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My great great grandfather provided most of this information in the early part of 1900's. William's grand parents were Walter Canaday and Annie Hussey. They were Southern Quakers and they moved from Alabama in the early 1800's to Highland County Ohio with two of their young children, John and Mary. While living in Highland County Ohio two other children were born, Nathan and Christopher.
Mary Canaday married Frederick Barnard and lived in Bloomington, Illinois. Nathan Canaday became a Doctor and settled in Pekin, Illinois. Christopher Canaday moved to Lowell Mills, Iowa and according to family rumor started over the Oregon Trail in 1845 and was never heard from again. I have heard my father repeat this story more than once. John Canaday is the father of my great great grandfather, William Canaday.
John Canaday grew up in Highland County Ohio and married Sarah Purteet. They had three children, William, Nancy and Phebe. William was born in Highland County Ohio on April 15, 1823 and Nancy was born on March 20, 1828. In 1828 they decided to move to Illinois. They traveled by prairie style schooner and a carriage and crossed Indiana during the winter of 1829 and stopped for a time at Georgetown, Illinois where Phebe was born. William Canaday was about six years old at the time. The carriage was sold at this time in order to buy a sod plow mounted on wheels. The family moved on to South Central Illinois and became practically the first settlers at Short Point, then in Tazewell County but later McLean County, among the Kickapoo Indians. They settled on 160 acres, half in timber and half in prairie land near the village of Heyworth. John Canaday was recorded to be the first to flow the first furrow of sod in the county. He is also recorded as being the first white man to use an ax in felling a tree in that area. A rude log house was built and while farming, John Canaday started the first store in the county with goods purchased at St. Louis. The nearest post office was 40 miles away at Pekin, Illinois. In 1835 John became very ill and on June 3rd, died. This left his widow, Sarah, with three children. William, Nancy and Phebe. It was recorded that Phebe Canaday married a Robert Turner and later died in Daviess County Missouri and Nancy Canaday married Robert's brother, Allen. Allen Turner was born March 21, 1826 and died on March 21, 1901. Nancy died in Bylthdale, Harrison County Missouri on October 1, 1912.
After John died, Sarah Canaday married Benjamin Slatten and moved on to Harrison County Missouri. Benjamin Slatten died at Bethany, Harrison County Missouri in 1868. The Slatten children were: Martha Slatten, who died in childhood, Joseph P. Slatten, and Hester Slatten.
On March 24, 1842 William Canaday married Elizabeth Leeper in McLean County, Illinois. Elizabeth Leeper was born on September 17, 1824 in Flemming County, Kentucky and is the daughter of Samuel Leeper and Nancy Prine. William and Elizabeth began farming in McLean County and in 1854 traveled to Harrison County Missouri and purchased land in Colfax Township. In 1855 William and Elizabeth moved, with their children, to Harrison County Missouri. William was successful in farming and with his surplus income purchased more land in the area. As each of the Canaday children became of age they were given a farm. William Canaday was a charter member of the bank in Blythdale, Missouri and maintained a large interest in it. William Canaday retired in 1909.
William Canaday's first vote for President of the United States was cast for James K. Polk in 1844 and in 1860 voted for Douglas. Ironically, William Canaday was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln and even entertained him in the Canaday home. William Canaday also knew Mary Todd Lincoln and played with her as children in the home of Mary's father, Doctor Todd.
In 1861 William Canaday entered military service but didn't enter regular service until 1864 when he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant of Company E in the 43rd Missouri Infantry under Colonel Hardin. William Canaday received his discharge at the close of the war without ever participating in a real engagement.
In 1856 William Canaday was elected justice of the peace and served in that capacity until 1862, when he was elected as a county judge.
On February 19, 1859 he was one of the organizers of the Taylor Grove Christian Church.
On July 10, 1907 Elizabeth Leeper Canaday died at her home in Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri at the age of 82. She is buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery outside of Blythdale.
On January 6, 1919, William Canaday married Mrs. Jennie Reed. On February 28, 1919, William Canaday died. He is also buried at the Cedar Hill Cemetery outside of Blythdale.
William Canaday and Elizabeth Leeper had five children. They were John W., Christopher, Phoebe A., Joseph W., and Carrie B:
1. John W. Canaday born December 17, 1842 in McLean County Illinois and died February 11, 1920 in Harrison County Missouri. On December 17, 1842 John Canaday married Martha M. Dale (May 4, 1862 � May 6, 1923). Both are buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri. They had ten children: Anna, Joseph A., William A., Estella, Charles, Samuel, Elmer, Clara, Hattie, and Laura.
