JOSEPH ROBINSON, P. O. Platteville; born Jan. 1, 1821, in Yorkshire, England, where his early life was spent as a farm servant. He married Hannah Bratton, and, in the spring of 1841, left for America. At the end of a tedious three-months' voyage, he found himself on the borders of Grant Co., which has since been his home. Forty acres of his present farm he bought of the U. S. Government, it having been reserved as mineral land. His brother, Thomas Robinson, also bought 40 acres, and both erected log cabins, which stood somewhat nearer the "Branch" than do the substantial brick structures which replaced them. His 40 acres was the site of the block-house built by the settlers during the Black Hawk war, and Mr. R. well remembers plowing over the old rifle-pits. He was one of the leading spirits in the founding of the "Block-House Branch" P. M. Church, of which he for several years officiated as local Elder. Mr. Robinson has buried two wives, and has ten living children; two of his sons, John W. and Joseph S., were among the defenders of the Union who went out from the Badger State. Mr. Robinson has 270 acres on Secs. 25 and 36.
This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.