The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-21

Wite the death OF Edward Robinson.
who passed away at American Fork
Friday night, there passed into eter-
niry the man who enjoyed the distfnc-
ton of being the first railway conduc-
tor ir the world, and at the time of his
death was the oldest living employee
of any railway.
1t was Edward Robinson who, as
an employee OF the Liverpool & Man
chester railroad, was the first to put
railway trains into successful opera
tion, who was called upon to take the
place of Lord Huskenson, who was
killed by the first train run over the
line which had by his own instrument
tally been constructed by authorize
ton of an act of parliament, the pas
sage of which he had engineered to
demonstrate the feasibility of rail-
ways
Lord Huskinson, as the chief promo
tor Of the idea, eSSayed to run the first
train himself acting as conductor. The
train LEFT Liverpool on the morning of
September Is, 1880. AT Patricroft the
train met the second one to be run
over the line, which was started from
Manchester. Lord Huskenson. alight-
ing from his train, stepped in front of
the down coming train from Manches-
ter and was killed, and it was then
that Mr. Robinson was called upo.a to
take charge. He ran the train on to
Manchester, and on its return trip to
Liverpool, and from that time on re-
manned in the service of the road for
twelve years as conductor. He there
fore had the honor of being the first
railroad conductor in the world, and
an investigation made by his son He
Der, who lives at American Fork, ana
who. visited England last year, proved
beyond all doubt that he vas the old
est man living who had been railway
employee in any capacity.
HIS LIES STORY.
Edward Robinson, ST., tough OF
humble peasant parentage and man
who never had the advantages of an
education, lived an eventful life and
had 2 most successful career. He was
born at Little Sutton, Cheshire, Eng,
October IS, 1907. He was therefore, at
his death, IS years and months old.
He worked on a farm until he reached
the age of q. He then became a
gentlemans coachman in which en-
ployment he continued for over two
years. ct which time he engaged him
self TO the Liverpool & Manchester
Railroad com pany as a guard during
construction. When the time for open
ing the road came he was promoted
to train man, the intention being to
make him conductor as soon as the
road was in successful operation and
he had acquired sufficient knowledge
of the business to enable him to sue
cessfully handle a train, but the acct
dent to Lord Huskenson brought that
promotion much sooner than he an
ticipated.
AS stated, Mr.. Robinson continued
in the service of the company twelve
years and ii was one of his proudest
boasts that he never in that time
missed but one day, and then he was
given vacation which, however. he
Terminated by his own volition at the
expiration of the first day of it and
went back to work in preference.
BECAME CONVERTED.
1t was during these years that
Brigham Young. Orson Hyde, Heber
c. Kimball and Farley P. Pratt began
preaching the doctrines of the Mormon
faith in England. Mrs. Robinson, the
first helpmate of the veteran, became
converted and he was himself a
regular attendant at the meetings.
There is no record of the time when
Mr.. Robinson embraced the faith but
the best information obtainable from
his relatives is to the effect that it
was in 1912. Shortly thereafter, he
decided to come to America, and in
the same year sailed with his family
in the ship McHenry.
Arriving in America the family pro-
ceeded directly to Nauvoo, Illinois.
where with the wealth he had accu-
mulated, he built what was at that
time considered the finest residence IN
that locality. He devoted himself 10
farming and remained at Nauvoo until
1S47, when he removed to Burlington.
Iowa, living there until 1S49. In that
year he Joined the westward movement
and came to Utah. He remained in
Salt Lake that winter and in the spring
of 1850 went to Mill Creek and took
charge of the farm belonging to the |
late President Taylor. upon which he |
remained till the spring of 1851, at !
which time he took up his abode at
American Fork where he spent the |
remainder of his days.
Mr.. Robinson was one of the first |
settlers at American Fork, there being !
but a. half dozen families there al the
time of his advent, among them being
the family Of James Chapman. During |
the Indian depredations some stirring
times were experienced and it was he |
VINO SIdrteu anu SupSrlntenQed the |
building Of the old fort whose protec-
ticn the settlers were wont to avail |
themselves of when Indians became /
too troublesome for safety.
The dead pioneer was married three
Zines and WAS the father of ten child |
rem. six of whom survive him. They
are Edward, jr., William and George
Heber, residing at American Fork.
Richard at Kanab, Elizabeth Cox at
Sacramento, Cal, and Mrs. Mary Jane
Wood at Huntington, Utah. The old
est of the children is 81 years and the
youngest is 40.
EMPLOYERS RESPECTED HIM.