The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-11-15
DEATH OF A. A. ROBINSON, RAIL
ROAD BUILDER.
Remains Laid at Rest in His Home
Town Cemetery.

West, died at his home in Topeka,
Kansas, November 7th, aged IA years.
He had been gradually failing for sew
eral months by general breaking
down and the end came peacefully on
the morning Of the 7th inst.
Mr.. Robinson was born at South Red
ding, VT, Oct. Il, 1874. He came to
Wisconsin in 1857 with his parents and
settled on farm near Edgerton. His
education was completed at Milton col
lege and the Michigan university where
he graduated in the engineering course,
which institution granted him three
honorary degrees, the latter LII. ID.
in 1900. He found employment with
the Santa Fe railway in the beginning
of the organization of that great sys-
tenn and surveyed and built all the
original main lines. His marked abil-
ity brought him step by step in ad-
vancement until he became general
manager of the entire system for sew
eral years. Twenty-Five years ago he
was induced to take the presidency of
the Mexican Central railway which was
then building and developing system
through the central partlof our southern
neighbor and continued to direct it's
affairs until the Mexican government
absorbed it's railway lines. Since that
time he has lived quietly at Topeka,
enjoying a we'll earned rest from a
busy life. Four years ago several hun
dred railway people from the west
gathered at Topeka to assist Mr.. Rob-
inson celebrate his 10th birthday.
In 1870 he was united in marriage to
Julia Caroline Burdick, daughter of 2.
C. Burdick of Edgerton, who died in
1876, leaving daughter Meta, now
Mrs Glenwood E. Jones. Later he
was married to Mrs. Ellen Williams,
sister Of his former wife, who for
thirty three years has been his loving
helpmate.
The remains were brought here by
special car attached to the 1850 a. m.
train on Monday, from which they were
taken to Fassett cemetery and depos-
tied in an elaborate granite vault
erected by Mr.. Robinson about year
ago. Brief services were conducted by
Rev. Randolph of Milton at the crypt.
The funeral party accompanying the
remains were Mrs. A. A. Robinson,
Mr.. and Mrs. Glenwood E. Jones, Mrs.
Kouns and Mrs. Reed of Topeka, Kan;
a brother, E. A. Robinson, and daugh-
ter of Champaign, ILL.,; sister, Mrs.
M. E. Phelps, and daughter and E. G.
Robinson of Columbus, Ohio; Mr.. and
Mrs. F. w. Bentley and son and Mrs.
Inslip of Chlcago;a nd y. Herbert Snow
of Amerillo, Tex.
The following tribute written by
friend is taken from The Topeka Capt.
tai of Sunday last:
1t is with the man after his life work
had been accomplished, where death
found him, where the granite waits,
the graver to write the enduring word,
that shall disclose the gracious, SYM
metrical, useful life, the magnificent
life, as he lived it; that all may know,
be proud Of and profit by. He became
one of the worlds great engineers, so
wrought, so lived and died.
His work in the state Of Kansas is
written on many pages of its history.
He built the Santa Fe railroad from
it's original terminus ITO terminus, set
its stakes, thru desert reaches, across
the alkali lands, up to the foothills of
the Rockies.
He lived to see this road become the
seat of empire; the orchard lanes fol-
low the track he laid over the planes;
and up the glacis. AS Eugene Ware
once said, the great fields, the fatten-
ing herds, the many delightful cities
and towns range the line he blaZed.
ssLong before he left the Santa Fe he
had attained a reputation for energy,
ability and probity, that he wore as
mantle that shrouds him still. He was
sought for larger enterprises.
He built that road to Mexico, oper-
ated itsas its chief executive, for long
time, and regardless of all its hazards
from government and people, his adj
ministration with both was without a
break in the kindly relations he bore
them, and only attributed to his wis
dom, his fairness, his sedate conduct of
it's affairs.
He dealt with DiaZ, who ruled with
iron hand, implacable, severe, and he
had business with the horde of the
mixed Indians and Mexicans; compelled
to compute outlay and income on two
extrernpS of money He ended his ca
reer there, leaving prosperity behind
him, and came to his home in Topeka
to enjoy a surcease of business and its
perpleXities.
His dealings were with all classes,
and whether railroad magnate Or Mexi-
can peon, it never disturbed his COM
posture as an American gentleman. In
many lands he was well known. He
stood with the learned societies and
civic associations at their honored and
learned heads. He several times Wis
tied Europe and distinguished societies
honored him and great homes congrat-
II Al