2. Anna Canaday (February 5, 1863 � November 1, 1956) She is buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri.
2. Joseph A. Canaday
2. William A. Canaday (January 9, 1866 � March 26, 1922)
2. Estella Canaday � Married a Vanzant
2. Charles Canaday
2. Samuel Canaday (May 3, 1873 � July 22, 1962) He is buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri
2. Elmer Canaday
2. Clara Canaday (July 3, 1879 � July 17, 1963) � Clara married Jefferson T. Heckenlively (March 14, 1878 � June 30, 1925) Both are buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri.
2. Hattie Canaday (June 30, 1882 � December 13, 1906) � Hattie married a Johnston. She is buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri.
2. Laura Canaday (September 20, 1885 � November 23, 1956) � Laura married Harley Drew (September 25, 1881 � January 14, 1891) Both are buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery in Harrison County Missouri.
1. Christopher Canaday born October 26, 1847 in New Heyworth, McLean County Illinois and died August 4, 1938 in Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri. On July 3, 1870 Christopher Canaday married Angeline Brower (July 16, 1852 Jennings County Ohio and died August 26, 1918 Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri) Christopher Canaday and Angeling Brower Canaday are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery outside of Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri. They had four children: John T., Harvey Preston, Mable, and Myrtle.
2. John T. Canaday born April 21, 1871 in Harrison County Missouri and died July 10, 1928 in Los Angeles California. On July 23, 1894 John T. Canaday married Eva Klopenstein. They had three children: Ray V., Lavare J. and Nelva A.
2. Harvey Preston Canaday born August 15, 1872 in Harrison County Missouri and died February 16, 1933 in Pleasanton, Kansas. On September 1, 1895 Harvey Preston Canaday married Nellie Tillotson Carlton (May 13, 1876 in Westerville, Decatur Iowa and died March 16, 1915 in Ensworth Hospital, St. Joseph Missouri) Both Harvey Preston Canaday and Nellie Tillotson Carlton Canaday are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery outside Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri. They had six children: Pauline, Marguerite, John, George Christopher, Togo Crumpacker, and Marvin.
3. Pauline Canaday (November 4, 1896 in Harrison County Missouri -?) Pauline married Clint Culbertson (5/12/1894 -?) They had four children: Nellie Ann, Onie, Bernice, and Willa.
3. Marguerite Canaday (August 22, 1899 Harrison County Missouri -?) Married Lacy Barnett (August 3, 1895 -?) They had three children. Lawrence, John, and Russell
3. John Canaday (1900 Harrison County Missouri - ?) Married Essie Lambert They had two children: Vera Lee, and Johnnie
3. George Christopher Canaday (October 18, 1902 Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri � March 15, 1965) Married Mildred Edith Arney (April 7, 1907 � September 13, 1962). They had two children: Bobbie Lloyd, and Edna Joan.
4. Bobbie Lloyd Canaday (March 14, 1924 � June 14, 1966 Freeport, Texas) On June 19, 1946 Bobbie married Jeannie Walkinshaw. They had three children: Mark Dale, Paul Lloyd, and Bruce Adam.
4. Edna Joan Canaday. On December 24, 1950 she married Bruce Hoover Jr. They had four children: Bret Alan, Scott Bradley, Amy Jo, and Chris Brian.
3. Togo Crumpacker Canaday (February 20, 1904 Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri - December 23, 1979 Independence, Jackson County Missouri) In January 1927 he married Maud Irene Weaver (February 21, 1905 McKenzie, Butler County Alabama) They had two children: Wanda Lou, and Carlton Weaver.
4. Wanda Lou Canaday married Harold Talcott
4. Carlton Weaver Canaday married Myrna Smyer
3. Marvin Canada
2. Mable Canaday (February 5, 1878 -?) On June 19, 1900 married Charles Baldwin. They had three children: Winifred, Susie, and Gladstone.
2. Myrtle Canaday (July 25, 1879 � 1971) On October 24, 1897 married Pascal (Pack) J. Richardson (1873 � 1963) Both are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery , Harrison County Missouri. They had five children: Nellie T., Phil, Ruby A., Hugh, and Helen
1. Phoebe A. Canaday (January 6, 1853 McLean County Illinois � July 13, 1904) Phoebe Canaday married William A. Poynter (November 13, 1853 -?) Both are buried in Eagleville Masonic Union Cemetery, Harrison County Missouri. They had one child: Hugh Canaday (May 14, 1885 -?)
