New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
DEATH OF JOHN ROBERTSON.
AN oLD.rIMp MASON AND A wELI-KNowN ME-
CHANICAL ENGINEER.

AN OLD-TTME MASON AND A WELI1-kNOWN ME-
CHANIcAL ENGINEER.
John Robertson who entered the order Of Free
and Accepted Masons slxty-six years ago. and
whose friends assert that ne the Oldest Mason
In New-York State in point of service, died at his
home No 1S Sterling Place yesterday morning.
Mr. Robertson was born on March g. 1902 In
tombstone Rensrewshire Scotland, where. at an
early age ne began an apprenticeship as macnn-
list and engineer. tho calling OF his father. After
learning his trade he went to Glasgow at tho age
Of nineteen and there entered into a business en-
gagement with the East India Company to go to
India TO er,ct machinery FOR spinning cotton He
made the trip on a small brig which likewise car
RED the machinery which he to erect. and the
t1n took six months His work in India was done
at Fort Gloucester. the river Hoogly, near Cal
cutta In 1898 he returned to his native town. where
he conducted a machine shop but desiring larger
neld for his talents. he emigrated to the United
States in 1872 After brief soJourn In Brooklyn. no
bought a tract Of land in Upper Canada. There he
built his own log cabin. constructed most or MS
own farm implements. and devoted his time to
clearing the land around him. He served term
40 Justice of the Peace while there. Selling his
farm which is now the site OF n prosperous vi
age he returned 10 Brooklyn IN is+ ana essa TAO
Water SITS. There he remained in active business
until his retirement few years aga aga He psnsd
uueh 80, ris invent
or of a number of improvements IN machinery. .he
~ his specalties the construction or macnih-
orv for the manufacture OF ndia-ruDber In ibrookyh
being the pioneer In this work. He devoted cohslu-
.rsh7e Of his time to improving machinery Tor max
INC load pipes thereby revoutonizlng that INDUSTRY
,The famous patent litigation, which Is known IN
The Patent Office latham vs. LeRoy. ana Leroy
va Tetham resulted from this last mentioned WORK
Many nrominent young mechanical engineers owe
,heir start in life to Mr. Robertson ~,
NJ Robertson was OF a benevolent nature. lie
was frequently known to turn away trade IN re-
t"sIne 10 manufacture machinery that he consid-
cred worthless. He was on terms OF intlHate
Sr endship with most OF the prominent mechahicai
engineers OF his time, and there were Few that eA-
ceFed him I'm a knowledge OF hydrostaucs ~ .
Mr. Robertson first became a Mason WINE IN
f,aicutta where he was Initiated Ia me Lodge MI.
,,inn NO In 1880 He member or the society oi
OLA Rrooklynites and Of the Long Island historlca,
Sscistv He was an active member or the Memoir al
f,rsshytertan Church, OF which the Rev; Dr. i a.
Naiso1 is pastor He had been In good health UP
80 sIy weeks ago, and had retained MS memory 70
MARKED degree. lie remcmbered dlstnctly tne
Genes in Scotland that succeeded the battie OF
Wsferloo and had IA personal acquaintance ,, WIN
many OF the survivors OF that great battle, W ME
~ India he made the acquaintance OF GeneraI ta'e
i"ck who became famous In the sepoy mu'-ns'
Mr. Robertson leaves two sons END TWO dauehters,
b,s wife having died about eight years ago re
funeral will he held at the house on MONDAY even
ing ar s O'Clock Or. Nelson will conduct me ser,
wees He will be buried on iuesu"S in''"'"s 80
the family plot Ia GREENWOOD