Robinson background history

In Clarke County, Alabama Probate Record Volume C, page 314 there is a will for William A. Robinson. He lists his heirs as: Ivy C. Robinson, Eleanor Robinson, Henry R. Robinson, John C. Robinson, Levi Robinson, Obediah Smith Robinson, and James N. Robinson. This will was recorded 1st day of September 1830.

William Archibald Robinson was born about 1755. He married first Mary Culberson/Culbertson 30 April 1805 in Rutherford, TN. Mary Culberson was born about 1787 and died about 1819. Their children were: Ivy C (1806-??), Eleanor (1807-1889); Henry (1810-1840), John C (1812-1879); Levi (1816-1879); and William Jr (1819-1822). Obediah Smith Robinson(l 823-??) and James N. Robinson (1826-?7) were from William’s second marriage to Sarah (Sally) Smith 20 Apr 1821.

There may have been one other child born to William and Mary, but she is not mentioned in his will. Polly Robinson born about 1819 married John Cherry 29 Oct 1856 hi Alabama. This family eventually moved to McLennan Co, TX. John and Polly had three children: Nannie, Tom, and Henry. Letters exist written by Nannie between 1884 and 1888 addressed to Mr. or Mrs. John Creagh Robinson, calling them “Dear Cousins”. She talks about her family and other kinfolk, calling John and Levi Robinson “Uncles”. Nannie was born 16 Aug 1857 and died about 1889 in California.

Ivy C. Robinson born 26 Jan 1806; married Mary H. Riddick on 16 Aug 1827. Mary was born about 1804 in Butler Co, AL. Ivy and Mary had five children: John I. (1829-1863); Henry A. (1832-1834); Nancy Collins (1834-1903) married John W. Bell 29 Oct 1851 in Clarke Co, AL and had six children; Hetty R (1837-1855); and Mary Anne (1841-1849).

Eleanor Robinson born 25 Nov 1807; married Matthew Cox 26 Oct 1826 in Clarke Co, AL. Matthew Cox born 28 Oct 1802 was the son of John and Nancy Cox, died before 1870. Matthew and Eleanor had nine children: John R. (1827-1873) married Sebell Fulker 10 Mar 1851; William T. (1829-Civil War) married Martha Thorton 10 Dec 1852; Mary I/J (1831-??) married William A. Bumpers 20 Sep 1848; Nancy (1834-??) married James H. Gilmore 15 Feb 1854; Martha Anne (1836-??) married Thomas B. Hawkins 15 Dec 1855; Rebecca (1837-??) married Rev. William H. Carter21 Oct 1857; Rueben (1839-1842); Matthew Jr (1841); Sophia (1844-1870) married Charlie Moore Bancroft 23 Feb 1860.

Henry R. Robinson born 18 Feb 1810 married Nancy Riddick about 1833 in Alabama. They had three sons: 1. Austin Ledger, 2. John Creagh, and 3, William Alexander. Henry Robinson died 31 Jul 1840. There will be more concerning this family after this background history. (Nancy Riddick and Mary H. Riddick were sisters.)

John C. Robinson was born 27 Dec 1812 McGraw’s Fort, Alabama. He married Sophia Reid, the daughter of Samuel Demetris and Harriett Chapman Reid, on 24 Nov 1840 in Green Co, AL. Sophia C. Reid Robinson born 19 Feb 1821 was the daughter of Samuel Demetris and Harriett Chapman Reid. John and Sophia had eight children: John Henry (1841-1892) married Mary Alice Cloyd 13 Oct 1867; William Samuel (1843-1871) married Kate Sallie Burney 8 Nov 1868; Frank Chapman (1846-1868); Joseph Levi (1847-1910) married Mary Oregon Stegall 6 Mar 1870; Edward Ledyard (1852-1883) married Lizzie Everett; James Edward (1854-1904) married Betty Grey Williams 18 Feb 1882; Richard Arthur (1855-1917) married Nannie Deskins Feb 1882; and Sophia Clara (1857-1875). John and Sophia took their family from Marengo Co, AL in 1850 to McLennan Co, TX before the 1860 census. Sophia Chapman Reid Robinson died 28 Aug 1867. John married second Mrs. Teda Whitset (1829-1878) from Alabama. John C. Robinson died 22 Sep 1879. Most of this family is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, TX. The town of Robinson, Texas, located east of Waco, was supposedly begun by John and Levi Robinson.