1. Joseph W. Canaday (July 29, 1856 Harrison County Missouri � December 20, 1940 Blythdale, Harrison County Missouri) In 1880 Joseph Canaday married A.V. Willis. They had three children: Maude, Bess and Carl B.
2. Maude Canaday (?) married a Reeves
2. Bess Canaday (?) married a Scott
2. Carl B. Canaday (?)
1. Carrie B. Canaday (August 29, 1869 Harrison County Missouri - ?) Carrie Canaday married H.M. Hungate. They had three children: Helen, Olga, Bryan, Lynn, Loita, and Maxine.
On 5 July 1854 in Elmira, NY, Horace married Emma Haswell b 20 April 1831 PA.
By 1857 Horace & Emma Fitch and his daughter Cynthia settled in Eagleville, Harrison Co., MO. Their first child Emma Augusta was born there 14 Nov 1857. Their second child Clarence Boyd Fitch arrived 20 Jan 1860. A third child Alice Voila Fitch was born 26 Nov 1861.
Horace enlisted in the Missouri 35th Regiment Infantry Volunteers, Co. A 28 Sept 1862 as a Captain. He served on active duty in Helena, AR. According to records the unit was involved in guerilla warfare, picket and garrison duty. He was promoted to Lt. Col., 30 April 1863. He was mustered out 28 June 1865.
The fourth child, Samuel H. Fitch was born 22 Dec 1866 and the fifth and last Emmaline Fitch was born 20 April 1869.
While in Pa the 1850 census shows the occupation of Horace as a blacksmith.
The 1860 Harrison Co., MO census lists Horace as a merchant with real-estate valued at $175.. He was in partnership with Thomas Poynter. They were quite successful and made quite a comfortable amount of money. They erected a 2 story building on the new public square created by a survey filed by Hall and Brower. There was a large hall on the second story that was used for lodges, Sunday school, public speaking and other social gatherings. School was also held there.
By 1870, after his Civil War service, he is listed as a Hotel Keeper, with real-estate valued at $9000. and a personal estate of $2800.
1880 Harrison Co., census lists Horace as a farmer.
The 1870 and 1880 census' show Nathan B. Haswell, Emma's father living with them. He was born in about 1805 in VT. Records show he also lived in Bradford Co., PA at the same time Horace did (1850). He is listed as a school teacher in 1870 and as a retired school teacher in 1880.
In 1881 Horace and Emma and the children moved on to Eureka Springs, AR. Horace had contracted malaria while on duty in the Civil War. Eureka Springs supposedly had "magic waters" to cure ailments. Horace only stayed a few years in Eureka Springs. He then moved further south to Dade City, Pasco Co., Fl where he died from malarial related illness 2 June 1889. Emma died 28 Sept 1907, I do not know yet where. Horace Fitch was my great-great-grandfather. Harrison County cemetery records for the West Cemetery show the following graves: Emma Augusta Fitch (d 22 June 1862), Alice Viola Fitch (d 26 Dec 1863) and Samuel Fitch buried 2 Dec 1862 and wife Hanna (no date). I do not know if Samuel and Hanna were his parents or not.
Cynthia J. Fitch married William T Small 23 May 1875 in Eagleville. In 1891 they were living in Corvallis OR where he was a confectioner.
Personal Characteristics and Incidents of His Life
In Thomas Dudley Neal, the boy was father to the man. He formed his opinoins not from those of others, nor from his surroundings, but by the intuitions of his own mind, regulated by a conscience ever on the alert to know the right.
Born in Kentucky in 1840, he lived in that State and in Missouri all his life. Up to the civil war all influences by which he was surrounded were pro-slavery and pro-Southern; yet, as soon as he was old enough to have an opinion about anything, he had anti-slavery predilections. When 16 years old he overheard a pro-slavery man in the neighborhood of his father in Gentry County growling about the Missouri Democrat, for which he had subscribed, having been mislead by its name. He bought out his subscription, and frequently thereafter became a local correspondent to that paper. He also became at a later period, but still while under age, a correspondent of the Free Democrat, an anti-slavery paper published at St Joseph, Missouri.
