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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 124-125
JOHN M. and GEORGE H. ROBINSON are energetic and progressive young farmers in the town of Platteville, Grant county, and have made many friends by their open and manly conduct.
John M. ROBINSON was born in October, 1862, in a log cabin near the site of the house where he now lives, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (HILTON) ROBINSON. The father was born in Hook, Yorkshire, England, in April, 1815, and the mother in Lincolnshire, England, Nov. 10, 1818. They were reared in their home country, were married in 1839 and lived in England for two years afterward, coming to America and to Grant county, Wis., in 1841. They settled on reserved mineral land, which he purchased from the government at a later period. He bought more land, and before his death was the owner of 500 acres in one body, was a successful farmer, and became very wealthy through his own industry. He built a log cabin, which was their home until 1863, in which year he was their home until 1863, in which year he erected a large brick house, and there made his home until his death, July 14, 1898. He was widely known as an honest and conscientious citizen, was always ready to help in the establishment of schools and churches, and there is a church building on his land for which he and Richard HUNTINGTON together gave the site; they also dedicated the cemetery. His worthy wife survived him one year, and died Aug. 16, 1899. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: (1) Sarah, born in England in 1840, married James HUNTINGTON, and settled on a farm near Darlington, where she died in 1873, leaving seven children - Allen, of Elk Grove; Bell, Mrs. George TURNER, whose husband is sheriff of Lafayette county, and lives at Darlington; Amelia, wife of George BOOTH, a Grant county farmer; Albert, of Darlington; Charles (he visited the Paris Exposition in the summer of 1900); Wilbur, a farmer in Lafayette county; and Frank, a resident of Wood county, Wis. (2) Miss Jane, born in Grant county in 1844, is at home, and she and her sister Amelia together cared for their aged parents during their lives. (3) Mary, born in May, 1846, married Thomas EDGAR, of Grant county, and they settled in Kansas, where she died May 26, 1899, leaving five children, Lillie (wife of Charles KUHLMAN, of Oketo, Kans.), George, William, Florence, and Olive. (4) Thomas A., born in October, 1849, married Miss May TOPINS, of Grant county, who died on his farm in Lafayette county, leaving one daughter, Laura M., now Mrs. NEWELL, of Iowa. Mr. ROBINSON later married a sister of his first wife, and is now living on a 240 acre farm in Grundy county, Iowa. (5) George H. was born in 1851. (6) Charles W. was born in December, 1853, is unmarried, and is settled on one of the home farms. (7) James Richard, born in October, 1855, is a partner of his brother Charles. (8) Amelia A., born in November, 1857, obtained her education in the home school, and is a lady of culture and refinement; her kindly presence is felt and appreciated by the family. (9) John M. ROBINSON is the youngest of a large family; he was a student for one year at the Platteville Normal, grew up at home, and became manager of the paternal estate when quite young. After the death of the parents the four sons continued on the large estate; they have three houses and a number of barns. Charles and Richard farm eighty acres, which they purchased, adjoining the old homestead. John and George are partners in the management of the old homestead, and are doing well. The ROBINSONs are one of the old pioneer families that settled in Grant county when Wisconsin was mostly given over to the wilderness. The family are all Republicans, and the father was roadmaster for seven years.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck