Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties, Part 114

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing co.
Number of Pages: 820


USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 114
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 114
USA > Nebraska > Hall County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 114
USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state, a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties > Part 114


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gaged in farming and stock-shipping ever since. He is the owner of 160 acres of land and ships over a hundred car-loads of stock per year. He has never married, and is a member of the Romna Catholic Church. His parents, Miles and Eliza- beth (Coolin) Quinn, are both natives of Ireland, the former born in 1762 and died in 1868, and the latter born in 1766 and died in 1887, at the age of ninety-one years. Of the nine children born to their marriage, five sons and four daughters, seven are now living, but John Quinn is the only one in America. The Quinn family were originally from the North of Ireland, but were driven ont in the time of the Rebellion and settled in County Wick- low. Four of his father's cousins were priests in the Catholic Church, and one of the most noted Catholic schools in Dublin, Ireland, was under their charge at last accounts. One of them was vicar-general at Kingston, Ireland, and two of them were consecrated bishops and sent to Ans- tralia on missions. John Quinn is a powerfully built man, and in point of wit and humor is a typ- ical Irishman. He is noted for fairness in dealing and is honest and upright.


Cyrus P. Rathbun's career has been of much benefit and influence to the people, not only of Hall County, but throughout the State, and a sketch of his life will be of more than passing interest. He is an old settler of Center Township, Hall County. Neb., and was born in Canada West January 19, 1844, and is the fourth in a family of seven chil- dren born to the marriage of Daniel Rathbun and Ruth Ryder, both natives of York State, the for- mer's birth occurring February 24, 1812. They were married in Canada about 1838, and in 1888 celebrated their golden wedding, and both are still living, their home being in Van Buren County, Mich. The paternal grandparents were William and Irene (Niles) Rathbun, the latter a native of Connecticut, and the maternal grandparents were Roland and Rebecca (Spencer) Ryder, both natives of the "Empire State." Cyrus P. Rathbnn re- sided on a farm in Canada West until seventeen years of age, or until 1861, when he accompanied his parents to Van Buren County, Mich., that county continuing to be his home until 1868. He


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then bade adieu to his friends, and after visiting for one week in Canada, he went to New York City and took the steamer "Henry Chauncey," with the intention of going to Oregon. He crossed the Isth- mus of Panama, and went from there to San Fran- cisco on the steamer "Golden City," and from San Francisco to Portland he took passage on the steamer "Oregonian." After spending six months in this State, engaged chiefly in saw-milling, he started from Salem, Ore., to assist in driving a drove of horses to Woodland, Cal., and in the last- named płace fell in with some old acquaintances, and there remained some eighteen months, engaged in farming. He then went to Sacramento and bought a ticket over the Union Pacific Road for Omaha, Neb., and from there he went to Fremont County, Iowa, and until January, 1872, was en- gaged chiefly in the harness business in Fremont City. Since that time he has resided in Hall County, Neb., his farm being situated about three miles west of Grand Island. He proved up on his claim in 1877, after which he went to the Black Hills. and there spent some months engaged in mining. He is a Prohibitionist politically, and socially is a member of the A. O. U. W. He and wife, whom he married April 12, 1880, and whose maiden name was Emma A. Clark, are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Rathbun was born in York State October 13, 1848, and by Mr. Rath- bun has become the mother of two children: Ruth Myrtle (who died in the seventh year of her age) and John Wilbur.


Darius Richardson, farmer and poultry-raiser, Alda, Neb. It is a fact unnecessary of denial that a person is better fitted to follow the occupation with which he became familiar in early life than to engage in an undertaking learned in later years. This truth is borne out by the career of Mr. Richard- son, who, from a boy, has known all the minnte de. tails of agricultural life. To this acquired knowledge may be added a natural faculty for that calling, for his father, Artemus Richardson, was also a farmer, although he also mined for a number of years in California. The latter was married to Miss Dorcas Hubbard, a native of Maine, where he also was born, and this union has resulted in the birth of