It was on account of an article he had written for the latter paper that the ire of his pro-slavery neighbors was so aroused that he was compelled to seek safety in flight. He came to Harrison County, and taught a school near the residence of Dr. B. G. Miller, in what was then Sugar Creek township. Here he came in contact with a number of staunch Republicans, such as Dr. Miller, Veazey Price, Bennett Strait, George W. Meek, Jacob Wagoner, and others. Mr. Neal's fondness for newspapers was a marked trait of his character. Like Abraham Lincoln, his education was chiefly a newspaper one. This education made him practical and ready. In his boyhood, while other boys were at their sport, he would be found reading his paper.
At the close of the war he took charge of a newspaper at Bethany and continued in the business, with slight interruptions, till his death. He came to exercise great influence through his paper in politics and morals. His editorials were sharp, sarcastic, and sparkled with wit. As a paragraphist, he had no superior. I firmly believe that if his paper had had a national circulation he would have had a national reputation in this respect.
One peculiarity of Mr Neal was that he never defended himself. When attacked by other newspapers or in speeches, instead of defending himself he carried the war into Africa, and fearlessly and relentlessly attacked his adversary in turn. By this means he was generally able to force his antagonist to take the disagreeable position of defending himself. He was apt in manufacturing new epithets and pertinently applying old ones. May now remember with what success and pertinacity he applied the term "The Smeller" to the editor of a rival newspaper. In a certain case, while Neal was Prosecuting Attorney, one of the two attorneys for the defendant, in the course of his speech, compared the prosecuting witness to "Sitting Bull". Neal, instead of defending his witness, disgusted the two attorneys by comaring them to "Shacknasty Jim" and "Boston Charley".
Neal's love for the newspaper lasted him till death. About ten minutes before he breathed his last, as the shades of death were gathering about him, he picked up a folded newspaper lying on the bed, and slowly and carefully unfolding it he intently and fondly for a moment gazed upon its pages; he then as slowly and carefully folded it and laid it down. His arms fell listlessly beside him, and in a moment all was over.
Mr. Neal had a high sense of honor, and fine feelings towards those who held personal relations with him. Nothing of the kind was better than the confidence and delicacy he exhibited towards his wife by the provisions of his will. He was a tender and true though not demonstrative friend. E. R. Martin had, nearly all Mr Neal's newspaper life, been his faithful publisher or foreman, and there was between them a strong and mutual attachment. At the time his will was made he had not sold his newspaper, and such was his solicitude for his old friend that he inserted the following clause in his will, viz:
"If E. R. Martin is foreman of the office (at my death) it is my request that he be retained to run the office until a good opportunity to sell offers, and I should be very much be pleased if it could be sold to someone who would be agreeable to him and give him employment."
Mr Neal had the most perfect honesty. In conversation with his aged mother a short time before his death, the writer inquired about his boyhood. The mother replied, "He was an honest boy; he never deceived me." That he had never deceived her seemed to be the uppermost thought in her memory of the boyhood of her dying son. That a mother could truthfully say that of a child, is the noblest eulogy a human being can receive.
Mr. Neal was honored most by those who know him best. In the fore part of his professional career his clientage was purely Republican; latterly, when he professionally and personally was known better, he came to be employed largely by Democrats as well. Through all his life he grew intellectually, professionally and in popularity. The first time he was a candidate for office he ran behind his ticket; the last time he was a candidiate he ran ahead of his ticket. He had great penetration in his judgment of men, and kept at a distance those who failed to secure his confidence and respect. In all matters of reconciliation and approach to friendship, he only met men half way, and frequently required others to make the first advances. This he at times, perhaps carried too far, as it led to the perpetuation of estrangements with men he really respected. But his friendships and reconciliations were sincere. He was so sincere and truthful that he sometimes disdained to practice that harmless hypocracy involved in mere politeness. This made him more demonstrative in his dislikes than in his likes. He thought well of many men who never knew it, while when he had a contempt for a man's conduct or character he always showed it when there was an occasion for it.
Mr. Neal was the second man who enlisted in the regular United States service from this county. Though under age when he enlisted he did his duty so well that later in the war he was made a Lieutenant, as a reward for soldierly qualities. He had great personal bravery. While on service with his regiment, Merrill's Horse, in Boone County, and while on duty on a skirmish line, he suddenly and alone came upon a squad of seven or eight guerrillas in the brush. They fired a volley at him almost as soon as he saw them, several bullets passing through his cap. But instead of offering to surrender, or seeking safety in flight, he called upon his comrades to follow as if they were near, and charged them alone. The guerrillas, supposing he had help near at hand, turned and fled.
