My Genealogy Hound

James Robinson, proprietor of the Neosho Planing Mills, and lumber dealer, was born in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Ill., May 10, 1830. His father, Beverly Robinson, a Virginian by birth, was married to Sarah H. Taylor, who was born in Kentucky. Eleven children in the family grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch being the fifth child. He (James) came with his parents to Newton County in 1838, and his early life-time was spent upon a farm. In 1850 he went to California, where he remained three and a half years trading and mining, meeting with satisfactory success. After his return to Newton County, he cleared a farm near the old homestead, lived there three years and then went to Illinois, where he also lived three years; but like others who have lived in Newton County, he could not remain away longer, and so returned, but owing to the unpleasantness of sectional strife during the war he returned to Illinois. In 1867 he once more returned to Newton County, where he has since resided. Two years later he engaged in his present business in connection with H. B. Jones and R. A. Henning, but both of his partners dying he purchased their interest, and has since conducted the business alone. He has a large and paying trade, and is in a prosperous condition financially. Mr. Robinson was first married in 1864, to Sarah E. Parnell, of Tennessee, who died in 1867: By this marriage one son is living, Richard H. His second marriage was with Mrs. Sidney (Randolph) Hughes, who died in 1876, leaving two children, Laura B. and James B. His third wife was Missouri E. Johnson, a native of the State, and their union has resulted in the birth of one child Hugh Armstrong. Mr. Robinson takes great interest in all worthy enterprises, especially in educational matters, and is one of the highly respected and esteemed citizens of the county.