six children. The parents both died in their na- tive State, the mother in 1854 and the father in 1886. Darius Richardson was born in Oxford County, Me., in October, 1840, was next to the youngest in the above-mentioned family, and was educated in his native county. On June 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Maine Infantry, for three years, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battle of Bull Run, then the Peninsula campaign, Gaines' Mill, Seven-Day battle, second battle of . Bull Run, An- tietam, Funkstown Heights, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1863 he veteranized in the same company and regiment for the service, and was in the battle of Gettysburg. He received a gun shot wound through his leg at the battle of the Wilderness, and was confined in the hospital at York, Pa., thirteen months, and was in bed three months of that time. He also had the typhoid fever, and has had a fever sore ever since the war. He was honorably discharged at York on June 17, 1865, and returned to Maine. In 1866 he went to Ohio, and in 1868 settled in Summit County, of that State. In 1871 he moved to Howard County, Neb., settled on a farm, and engaged in the fruit industry, which he continued two years. He was married in Summit County, Ohio, in 1874, to Miss Emma A. Palmer, a native of that county and State. In 1873 Mr. Richardson located in Grand Island, clerked for abont eighteen months,and then engaged in delivering goods, first in the city of Grand Island, where he remained until June, 1881, when he bought an improved farm of forty acres, and this he has since conducted with the success that at- tended his father's efforts in that chosen channel. He takes an active interest in politics, and votes with the Republican party. He has been justice of the peace for two years, and takes a decided in- terest in the temperance movement. Mrs. Rich- ardson is a member of the Presbyterian Church. To this union have been born three living children : Clarence, Mand and Carl.


Lewis Rickard, farmer and stock-raiser, Wood River, Neb. This very successful agricultorist and stockman was born in the Empire State in 1831, and is the son of George Rickard, who was also


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born in the State of New York. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in his political views was an old-line Whig. He died in 1880, at the age of eighty-five years. He was married to Miss Margaret Grove, a native also of New York State, and to this union were born eleven children, six sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to be grown, and only one of the sons now deceased. Lewis Rickard received a common school educa- tion, and when grown went to Wisconsin, where he followed farming for many years. He was there married in 1853 to Miss Maria A. Fellows, a native of Michigan, born in 1835, and the fruits of this union were nine children: Edward A., Martha A .. Ada R. (born in 1863, and died in 1867), Melissa (wife of N. T. Knox), Teuant L., Kate, Abraham Lincoln, Leonard, Oliver G. and Mabel G. Mr. Rickard resided in Wisconsin and Illinois about ten years, and then moved to Iowa in 1859. He located in Black Hawk County, and remained there and in Buchanan County for twelve years, engaged in farming all the time. He filled the office of township trustee there for several years. He left Buchanan County in 1871, emigrated to Nebraska, and took a homestead, which he settled on one year later. He is now the owner of 200 acres of land, and is one of the substantial men of the county. He is president of the Farmers' Alliance, and in his political views affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He was treasurer of Harrison Town- ship for one term. Mrs. Rickard's parents, Milton and Olive Ann (Nichols) Fellows, were natives of Pennsylvania and New York, born in 1815 and 1814, respectively. The father was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and died in 1885. The mother died in 1852. The Nichols were of Welsh and Dutch descent.


Charles Ridell has spent his life in pursuing the calling which is now receiving his attention, and his earnest endeavor coupled with strict integ- rity and honesty of purpose have resulted in plac- ing him among the truly respected and honored agriculturists of Hall County. He was born in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, September 14, 1843, and is a son of Hans and Magdaline (Elmer) Ridell, both of whom were of German birth, and


were reared and married in the old country. They emigrated to the United States in 1836 and moved the following year to Columbus, Ohio, where Mr. Ridell followed his trade, that of carpenter, until his death in August, 1844, his wife's demise oc- curring in 1874. Charles Ridell lived in Colum- bus until six years of age, after which the family moved in the country, where he followed farming till manhood. He supplemented a common-school education with about one year's attendance in the academies and colleges of Delaware. On Febru- ary 26, 1864, he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteers and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Jackson, Miss., August 8, 1865, during his service having participated in the battle of Guntown, Miss. He was captured in this battle and was taken to that foul den, Ander- sonville, but five and one-half months after was paroled, sent home, remained three months and then rejoined his regiment. After the war was over he returned to Columbus, and after attending a college in Delaware, Ohio, for one term he taught school the following two winters, and then attended school until he came West in 1868. He first set- tled at Jacksonville, Ill., where he was watchman of the Deaf and Dumb Institute for one year, but he then came west to Nebraska and arrived at Grand Island in the fall of 1869, and has since been a resident of the county. There were not over three or four stores at Grand Island at that time, and the population consisted of about 300 souls. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Ridell entered eighty acres of land, has since added eighty acres more, and now has it all in a good state of cultivation, fur- nished with good buildings, fences, etc. He came here with but $100, and is now the owner of a fine home and owes no man a dollar. He is considered one of the substantial men of the county, and be- side his farm above mentioned, is the owner of some vacant lots in Fullerton, Nance County, Neb., and also two residences there. March 22, 1870, his marriage to Miss Isabel Fivey took place in Jack- sonville, Ill. She was born in 1844 in County Down, Ireland, and was there reared and educated, a daughter of George and Betty Fivey. After com- ing to America she resided one year in Pennsyl-


+


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HALL COUNTY.