Levi Robinson born 28 Jan 1816 in Coffeeville, Clarke Co, AL; married Mary Elizabeth Reid, sister of Sophia Chapman Reid, on 1 May 1850 in Mobile, AL. Mary was born 4 Feb 1820 in Columbia, SC. Mrs. Levi Robinson was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waco, TX 1857-58. Levi and Mary had five children: Austin Ashe (1853-1934) married first Emilie Smith on 25 Jun 1882, married second Mary Hall Phillips 24 Nov 1891; Harriett Sophia (1853-1911) married George Frederick Bentinck 29 Nov 1871; Lewis Sayre (1856-??) married Rose Ann Pilly 10 Nov 1892; Mary Helen (1858-1940) married William Traverse McKee 15 Dec 1880; George Coster (1859-1936) married Edna Earl Woods Nov 1897. Levi and Mary moved to McLennan Co, TX from Mobile, AL [July 1854] after their first child, Austin Ashe was born. The rest of the children were born in Robinson, McLennan Co, TX, and all were married in McLennan Co, TX.

Continuing with Henry and Nancy Riddick Robinson:

After Henry’s death, Nancy R. Robinson married Y. Hardy Frost 2 Feb 1847. They are found in the 1850 census of Butler Co, AL with Henry, and Nancy’s three Robinson sons and the first two of the Frost children: Francis L and James H. This family moved to Cass Co, TX arriving 24 Dec 1857. The other Frost children were Olivia, Ophelia, and Felix Hardy. Y. Hardy Frost was born 9 Jul 1814 and died 23 Nov 1891. Nancy Riddick Robinson Frost died 31 May 1896.

1. Austin Ledger Robinson, born 15 Jul 1837 in Alabama, married first Margaret E. Bryan 9 Jul 1861. Margaret, the daughter of William Osborne and Mary Simmons Harris Bryan, was born 15 Dec 1837 in Russellville, Pope Co, AR. Austin, and Margaret had five children: William Henry (1866-1866), Hillary Eugene (1868-1886); Estil Eunis (1871-1882); Walter Jackson (1874-1874); and Zoar Olivia born 15 Feb 1877. Zoar married David Derrick Zimmerman, son of John Hayne and Mary Elizabeth Hammond Zimmerman, on 25 Dec 1895 in Cass County, TX. Dave and Zoar had nine children: (1) Walter Robinson; (2) Fred Bertha; (3) John Austin, (4) Mary Margaret; (5) Alice; (6) Edith Ruth; (7) William Hammond; (8) Olin Henry; and (9) Lucia Elizabeth. After Margaret died (23 Sep 1883), Austin Ledger married second Sarah Allen Snipes 16 Oct 1884. Austin Ledger died 7 Jan 1887.

2. John Creagh Robinson, born 16 Aug 1839 and after serving in the Civil War, married Judith Holt 22 May 1867. Judith born 5 Feb 1850 was daughter of Henry and Nancy E. Davis Holt. The other Holt children were William, Mary, Virginia, Thomas M., and Robert P. Judith died 10 Aug 1868 in Cass Co, TX a short time after giving birth to her only child (la) James Franklin Robinson.

John married second Emily (Emma) Frances Russell 27 Aug 1872 in Cass Co, TX. Emma, born 5 Feb 1855, was the daughter of William and Sarah E. Powell Russell. John and Emily had six children: (1) Eufaula; (2) Virginia (Virgie) Ophelia; (3) William Marvin ; (4) Sallie Nancy; (5) John Henry, and (6) Mary. Emily (Emma) Russell Robinson died 20 Feb 1887. John Creagh Robinson died 9 Jun 1924. John Creagh was a farmer and cabinet maker.