But perhaps his supreme quality was his moral courage. In this respect he was exceeded by no man. He always dared to do and speak for what he thought to be right in the face of all abuse, and even criticism of friends. This made him a moral force not easily supplied.
He was perfectly honest in his dealings. If all men were like him, the law of written contracts need not have been written. He was perfectly just in his dealings. If all men were like him the books on equity jurisprudence might well be burned. He was religious in the true sense. If all men had been like him from the dawn of creation, a blessed Saviour need not have died for man.
Mr. Neal was a stalwart in politics, a radical in morals and a conservative in religion. He believed that aggressiveness in religion should be against all prevailing vice and he utterly despised religious controversies. He believed that Christians ought to be more God-ward but with him the best evidence of Godwardness was the good that man did for man, and not his mere abstract theories on theology. While Mr. Neal would have given proper place and prominence to his early professions and expressions of hope on his dying bed, yet, if I am to believe his oft-repeated words, I cannot help but think that in estimating his hopes of a happy immortality he would have given at least a little more prominence to what he has done for the right - to the fact that the world is better for his having lived in it.
In one respect, Mr. Neal was always underestimated, and that was intellectually. He had a frail body to support his mind, and consequently his mind was never in full power in action. He had an excellent legal mind. He had great power in distinguishing and not confounding dissimilarities. He seemed always able to "spoil your case in point."
He was a natural leader of men. In the Legislature, though the youngest member there, he became the leader of his party. He was in office nearly all his life, and this is the sum of all testimony as to his character as a public officer. He did his official work well and thoroughly, and in his every official act he never, in the least, was influenced by or considered any man's politics, religion or his personal or social relations to himself.
Tom Neal., good-by! I loved you in life, and I love your memory now. You wanted to live, and good men who knew you wanted you to live. But the hereditary sentence of death was upon you. Consumption was the executioner, and you had to go. Of your brother lawyers, the beloved W. G. Lewis, the gallant Capt Elwell and the noble Fawcett had to submit to the same dread executioner. Worth Vandivert, so full of ambition and promise in life, now sleeps near you.
And again, old friend, good-by. We have lost you, but we have and will keep our memory of you. Consumption cannot take that.
NOTES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Thomas Dudley Neal was born on Nov 21, 1840 in Kentucky, the son of Thomas & Elizabeth Neal. The family moved from Kentucky to Missouri between 1850 and 1860, and settled in Gentry County (just west of Harrison County). The family is listed in the 1860 Census of Gentry County, Missouri.
Thomas Neal died on Sep 1, 1881 of consumption. He is buried at Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, Missouri.
Thomas D. Neal is listed in the 1880 Census of Bethany Township, Harrison County, Missouri as a 39 year old lawyer, born in Kentucky. Also listed are his wife, Hattie and three children. His children are listed as:
Eugene, age 12, working as a printer
Earnest, age 10
Nida, age 1
Nida Neal: Died Aug 19, 1880 Age 1 year, 8 months, 25d Buried at Miriam Cemetery, Bethany, MO.
Col. W. P. Robinson was born in Carlisle, Nicholas county, Kentucky, February 20, 1826, and died in Manhattan, Kansas, Monday June 20, 1904, aged 78 years and 4 months. He was a son of George and Clarissa (Holladay) Robinson, both natives of Kentucky. The father was of English descent, and his parents were early settlers of Kentucky, whither they moved from Virginia about 1790. He was a tanner by trade, and followed that occupation until some three or four years before his death, which occurred while upon a trip to New Orleans in 1853. The mother died shortly after the birth of William P., who was the only child, and was taken by his mother�s brother and cared for for a period of three or four years, when the father was again married, to Sarah Mountjoy, who bore him three daughters; Mary A., wife of Dr. J. E. Whitecraft of Stanton county, Kan., Eliza J., deceased wife of the late Alfred Williams of Boone county, Mo.; and Sarah A., wife of Samuel Sherman, of McPherson county, Kan.
Upon his father�s second marriage, William P. was taken home, where he remained until the death of his step-mother, which occurred about 1835, when, his father again breaking up housekeeping, he was returned to the home of his uncle, where he remained occasionally attending school in the primitive log school-house of that day until his 12th year. He was sent by his father to Wabash College, Ind., with the intention of giving him a thorough education, but owing to unsuccessful business speculation was compelled, at the end of about two years, to take the boy home and to learn the tanner�s trade.