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vania and three years in Jacksonville, Ill. She is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church.


John Riss is a well-known grocer and pioneer citizen of Grand Island, Neb., and was born in Augsburg, Bavaria. March 27, 1842, a son of An- ton and Mary Ann Riss, with whom he came to America when he was a little over five years of age. The family arrived in Milwaukee, Wis., September 18, 1847, and here the father's death occurred in 1853, the mother dying in 1858. During his youth John Riss learned the carpenter's trade, and in the State of Wisconsin continued to follow this occu- pation until the sounds of war caused him to enter upon the career of a soldier. With a patriotism which did not stop at the dark outlook of the future, he, on April 17, 1861, enlisted in Com- pany H, First Wisconsin Infantry, and served four months. Jannary 6, 1862, he joined Com- pany H, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, with which he served three years and one month, and besides numerous skirmishes in which he participated, he was in a number of battles, among which may be mentioned Vicksburg. He was mustered out of service at Memphis, Tenn., February 8, 1865, and then returned to Milwaukee, but about two weeks later went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he spent. two years learning the harness-maker's trade with an uncle. In 1867 he came to Grand Island, ar. riving May 6, and from that time until 1871 he was the proprietor of a harness shop. From 1871 to 1883 he was engaged in the retail liquor busi- ness, and from the latter date until the present time he has conducted a grocery, his efforts in this direction meeting with well deserved success. He is one of the oldest settlers of Grand Island, and is well respected and highly esteemed by the in- habitants of the county, as well as by his fellow- townsmen. November 21, 1871, he was married to Miss Lena M. Schumer, who died June 24, 1883. On February 26, 1884, he took for his sec- ond wife Miss Lena M. Geisinger, and by her is the father of three children: John A., Roscoe C. P. and Joseph H. Mr. and Mrs. Riss are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R., the Catholic Knights of America, the Liederkranz, the Platt-


deutsche and the Old Settlers' Societies. He also belongs to the fire department, which he has served five years, receiving his diploma.


Henry Roach, one of Hall County's (Neb.) worthy and well-to-do farmers, is a son of Henry and Mary (Donahoe) Roach, both of whoni were born in the "Emerald Isle," the latter's birthi occurring in County Galway. The father was a victim of that barbarous system of land tenure which in this age is known only in Ireland, and he was four times evicted. He died in the land of his nativity, in 1849, having been one of six chil- dren: Mary, Kate, Celia, Margaret, Henry and John. Henry Roach, the immediate subject of this sketch, was one of seven children whose names are here given: Thomas, Michael, Henry, Cather- ine, Celia, Ellen and Margaret, all of whom are living with the exception of Johu. The grand- parents were Thomas and Margaret (Ginnes) Roach and Michael and Ellen (Dolan) Donahoe, and the great-grandparents were Henry and Cath- erine (Fenarty) Roach and Bartlett and Ellen (Henline) Donahoe. Henry Roach was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1830, and on Decem- ber 20, 1850, landed at New Orleans, La., and soon after came up the river to St. Louis, and from there went to Springfield, Ill., to join some relatives. Here he remained until the opening of the Rebellion, and on March 14, 1861, he became a member of the Union army, under Capt. Hop- kins, and went to Cairo, Ill., and was placed with his company to guard Fort Prentice. Six months later he moved to Paducah, Ky., from there to Fort Donelson, and here was inustered out of serv- ice in 1864. He then returned to Springfield, Ill., but in 1866 removed to Hall County, Neb., which State has since been his home. He was en- gaged in railroading on the Union Pacific Rail- road until 1870, then took up a government claim on the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 9, Range 12 west, and has since purchased forty acres more, which makes him an excellent farm. He has fine shade trees surrounding his farm, a good young orchard, and a fine grove of box-elder trees near his residence. He devotes ten acres to timothy and clover each year, and for the past six


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years has done well in this line. His horses, cat- tle and swine are of a good grade, and he is a thorough and thrifty farmer, and gives particular attention to all details. In 1874 he was married to Ellen Carnes, who died November 25, 1889, and he then married Mrs. Katherine Kilkenny, also a native of Ireland. Mr. Roach and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he belongs to the Democratic party.


Joseph Roach, farmer, Alda, Neb. Mr. Roach owes his nativity to Clipston, North Hamptonshire, England, where he was born in 1835, and is now following a calling that has for ages received un- divided efforts from many worthy individuals, and one that furnishes sustenance to the ready worker. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Eames) Roach, both natives of England. The father followed farming in his native country until 1855 and then emigrated to the United States, settling in Elyria, Ohio, where he resided until his death, which occurred when he was about eighty years of age. They were the parents of seven children, Joseph being third in order of birth, and all but one now alive. William was killed in West Virginia while fighting in the Union army. He enlisted in Com- pany K, Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, May, 1861, and served his conntry faithfully and well. The mother died in Ohio at the age of forty - five years. Joseph Roach came to America when about eighteen years of age, and located in the Buckeye State. He came by himself, and his parents and brothers and sisters followed a couple of years later. After residing in Ohio for about fourteen years, engaged the principal part of the time in farming, he moved to Bloomington, Ill., in the spring of 1867, and remained there until the spring of 1876, when he came West and purchased govern- ment land in Hall County, Neb. He is now the owner of 160 acres and Wood River runs through both eighties. The location of the old government post-office is on his land. He was married in Ohio March 27, 1856, to Miss Eliza Bonner, a native of Remsen, Oneida County, N. Y., born in 1829. She grew to womanhood there and then went to Pennsylvania, thence nine months later to a brother in Ohio, where she met and was married to Mr.


Roach. Their family circle numbers two living chil- dren: William C. and Marion C. Eliza D. Roach died October 24, 1867. Olive Elizabeth died in her twentieth year, on January 27, 1881, and was the wife of Matthew Curran. (Mr. Curran died June 18, 1881). Joseph E. is also deceased. Mr. Roach is a powerful man physically, measures six feet three inches in height, and at his best weighs 240 pounds. His wife weighs 237 pounds and is hearty and hale. She is a member of the Christian Church, and both have the respect and esteem of all acquainted with them. Mr. Roach is a Repub. lican in politics, but is not a partisan in home matters.


T. B. Robb, farmer and stock-raiser, Doniphan, Neb. T. B. Robb, the son of Sylvester Robb, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1841. His father was a native of Pennsylvania also, was a farmer by occupation, and was married to our sub- ject's mother, whose maiden name was Isabella Moore. Eight children were the result of this union. In 1843 the father moved from Pennsyl- vania to Logan County, Ohio, where he continued his chosen calling. His death occurred in 1880. The mother is still living. T. B. Robb was reared to the life of a farmer, and received his education principally in the Buckeye State. He was married in Union County, Ohio, in 1868, to Miss Melvina Arrowhood, who was born in Ohio, and who was the daughter of Jacob Arrowhood, also a native of that State. The father moved to Illinois in 1860, but returned to Ohio, where he died iu 1873. Mr. Robb settled in Iowa in 1868, and followed farm- ing until 1872, when he moved to Hall County, Neb., and entered eighty acres of land. Mr. Robb lost his wife in 1874, and has three children as the result of this union: Eva May, James B. and Harry M. For his second wife Mr. Robb chose Mrs. Esther (Proctor), widow of William Bivin, a native of Iowa. Five children have been the fruits of this union: Cora Alice, Thomas, Theodore, Ora Otis and Inis Pearl. Mr. Robb has three step- children: Nora (now Mrs. Jackson, of Grand Island), Emma (now Mrs. Gideon, resides in Doni- phan Township) and William. Mr. Robb has im- proved his homestead, added to it, and now is the


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owner of 160 acres of excellent land in a good state of cultivation. He has embarked in the fruit in- dustry, and raises considerable small fruit. He is a Democrat in his political preferences, is a mem- ber of Doniphan Lodge No. 86, A. F. & A. M., has been treasurer of the lodge, and is also a mem- ber of Doniphan Lodge, A. O. U. W. He has experienced droughts, grasshopper raids, April storms, etc., in Nebraska, but thinks the State can not be beaten, and intends making it his perma- nent home. He is truly one of the respected men of the township, and by his quiet, unpretentious course has made many friends, and at the same time been very successful.


