Source: Portrait & Biographical Album, Whiteside Co., IL
Originally published 1885 - Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL  
Reproduced on CD - Purchased CD from "Old Glory Accents"

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 279-80

Samuel W. Robinson, senior member of the firm of S. W. Robinson & Bro,, hardware merchants and dealers in agricultural implements at Morrison, was born Jan. 5, 1835, in Zanesville, Ohio. Robert P. Robinson, his father, was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and acquired a knowledge of the business of a foundryman and hardware merchant. He married Mary J. Culbertson, who was born in 1812 near the city of Zanesville, Ohio, and was raised in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and a few years after transferred his family and business interests to Zanesville, where he engaged in the sale of hardware, and operated there more than 20 years. In 1857 he came to Dixon, Ill., and passed about four years in the foundry business. About 1861 he went to Sterling and established a trade in agricultural implements, in which he was interested to the thime of his death. The mother died at Zanesville. Of their seven children only the brothers who are conducting a joint business at Morrison are living.

Mr. Robinson was placed at school as soon as he reached a suitable age, and his education was conducted with care in the best schools at Zanesville until he was 16 years of age, when he became an assistant in his father's hardware business. This he has made the vocation of  his life, and he has pursued it wihout intermission for 34 years (1885). It is probably safe to venture the statement that he is the senior hardware merchant in the county of Whiteside. Entering his father's store in 1851, he continued in the position of salesman and assistant six years, and in 1857 came to Morrison and began business independently on the site now occupied by the Revere House. Almost simultaneously he began to make arrangements to establish himself permanently, and in the same year he built the store he now occupies. It is constructed of brick, is three stories in height above the cellar, and is connected with a large warehouse, of brick, is three stories in height above the cellar, and is connected with a large warehouse, of brick, located on the railroad. In 1859 he admitted his brother, Frank H. to a partnership. (A biographical sketch of the latter may be found elsewhere in this volume) The business of the Robinson brothers is extensive, and includes all the brances common to establishments of similar scope and purpose/ Their stock comprises full and complete lines of hardware and agricultural implements and machinery. They make a specialty of farm machinery of every description. Thier business requires the aid of three assistants.

Mr. Robinson was united in marriage, Dec. 6, 1859, to Anna Gibbs, and they have had six children: William G. was born Sept. 6, 1860, and is a clerk in his father's store; Paul, born Jan. 29, 1862, is engaged in the same capacity; Mary C. was born May 2, 1864; Maud was born May 6, 1870. Two children died in infancy. Mrs. Robinson was born in 1841, in Steuben Co, N.Y., and is the daughter of Alanson and Sophronia Gibbs. She was brought up at Lyndon, this county, to which place her parents moved from New York when she was about six years of age. Her education was completed at the seminaries of Mt. Carroll and Rockford, Ill.