Soon after attaining his majority, in the summer of 1847, he enlisted for the Mexican War, for a term of three years or duration of the war, a company of volunteers which was then being raised in his native town. This company, upon the organization of the regiment, became Company E. Third Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, of which the subject of this sketch was elected orderly sergeant. After a hard campaign of nearly one year, the regiment then being with Gen. Scott�s army at the City of Mexico, peace was declared between the two nations, and the troop returned home, arriving there about the 1st of August, 1848.
On the 31st of the same month, he was married, and a short time thereafter his father retiring from business, William P. succeeded him and carried on the same until the fall of 1854, at which time he, with his family, immigrated to Iowa, and located upon a farm in Washington county. In the spring of 1856 he came to Harrison county, MO., and followed the business of farming and school teaching in Colfax and Hamilton townships (then Marion township) until the breaking out of the war in 1861. At this period, after the flag of our country had been fired upon at Ft. Sumter, loyalty and disloyalty were the all absorbing themes of the people�s attention and conversation, and excitement ran riot throughout the length and breath of our land. The subject of this sketch boldly and zealously espoused the cause of the old flag, under which he had fought in Mexico, and with other loyal friends of the Union in the county, united in devoting their whole time and energy toward unifying the loyal sentiment and bringing it into active operation. In furtherance of this object, in July 1861, he, with about fifty or sixty other young and middle aged men, enlisted in a company at Eagleville, which had been partially raised at Cainsville by John A. Fisher, and with this addition was now full. This company was being raised for a regiment of infantry to be commanded by Col. Jacob T. Tindall, of Trenton, Mo. Upon the organization of this company William P. Robinson was elected captain, and upon the organization of the regiment this company became Company D, Twenty-third Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He then removed his family to Sangamon county, Ills. He remained in command of Company D until wounded at the battle of Shiloh, on the 6th of April, 1862, and as soon as his wound permitted him to return to the regiment, about the first of the following June, he was commissioned colonel of this regiment, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Col. Tindall, who was killed in that battle, and as such did faithful and gallant service until mustered out with his regiment at Atlanta, Ga., on the 22d day of September, 1864.
In the spring of 1867 Col. Robinson returned with his family from Illinois to Harrison county, Mo., and taking up his residence in Bethany conducted the �Harrison County Press,� a weekly newspaper for about six months, when he abandoned the newspaper business, and served as deputy county clerk until 1872, when he was elected probate judge. After filling that office for one term of four years he was re-elected for a second term, but resigned in 1878, and became a candidate for county clerk, in which office he served continuously by re-election in 1882 and 1886, respectively.
In politics he was an old line. Which from the time he was old enough to vote, and at the election in 1860 cast his vote for Bell and Everett since which time he had been a staunch and unswerving Republican and had taken an active part in all political campaigns in the county.
In 1894, Col. Robinson was chosen by the Bethany Printing Co., as associate editor of the Bethany Republican. His ability as a writer and earnest efforts in his labors, commanded the confidence of the patrons of the paper and the Republican prospered under his work. But on account of his health, he resigned as editor in January, 1899. During these years he also served a Public Administrator of this county.
The first wife of Col. Robinson was Rachel Sims, a native of Nicholas county, Ky., who died June 5, 1865, and who bore him eleven children: Clarrissa, deceased; Fannie, wife of John L. Grenewalt, of Lamoni, Ia.; Mary R., wife of Charles W. Barber, of McPherson county, Kan; Lucinda, wife of Frank Simmons, of Springfield, Ill; George, of McPherson county, Kansas; Thomas and Robert (twins), who died in infancy; Ann E., wife of Judge J. F. Bryant of Bethany; Elizabeth, wife of George R. Williams, of McPherson, county, Kans; William H. of the same place, and Charles, who died in infancy. The present wife was Sarah E. Kendall, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio by whom the Col. had six children: Edgar P. (deceased); Jessie (wife of) Wm O. Selby, of Manhattan, Kan; Kathleen (wife of Boston Campbell, of Ottumwa, Ia.); Harry P., of Manhattan, Kan; Louis P. of Leavenworth, Kan. and Clifford, the youngest who is about 14 years of age, and lives with his mother at Manhattan.
Col. Robinson was a member of the G.A.R., and the first Commander of Lieut. T. D. Neal Post, No. 124 at Bethany. He was also a member of the I.O.O.F. and Knight Templar, and one of the charter members of Bethany Commandery, No. 42. He was a member of the Christian church, and an earnest worker in the promotion of the cause of temperance and morality.
