Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-01
Aged Minister and Pioneer OF wap-
clio County Passed Away.
DEMISE OCCURRED MONDAY EVENING
Came to Iowa In 1857 and Held His
First M Letting In Methodist Church
In This City = Funeral Thurs.
day Afternoon at 1880.
From Tuesdays Daily.

FROM tuesdays Daily.
| The death of Rev. Anthony Robinson,
a pioneer of Wapello county, and one
of the first Methodist ministers in OF
tumwa, occurred at his late residence,
100 West Third street. The deceased
was nearly 80 years of age, and altho
he has been in feeble health for some
time owing to the advances which the
infirmities of old age made on his con-
stitntion, yet his condition was not
considered serious. His last illness was
of only a few days duration, and was
due to the contraction of a slight cold.
Rev. Robinson came to Iowa in 1851,
and held his first meeting in the Meth
odist church in this city, of which he
| was for two years pastor. Owing to his
professional work which extended all
over this part of Iowa in the early his
tory of the country, the deceased has,
| perhaps, wider acquaintance, than
any other one man in the county, of
the same age.
| Rev. Anthony Robinson was born in
Orange county, North Carolina, April
Is, 1910. His parents were William and
Sarah (Scott) Robinson. The former
was born in "Old Virginia in 1890, and
died in May, 1855, in Indiana. The
mother was native of Maryland,
born in 1777, and only survived her
husband until the next year, dying in
1856. While yet young they both be-
came residents OF North Carolina and
were there married, becoming the par
ents of one child only, Rev. Anthony
Robinson. In 1916 William Robinson
emigrated with his family from North
Carolina to the territory of Indiana,
locating in Davis county, near Wash
ington. which was then the county
seat. They remained there four years
and then moved to Greene county,
where they located upon tract of IN
| cultivated land and commenced the
improvement and cultivation OF a
farm. After a session of laborious. toll,
and just as Mr.. Robinson had accumu-
lated sufficient means to enter the
4 land for purchase, another party slip
ped in before him and secured it, In
the meantime he had also made claim
in another part Of the county, upon
which he removed with his family and
established permanent home. AT
that time the country was vast will
derness, peopled only by a few scat
tering Indians, who were encamped
upon what was known as the New
Purchase, anh they did not see the face
of white man frequently for weeks
TIA time. The first purchase of Mr.,
i Robinson Included 1850 acres, TO which
he added from time to time until he
became an extensive landed proprie-
tor and the owner Of nearly 400 acres
He was also carpenter and joiner by
i trade, very industrious and enterpris-
ing and allowed no time to run to
waste. His mechanical skill saved
him every year the outlay OF hun-
dreds and in time he accumulated a
i fine property. He WAS strictly upright
i in his business dealings and prompt in
i meeting his obligations, and no man
i could say that William Robinson was
4 indebted to him or refused to pay. Pc.
Il litically be was affiliated with the whis
i party and was great admirer of Hen.
nv Clay. He and his wife were active
Il members Of the Methodist church fol
many years, and contributed of their
means for the promotion of education
and morality.
4 The subject of our sketch was lit.
tie child, not more than 6 years of age
when his parents removed from North
!. Carolina to the territory of Indiana
For three months in the year he at
tended the pioneer school in the log
| cabin, and during the summer season
assisted his parents in the lighter Ia
bors of the household. The first schoo
he attended was built of round logs
12S16 feet in dimensions, and during
the first winter the only floor was the
trodden ground. The huge fireplace eS
tending across one end was built o,
what was called seattle clay" TIL.
writing desks and seats were made O.
J slabs supported by poles placed in hole'
/, in the wall, and the square place saw
ed out Of the logs, which served as {
window, was supplied with panes, o
CREASED paper. This cabin was after
, wards closed against school purposes
and the children of the pioneers wer,
, provided with large log house il
Bloomfield, the county seat, where ,
gentleman by The name of Cushmal
erected more, comfortable straictur
, and conducted the school. He was wei
educated, possessed more than ordi
nary ability as an instructor, and wa
man of fine Christian character
Young Robinson was fond of his books
Z / 4 ~ e.