My Genealogy Hound

William A. Robinson. Among the successful and prosperous journalists of Southwest Missouri may be mentioned Mr. Robinson, who is the editor and proprietor of the Aurora Times. He was born in Lawrenceville, Lawrence Co., Ill., April 9, 1842, and is a son of William M. and Julia (Novalle) Robinson, who were born in Kentucky and Indiana, respectively. The father was born in 1804, and lived in his native State until 1825, when he moved to Illinois, locating in Lawrenceville, where he became a prosperous merchant. In 1856 he became blind, but at the end of two years regained his sight and engaged in farming, which he continued until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1869. He and wife were the parents of six children, four now living: Maria, William A., Charles J. and Edward O. Those deceased are Martha and Julia E. The mother died in 1872. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James Robinson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Kentucky. He was twice married, and reared a family by both wives. William A. Robinson was reared in his native county, and graduated from the Cincinnati Mercantile College at the age of sixteen years. He then taught school for one year at $60 per month, and was then appointed deputy clerk and ex-officio recorder, which office he held until the spring of 1862. July 15 of that year he enlisted in Company K, Seventieth Illinois Volunteers, for three months; and at the end of that time enlisted in the Eleventh Missouri Infantry, and was a participant in the battles of Fort Donelson and Island No. 10; also with Gen. Thomas in his famous two-days’ encounter with Gen. Hood. He was honorably discharged at Alton, Ill., in 1864, and then taught school for one session. From that time until 1869 he was employed as hotel clerk at Jacksonville, Ill., then returned home, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1876. Since that time he has been a resident of Lawrence County, Mo. He first located in Marionville, but since 1886 has been a resident of Aurora. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace, and held the office for eight years. At the end of that time he took charge of the Pioneer Democrat, but that paper was soon moved to Aurora, and took the name of the Aurora Times. It has a circulation of over 800, and is published in the interest of the laboring people. In 1867 Mr. Robinson married Eliza Lonergam, of New Jersey, who has borne him nine children, six living: Ella, Frank, Thomas, Harry, Clifford and Stella. Willie, Nellie and Bertie are deceased. Mr. Robinson was commander of the Marionville Post, No. 141, G. A. R., for three years, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.