Biography - Thomas N. Robison
THOMAS N. ROBISON is the proprietor of a drug house which was
established March 14, 1877, and since that time he has carried on a very
successful business. He was born in Shelby County, November 30, 1846, and is
a son of Edwin A. and Elizabeth (Dixon) Robison, who settled on Sand Creek
near Windsor, in 1832, at which date there were only four families in the
vicinity.
The parents of our subject were natives of North Carolina and in early life
removed to Tennessee, where they married and soon after started for Illinois
to seek a home in the then wild West. David Robison, grandfather of our
subject, accompanied his son hither and entered some Government land in
Shelby County, on which he resided until his death occurred. The father of
our subject settled on a farm and there passed his life, becoming the owner
of one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land. He died in 1881 at the
advanced age of seventy-five years. Our subject's mother passed to the
unknown land in 1870, at the age of sixty years. She was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of nine children, all of
whom lived to be grown. Their names are David, Ellen, William A., Samuel,
James, Sarah, Thomas N., Harriet, and Fredonia. David died in Shelby County,
unmarried. Ellen married J. C. Stephenson and resides in Dakota. William A.
resides in Shelby County. Samuel was a member of Company K, One Hundred
Twenty-six Illinois Infantry; he died at Memphis, Tenn., while in service,
James resides in Clark County, Kan. Sarah, who is now Mrs. Carter, lives in
Bay City, Mich. Harriet is the wife of Mr. Hartsel and lives in Shelby
County. Fredonia married Jeft Bandy and resides in Edgar County, Ill.
Our subject was reared on the homestead and received his early education in
the district schools in the vicinity, finishing at the State Normal
University at Normal. After graduation be taught school for five years in
Shelby County, and in 1877 established his present business, having become
well-known during that time as an efficient compounder of medicines. His
marriage took place October 17, 1883. His wife's maiden name was Bella
Stewardson, a daughter of William Stewardson. She was born in Shelby County,
March 7, 1855. Mr. Robison and his amiable and lovely wife have one daughter
whose name is Lora, who is at once the pride and care of her fond parents.
Mr. Robison affiliates with the Democratic element of the township, favoring
the broad platform of that party and its free-trade principles. He has held
several local offices under his party, having been both Township Collector
and Township Clerk. He is one of the organizers of the Stewardson Homestead
Loan Association, which was organized in 1883. Since 1885 he has been the
Secretary of this Association and discharges his duties satisfactorily to
all interested therein. He, with his family, is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Extracted 26 May 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 538-539.
