Butte County
Biographies
JOHN R. ROBINSON, Sr.
JOHN R. ROBINSON, Sr.--A prominent
banker of Chico, closely identified with sound fiscal operations in this
county, and with the development of the best commercial interests in this
county, and with the development of the best commercial interests of the
community, was John R. Robinson, long known here as an enterprising citizen and
a liberal, kind-hearted neighbor. John R. Robinson was born at Lexington,
Mo., on September 22, 1842, the son of
William C. Robinson, who was a native of the South and a member of one of the
finest old Southern families. William Robinson brought his wife and children
across the plains with ox-teams and prairie schooners in 1852, when his son
John was only ten years old, and arriving in California
settled at Hansonville, in a mining district. He made
a trip back East, but returned to California
and died here in the eighties. His good wife had been Miss Eliza Currie, a
native of Kentucky. She died at Hansonville, the mother of two children, John R. and
Katherine, now Mrs. R. B. Fry, of Forbestown.
Afforded
only such educational opportunities, for the time being, as the public school
at Hansonville offered, the ambition of young Mr.
Robinson took him to a business college in San Francisco;
after which he was with Crew and Conley, express agents and bankers, at La
Porte. Later, he was in the same company's office at Quincy,
and at Winnemucca, Nev.
In 1871, he came to Chico, and here
he made many friends as the efficient and obliging agent of Wells, Fargo and
Company.
Four
years later, Mr. Robinson was elected county clerk; but after serving one year
he resigned to accept a position in the Bank of Butte County at Chico,
under Charles Faulkner. In 1877, he was made assistant cashier, and from that
time on was closely identified with the growth of the bank. On the death of Mr.
Faulkner, in 1897, he was made cashier, and was still with the
institution when it was made the Butte County National Bank. On account of
ill-health he resigned from the position in 1912, but still continued as
vice-president and director, while he also retained his residence here. On
October 9, 1915, to the great regret of the entire community, he died.
An
active Democrat, and a loyal American citizen, Mr. Robinson always supported the
broader and better movements, irrespective of party lines. He was interested in
various enterprises. He was president of the Butte County Savings Bank, was a
director in the Chico Water Company, and owned valuable property in city lots
and orchard acreage. He was a Mason of the Knights Templar degree, and was a
member of Islam Temple,
A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco.
On
April 9, 1873, Mr. Robinson was married at Chico, his
bride being Miss Mary Ellen Jones, who was born in Shasta
County, the daughter of George F.
Jones, whose unusually interesting sketch is presented elsewhere. Favored with
parents who strongly upheld higher education, Miss Jones was educated at the
famous Mills College
in Oakland. Since the death of her
husband, Mrs. Robinson has continued to reside here. She is the mother of four
children. George Foster, who lives at home, is in the insurance business; John
Rose is an attorney of Chico; Albert S. has an insurance and real estate business at Los Altos,
Cal.; and Frank S. is a civil engineer at Chico.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 712, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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