Caleb M. Robinson, M. D., is one of the best known physicians of Hall County, Neb., and keeps thoroughly apace with the times. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 29, 1826, and is a son of Joshua and Anna (Bentley) Robinson, both of whom were born in Gratiot County, Va., at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The family were Quakers, and Mrs. Robinson was a preacher of that denomination for many years. They moved to Ohio in December, 1825, being among the early settlers of Highland County, but later settled in Clinton County, where the father passed from life in December, 1865, his wife having died in 1829. The Doctor is the youngest of four brothers and six sisters that grew to mature years, and he and three sisters are the only surviving members of the family, one sister being a preacher in the Quaker Church at Martinsville, Ohio. The Doctor received the advantages of a collegiate education in his native State, at Yellow Springs College, graduating in 1845, but some three years earlier had begun the study of medicine. He worked his own way through college, being engaged in teaching to de- fray his expenses, his first term being at the age of sixteen years, when he had about seventy-two pupils. He took his first medical lectures in an Allopathic College at Columbus in the fall of 1844, and in the spring of the following year he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, and took a course in a medical institu- tion of that city, graduating in the fall of that year. He next studied in a medical college of Cincinnati, and in the spring of 1846 went to Philadelphia,


where he took two full courses in the Eclectic Medi cal College, graduating in the fall of 1846. After completing his course he went to East Liberty, Ohio, built a machine shop, and followed that business there and in Clinton County for several years. He was married in Wilmington, Ohio, in July, 1847, and prior to the late Civil War he had practiced his profession a short time. In April, 1861, he en- listed at the first call for troops in the three months' service, in the Twelfth Ohio Infantry, and was commissioned surgeon of his regiment, and at the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted. He was then assigned to the National Guards, then to the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, and served with that regiment until the close of the war. He was wounded October 28, 1864, while crossing the Chat - tahoochiee River, but remained with the army until mustered out of service. He then returned to Wil- mington, Ohio, and as he was much disabled from his wound, did nothing for a number of years. In 1868 he moved from Ohio to Missouri, and for three years practiced his profession in Macon City, and after one year's residence in Brunswick and two years' residence in Warrensburg, he moved to Nebraska, arriving here in the month of October, 1873. After opening a farm and practicing his profession up to 1887 he moved to where he now resides, adjoining the village of Cairo, where he has since been in the active practice of his pro- fession. He is a member of the State Medical So ciety, and attended the first medical society ever held in Grand Island. His first wife died in Ohio, her name being Martha J., a daughter of Joel Woodruff, an Ohioan now deceased. The Doctor and his wife had two children: Mary Ann (wife of William Rudduch, of South Bend, Ind. ) and Sam- uel W. (of Akron, Ohio). The Doctor married his present wife at Macon City, Mo., Jannary 26, 1870, her name being Elizabeth Ashbangh, a daughter of Dr. J. L. and Cynthia E. Ashbaugh, of Carroll- ton, Mo. Mrs. Robinson was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Iowa and Missouri. One daugh- ter and two sons have blessed this union: Estella May (now nineteen years of age, a successful teacher of the county), Charles (aged eighteen) and Will- iam Clarence (aged fifteen). The Doctor and his


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6


wife are members of the Christian Church, and he belongs to the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities.


Thomas Robinson, machinist by trade, and com- missioner of Hall County, Neb., is prominently identified with and has long been a factor in the progress and welfare of Grand Island. He was born in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, March 31, 1840, and is a son of William and Jane (Allan) Robinson, the former of whom was a shoe- maker by trade. Jane Allan was a daughter of William Allan, a weaver, who reared quite a family of children, of whom Daniel was a cotton-spinner and teacher by occupation. He was a warm personal friend of David Livingston, the great African ex- plorer, during his collegiate studies at Glasgow University, and in later years carried on an unin- terrupted correspondence with that gentleman, who wrote him many interesting anecdotes concerning his explorations, and made his home with him on his return visit to his old highland home. Thomas Robinson, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew to mature years in Scotland, and in the city of Glasgow learned the machinist's trade, his first work as a journeyman being done on the celebrated southern privateer, "Alabama." After working for the Lairds, at Birkenhead. for seven years. he, in 1872, emigrated to Canada, and for some time was an employe on the Grand Trunk Railway, of Canada, at Montreal. In 1875 he came to the United States, and from that time until 1881 worked for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, at Stuart, Iowa, but in the last-named year severed his connection with that corporation and removed to Omaha, Neb., and in 1882 canse to Grand Island, where he has since remained, and where he has become well and favorably known. He was first married to Miss Helen Leslie, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a daughter of Thomas Leslie, a merchant tailor, and by him she bore a family of four children: Thomas, James, Helen and Elizabeth. His present wife was Miss Mary E. Doyle, and they worship at the Congregational Church. Mr. Robinson is vice-president of the Burns Club, and has shown his approval of secret societies by becoming a member of the A. O. U. W. and the K. of L. He is now serving his second




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