ROBERT L. ROBINSON. One of the successful modest farmers and stock-raisers of Clay county and one who has for the past score of years been identified with the county’s internal development, is Robert L. Robinson, the subject of this notice. He came to Texas in 1884 and, after a few months passed at Wichita Falls, came into Clay county, where he established himself and has since resided. He located near Benavue, where he purchased a tract of new and unfenced land right out on the open prairie and set intelligently and vigorously to work at the making of a home.
Mr. Robinson came to Texas from Newton county, Missouri, but was born in Barton county, Missouri, that state, June 9, 1860. His parents migrated to the Lone Star state in 1884, passed some seven years in Clay county and then changed their residence to a farm in McCulloch county, where the father died in 1902 and the mother the year previous. Mr. Robinson Sr. was one of the California gold-seekers of the early days, crossing the plains in the old way and becoming a prospector and miner in the Golden state for about two years. By trade he was a blacksmith and with his efforts in this line and at farming he led to what may be termed a successful life. In Newton county, Missouri, he married Sarah Archer, their issue being: Dee, James, Moses, Michael, Henry P., Robert L., our subject; and John M.
The educational advantages of our subject were of the common school order. When he became a youth, strong in body and full of vigor, he made a hand on the farm and thus in early life did he learn the value of industry and the reward it always brings. When he came to Texas he had accumulated less than two hundred dollars which slipped away from him really before he had located. His start in Clay county began with his planting a crop on his father’s farm, being furnished with everything and getting all he made. After five years of maneuvering and unceasing employment he found himself in a position to buy a quarter of partially improved land. Farming and investing his surplus in stock was the plan he followed and in a few years he bought four hundred acres more land on which he runs about one hundred head of stock.
Mr. Robinson married in Clay county, Helen, a daughter of Royal W. Grogan, a pioneer and prominent citizen of the county. The children of their marriage are: Mable, Warren, Grover, Dare, Matthew, Eugene, Ida and Victor Lee.
The domestic interests of Clay county have been conserved by the presence of such men as Mr. Robinson in the county. While he has been occupied with his personal affairs he has unconsciously contributed toward the upward and forward tendency of his municipality and it is the work of such settlers in the aggregate which works out its final destiny. He is a school trustee, and has been for some years, and in politics owns allegiance to the principles of Democracy.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. I, pp. 507-508.