(la) James Franklin Robinson was born 1868. After John married Emily (Emma) Russell, James moved to Antlers, Oklahoma. He married Elizabeth Halley 30 Aug 1894 in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma. James and Elizabeth (Lizzie) had one child: Lucy Catherine born 13 Feb 1895 in Oklahoma. James was the Post Master in Antlers for a few years and also ran a store. His health was not good, and he was told to go to a dryer climate. This little family moved to New Mexico. James wrote his father on 15 April 1899 from East Las Vegas, New Mexico. In the letter, he states in part: “My health is still improving though I had a hard time during March. Lizzie has had better health here than she has for several years. And your little Granddaughter Lucie is quite a large girl and a very sweet bad little girl.” That is the last the family has evidence of James. Lizzie and Lucy moved to California and lived near her brother, Robert. Lizzie died 26 Dec 1907. Lucie married Thor Christenson 5 June 1916. Thor and Lucy had one child, Christine. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Halley was the daughter of John Henry and Lucy C. Thompson Halley. Her siblings were: Robert, Henry, Celeste, Alice, and Anna. Thor was the son of Chris K. and Christine Lorengen Christensen. Chris K. Christensen was born in Denmark and Christine Lorengen was born in Germany.

(1) Eufaula Robinson married Jasper Bryant Cheeser 16 Sep 1896 in Cass Co, TX. Please refer to the Chesser History for more information on this family.

(2) Virginia Ophelia Robinson (22 Mar 1876-27 Feb 1956) married Jessie B. Cranberry (2 Jan 1870-24 Apr 1953) in 1900. Their three children were: (a) George Lamar (19 Oct 1901-13 Jim 1967), married Vivian M. Burnham (9 Feb 1911-5 Oct 1995) on 24 Dec 1931. Their four children Jessie Bryan, JoAn Marie, Georgie Sue, and George Lamar Jr. (b) Lucy G. (7 Sep 1905-10 Apr 1987), married Aubrey Edward Higgenbotham (3 Jul 1909-27 Feb 1966) on 17 Dec 1934. Their three children Aubrey Edward Jr, Virginia Ruth, and Joe Wayne, (c) Homer Robinson (13 Apr 1911-1 Sep 1994) married Beatrice Anne Schrader (11 Mar 1915) on 9 Feb 1943. Their five children David Homer, Mary Ann, Judy Carrol, Rebecca Jean, and James William. (3) William Marvin (4 Apr 1878-1 Mar 1955) mar

(3) William Marvin (4 Apr 1878-1 Mar 1955) married Mary Caroline Brabham (15 Apr 1881-14 Feb 1950). Their children (a) Susie Elna (8 Feb 1911) married Marshall Royce Teague (3 Aug 1907-23 Oct 1979). Children Bobby Carrol and William Marvin, (b) Louise (29 Jan 1915) married Tilman Parks McGee (16 Dec 1911-14 Mar 1985).

(4) Sallie Nancy (15 Jul 1880-Nov 1969) married Olin F. Zimmerman (1875-1947) 1906. Their daughter Emma Kate married Nash Shelley. The Shelley children are James Richard and Marvin. (David Derrick and Olin F. Zimmerman were brothers.)

(5) John Henry (17 Jul 1883-2 Oct 1944) married Mattie Bertha Morgan (8 Aug 1892-24 Aug 1956) on 16 Jun 1914. Their three children: (a) Emma (15 Apr 1915) married Arthur Kyle Detwiler (1 Dec 1916-25 Oct 1981) on 1 May 1947. The Detwiler children are Arthur Kyle III, Emma Lou, and Sherry, (b) Alice (3 Dec 1916-7 Jul 1989) married William Nevada Turner (28 Mar 1910-22 May 1981) on 6 Apr 1942. The Turner children are Diana Elizabeth, John, and James.

(6) Mary (10 Dec 1885-27 Mar 1978) never married. She stayed on the farm and was always some help to her father and her family. She was such a patient confident person.

3. William Alexander Robinson, born 22 May 1835 in Alabama supposedly never married and died on 17 Jan 1862 in the Civil War.