Miss Helen Barney, daughter of G. H. Barney, a pioneer, and one of the most successful business men of the county, and to them seven children have been born: Bertha, Emerson, Helen, Ary, Clara, Lee B., Jr. and Julio B. Mrs. Robinson was reared and educated in Liberty, and she and her husband are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Robinson belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained to the council, and in this lodge has held official position. Mr. Robinson inherits many of the worthy traits of his Scotch ancestors, and is careful, prudent and economical, but not in the least penurious, and those who know him best recognize in him a good friend. He has a beautiful and pleasant home in Gloster, and here he and his intelligent and amiable wife dispense hospitality to their numerous friends.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 108

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314