The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-02

William Denham Robinson, whose por-
| trait is given above, was born in the village
Of Richford, Tosa county, New York. on
the I'D of May, lAa6s and in the bssata-
ful valleys, surrounded BY the ranges Of
lofty hills which abound throughout this
picturesque region, the early years OF his
life were passed.
Studious and eager for knowledge, he
became in early boyhood most persistent
reader Of books, and, as the tastes and
habits thus formed have increased with
years, he has acquired q good general
knowledge Of history, biography and po-
lite literature, ancient and modern. Owing
to limited means, his father was unable to
provide the boy with a liberal education /;
and but little is known of his life which
would serve the purpose OF this sketch un-
til the year 1866, when we find him run
ming q locomotive on the Rochester g. Nj
agara Falls division of the n. Y. c. Rail
road. In the summer of that year q call
was issued through the p-hlic press by
John r. and Christian Smith, two broth
ers, then employed as locomotive engineers
on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, for a
convention OF railroad engineers, to meet
in Baltimore on the first Tuesday of the
October following. The object of the con-
vention was not clearly set forth in the
call, but as it evidently looked to some
plan Of organized action on the part Of
the locomotive engineers, Mr.. Robinson
urged upon his associates the prOpriety of
taking measures TO send delegate to rep
resent the engineers on the N. Y. c. R.
r. A meeting Of engineers was accordingly
held, delegates elected, and Mr.. r. was
chosen to represent the men running en-
gines on the Niagara Falls Division.
The convention assembled pursuant to
the call, and over seventy delegates, from
twenty-three States, appeared with their
credentials. An organization was effected
under the title Of Grand National Protec-
tive Association Of Locomotive Engineers,
with BENZ. Hoxie, Pres; John r. Smith,
Vice Prea.; -, Treas; w. d. Rob
inson, Sec; Christian Smith, Cor. Sec.
Charters were Issued, and several SUB d.
visions were formed. But the organiza-
ton lacking some of the elements Of sue
cess, the originators and friends of the
movement were forced TO witness its fail
ure, and await with courage and hope for
q more fitting time to renew the expert
ment In the meantime, Mr.. R. was en-
ployed on different roads in the Western
States, until the summer Of 1861, when he
entered the service of the Michigan Cen
tral, and was assigned to the engine
Grampus," on the middle division, with
his residence at Marshall, Michigan. While
there, he constantly advocated among the
engineers the necessity Of combining their
interests, and his efforts finally resulted in
q call for meeting of delegates from the
Michigan Central, Michigan Southern and
the Detroit & Milwaukee railroads, to be
held at Detroit, about the 9Th of May,
1863. Mr.. Robinson was chosen as dele
gate from the midle division of the Michi-
gan Central, and on the assembling of the
delegates in Fireman's hall, he presented a
constitution and bylaws, together with a
title for an organization, all Of which, with
some slight modification, were adopted ;
and thus came into existence the Broth
erhood of the Footboard.
Ten divisions were soon organized, and
about the middle of August flowing dele
gates representing these divisions Zone
from each) met in Detroit for the purpose
Of forming q Grand National Division.
MIR. r. appeared as delegate from Division
No. 2, located at Marshall, and in the or
ganization Of the Grand Division he was
elected, without competitor, to the posi-
tion Of Grand Chief Engineer. The re-
naming officers were Chas. Steele, Nor.
walk, o., F. o. E.; j. P. Fox, Chicago
Ill s. G. E.; D. s. johnson, Lafayette,
Ind F. GA. E.; Francis Wheeler, Adrian,
Mich, s. G. A. E.; William Dempster,
Chicago, Ill, 7. @. A. e.
MIR. Robinson entered upon the duties
of his Office, which consisted, in fact, in
running the "Grampus " over the middle
division Of the Michigan Central BY day
and attending to the correspondence
which rapidly accumulated, ut night
Some time during the month of October
ensuing, he was discharged from the serv
ice of the railroad company, ostensibly OIL
account Of private matters, but there i
every reason to believe that his dismissa
was owing to the fact that he was known
N the originator Of the Brotherhood
movement, and was looked upon by tn
officers Of the Michigan Central % dan
gerous agitator. The BrotherhOOd at ono
took measures to secure his undivided serv
ices, and from that time until August
1854, he was engaged IN travelling for tn
purpose Of organizing new divisions ant
attending TO the general interests of III
Brotherhood; and, N may be conceived
the position was NO sinecure. Indeed, tn
difaculties that besst his path, and the oh
J stacles to overcome would have appalle'
! and disheartened any but y man Of M
selfish impulses, of inaexible will, and irr
resolve. Convinced Of the integrity Z
his purpose, and determined upon Q nobl
achievement, the Brotherhood engaged
lpay him salary. But there were no fund