Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-28
HISREWARD
One. OF Newport News Best
Citizens Dead.
PEN LAID ASIDE FOREVER
the Commercial, SuccuInbs to the Jn-
evi,abie. Sketch Of His Long
and Useful Life.

The city has paused in the midst OF
its Christmas rejoicing, saddened
by the announcement of the death of
one of its most honored and useful
citizens, Mr.. John A. Robinson, the
veteran editor who only q few days ago
rclinquished the ownership and man
agement Of the Daily Commercial. His
death occurred at 10:45 O'Clock Monday
street. He lacked but three days Of be-
ing ixty-one years Of age. The funeral
will take place at 2:3O o'clock his after
noon from the First Presbyterian
church, and will be conducted by the
%rastor. Rev. Z. T. Wexford.
Mr.. Robinson vas taken seriously i'll
about three weeks ago with stomach
trouble, and this, s~uperinduced by re-
cent heart trouble, was the cause of his
death. It was not unexpected, as those
who were acquainted with the nature
OF his condition had given up hope. He
himself realized that his end was draw
ing near and bravely awaited it with
calm. Christian courage which has al
ways distinguished him. When'it came.
he was ready, and answered the sum
mons OF the grim messenger as though
it We're just a little journey he was
going to take, with great happiness at
its end. .#..
In the death of Mr.. Robinson, the city
loses n of its most valued citizens,
and a family a loving, kind, and lovable
father and husband, a man known far
and wide for his uprightness and fair
dealings, his sound sense. ability.
and the courage of his convictions. The
funeral today will have an attendance
which will attest the popularity and es-
TEEN In which he was held.
There are left behind a widow and
five children-Mrs. r. N. Greathead. Of
staunton, Va; Mr.. 3. S. Robinson, who
has recently accepted u position at the
lrlgg %shipyard in Richmond; Miss Vir-
ginra Robinson and Mr.. J. NJ. Robinson.
ooth OF whom lived with their parents,
and Mr.. w. NJ. Robinson, who resides in
Baltimore. Only three of the children
were at the bedside of the dying man
when he breathed his last, but Mrs,
Greathead arrived Monday night and
Mr.. w. NJ. Robinson cached the city
yesterday.
Three brothers Of the deceased-Mr.
5. r.. Robinson, Of Baltimore; Mr.. S.. M.
Robinson, OF Washington, and DR.. w.
d. Robinson, Of Philadelphia-will ar
rive this morning to attend \. the
funeral, as will his brother-1n-law. Mr..
Howard B. McNulty, who will come
from Chambersburg, and several other
relatives Of the family. IT is expected
that Mr.. McNulty will be accompanied
by several members Of Chambersbure
Lodge, Royal Arcanum, of which de-
ceased was a member at the time of his
death. He was also at one time a
member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr.. Robinson was born at Gettysburg,
Adams county, Pennsylvania, Deem
Der 20, 1887. His father died in his for
ty-eighth year and Mr.. Robinson then
move to Fulton county and took up his
residence With his uncle. There he
went to school until he completed the
course offered by the county public
schools, after which he took a course at
the Marshall Collegiate Institute at
Mercersburg. Pa, graduating with hon
ors. In 1861 he went to McConnells-
burg, where he accepted a position as
deputy clerk of Fulton county, He
served in this capacity four years and
was then elected clerk of the county. He
held this office four years n was re-
elected, serving a second term of four
years. 1t was While holding this posi-
ton that at the age Of 80 he married
Miss Annie S. NJ. McNulty, of Cham
bersburg. All Of Mr.. Robinson's Chill
dren were born in Accommodating,
where he resided for thirty years.
Twenty ears of that time was de-
voted to the practice of law. While at
the bar, Mr.. Robinson was elected to the
Pennsylvania legislature, serving one
term. He held other municipal offices.
In 1891 he left McConnellsburg and went
to Baltimore. where he resided for a
short time. In the same year he went
to H~amnonton. N. j., where he started
and conducted for eighteen months the
Atlantic Mirror. a weekly
Mr.. Robinson and his family moved to
Newport News from Hammonton in
1899. Here he purchased ron MIR. J. M.
Whey the Commercial, which at that
i'm was conducted as a weekly news
paper. He at once changed the paper to
a daily and since that time it ia been
issued as such. -
.. To 1ynlrn ,u,, IS MMr -