Sacramento County
Biographies
JAMES
ROBINSON
JAMES ROBINSON, farmer, was born in March, 1813, in the north of Ireland, son of Robert and Rebecca (Osborn) Robinson. His father, a farmer, lived and died in his native land; was engaged in trade a great deal, and hired men to carry on his farming. He died in 1840, at the age of eighty-five years. His widow afterward moved to Australia with one of the sons and died there. In her family were two sons and three daughters: James, Kate, Anna, Rebecca, deceased, and Robert. Anna is now Mrs. Funston, of Sacramento. James Robinson emigrated to the United States in 1832, sailing from Londonderry and landing in Quebec, Canada. Then he went to New York city in June, a short time before the Asiatic cholera broke out in that city and lived there three years. Was foreman most of the time for a great contractor, Christie Keys. Next he was in Philadelphia about eight months, and then he came to St. Louis and spent a winter, then he was in Galena, Illinois, seven years, and finally, in 1853, came to this State. Buying horses and wagons in Galena, and provisions at St. Joseph, Missouri, he came overland, stopping several places on the way; was a week at Salt Lake. He arrived in Sacramento in August. Within a short time his leg was broken in an accident, which compelled him to remain in this city for a long time. As soon as he was able he entered into the business of keeping cows, selling milk and butter, and followed it for a few years. In 1867 he purchased 157 acres of land in one place in Brighton Township and 300 in another. The former tract is where he now lives, having dwelt there most of the time since he bought it. Mr. Robinson was married in Philadelphia, in 1842, to Ann Virtue, a native of Ireland, of Scotch and English descent, as well as her husband. They have two sons and four daughters living: Rebecca, Peter M., Anna, James V., Kate and Jennie.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Pages 648-649. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.