Yolo County
Biographies
DANIEL M. ROBINSON
Long and intimate association
with the ranching interests of Yolo county brought to
Daniel Robinson a considerable degree of prominence among the residents of this
portion of the Sacramento valley. A pioneer of 1857 in this county and
afterward a rancher here until death, he was of Scotch extraction, and was born
in Allegany county, N. Y., May 12, 1827, being a son of Levi and Hopie (Pike) Robinson, natives of New York. For a number of
years his father operated a tannery and shoe factory in New York City, but
about 1842, accompanied by his wife and children, he removed as far west as
Missouri and settled in Lincoln county, where he secured a tract of farm land
near Troy. In agricultural work he spent the remainder of his life, dying on
the homestead at fifty-four years of age. The only fraternal organization with
which he held membership was the blue lodge of Masons. His wife also died in
Missouri and was fifty-two years of age at the time of her death. In religion
she was of the Universalist faith.
The only son among three children
comprising the parental family, Daniel M. Robinson at an early age was obliged
to aid in the maintenance of the family, and thus formed habits of industry and
self-reliance invaluable to him in later years. On starting out for himself he
followed farming and stock-raising, having several slaves to assist him in the
cultivation of his land. March 1, 1849, he married Miss Dona M. Brunk, who was born at Troy, Lincoln county,
Mo., February 1, 1829. Her father, John Brunk, a
native of Kentucky, there married Nancy Downing, and the young couple became
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. More than ordinary success
rewarded Mr. Brunk’s efforts in agriculture, and at
his death each of his children received a farm and two slaves. He attained the
age of sixty years, dying March 30, 1842. Seven years later his wife also
passed away. They were the parents of ten children, all but two of whom
attained mature years.
Some years after his marriage Mr.
Robinson decided to remove to California and accordingly disposed of his
Missouri possessions. Accompanied by his wife and three small children, also a
brother-in-law, Mr. Perkins, in 1857 he started on the long journey across the
pains. It was his plan to embark in the cattle business, so he bought up a
large head in the east and drove them overland, also a band of horses. There
were fourteen wagons in the train and about thirty-five men who had been hired
to help in driving the stock. Though extraordinary precautions were taken, they
lost about one-half of their herd in the weary journey across the plains. The
Indians caused them endless annoyance by stealing their stock, and on one
occasion it became necessary to fight the savages. Mrs. Robinson recalls that
battle and remembers that she regretted at the time her inability to handle a
gun, as she wished to aid in driving off the savages.
Shortly after his arrival in Yolo
county Daniel M. Robinson bought a squatter’s right to the place now occupied
by his widow. Here he followed farming and stock-raising until his death, which
occurred December 30, 1878. The estate which he left consisted of five hundred
acres adjoining the town of Winters on the north. For several years after his
demise the family continued to cultivate the place and work together, but when
such an arrangement proved inconvenient the land was divided and Mrs. Robinson
and her youngest daughter retained the homestead, which corners with the city
limits of Winters. They are well known and highly honored in the town, and are
communicants of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in the building of which
Mr. Robinson aided financially, and to which he was ever a liberal contributor,
though not identified with its membership. In the family there are five
children, namely: William Henry, whose sketch appears on another page of this
volume; Charles Gardner, who was born December 15, 1851, and is a prosperous
rancher in this neighborhood, residing at home; Emma Drucilla,
who was born January 23, 1853, and now is the wife of Spencer Hill, of San
Francisco, Cal.; Missouri Josephine, who remains with her mother and brightens
her old age by tender devotion; and Frank Lee, who was born July 23, 1863.
Another child, Dona M. Robinson, died in infancy. Frank Lee Robinson is
occupied in the management of the homestead for his mother, at whose death he
will inherit the property. He married Miss Sallie Edna Jacobs, a native of
Kentucky, and also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Winters.
Mrs. Dona M. Robinson has eight grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
Transcribed
By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: "History
of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento
Valley, Cal.," J.
M. Guinn, Pages 556-557. The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago,
1906.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.
Golden
Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies