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Biography - John Robinson

JOHN H. ROBINSON, County Judge, Cairo, is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and is the fourth of a family of eleven children of John J. and Katie Robinson, both natives of Westmoreland County, Va. They were married in the State of Ohio, about 1826, and settled in Ross County, where John H. was born May 31, 1833. The father was born December 17, 1801, and died in Springfield, Mo., December 24, 1882. The mother, whose maiden name was Katie Hutt, was born May, 1809, and is now a resident of Springfield, Mo. John H. left the parental roof at the age of sixteen, and worked for some time at his trade of cigar-making which he had previously learned. In 1853, in Somerset, Ohio, he was married to Miss Clara M. Brunner, daughter of Jacob and Julia Brunner. She was born in Ohio, October 9, 1833. Mr. Robinson came to Cairo, from Louisiana, in May, 1858, and started a cigar manufactory on the corner of Eighth street and Commercial avenue, which business he continued for about one year. He was soon after elected to the office of County Constable and Deputy Sheriff. In 1862, he organized Company C, One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as its Captain, which position he continued to the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River and the siege of Vicksburg; was then transferred to the department of the Gulf under Banks, and participated in the famous and fatal Red River expedition. He was mustered out at New Orleans in February of 1865. On returning to Cairo, he was appointed Chief of Police of the city which he filled about two years to acceptance. Since that time he has been for about nine years in the employ of the Cairo City Property Company, as superintendent of lands and levees, during which time he was twice elected to a seat in the Board of Aldermen. Has been frequently elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in November of 1882, he was the choice of the people for the office of County Judge, which position he now holds. In politics he is a Democrat, a member of the I. O. O. F. He has a family of two children, viz.: Kate, wife of James M. Murry, of Alexander County, and Florence Robinson. Family residence on Eighth street, between Walnut and Cedar streets.

Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 40.


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