A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 25 Aug 1898: In Memoriam. William Johnson Robinson died at 11:40 P. M., May 23, 1989, at his home at Progress, Washington county, Or. He was born October 12, 1827, on Shenango river, three miles from Newcastle, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. His father was William Robinson, a native of Pennsylvania, but his grandfather was born, reared and married in Ireland. His mother, Nancy (Stilly) was a Pennsylvanian, and her father, Tobias Stilly, was a native of New Jersey. William J. lived in Pennsylvania till May 1, 1841, when he went to Jefferson, Ind., where he lived most of the time till 1851. January 9, 1848, he wedded Miss Emeline Barnum. This union has been blessed with six children, Berrilla, died at the age of 16 years; Agnes, Ola, Florence, Raleigh and Leona. The last was burned to death, aged 2 years. William J. was the second in a family of five children. When he was 11 years old his father was drowned during the construction of the Pennsylvania and Erie canal, of which he was a contractor. Being cheated out of his earnings, the widow, with her young family were left in destitute circumstances. Boy W. J., at this critical time, showed the spirit that was so noticeable in after years – cheerfulness and self-sacrifice. He worked on the canal, and everything that insured the earning of a living. Along theses lines he toiled even after his marriage, till 1851, when he determined to seek fortune in the new West. May 1 of that year, he and his wife, with their two first born, occupied a wagon in a train of 23, which reached Foster's in Wasco, September 10, 1851. These pioneers at once plunged into the mountains, where they were caught in a fierce snow storm, and held in its tight grip for over a month. Their stock was not able to pull through this first snow of the season, or ford the streams swollen by its melting. Provisions ran short, and for days the camp of the weary and worn-out immigrants was a soup kitchen, the meat of the soup being the little red squirrels, which their trusty rifles brought to the ground. This soup was thickened by a dust of flour that yet remained. Mr. Robinson had started with five fine brood mares, but three of these perished in the mountains. A messenger got through and told of the dire extremity of the little company. October 17, Thomas Denny and Felix Hicklin, old neighbors, already established in Oregon, met them with six yoke of oxen, fresh and strong. With this assistance the Willamette valley was soon reached. During this long and toilsome journey young Robinson never lost heart. Always brave and cheerful, he furnished strength for the timid. He never shirked. He stood guard, took his place in the ranks when a foe was to fight, or hunted stampeded teams with equal cheerfulness. If a fellow-traveler was out of provisions, he divided, even to self-deprivation, to the last. In Oregon he looked about for a home. He found a tract of 320 acres near the present post office of Progress. A squatter named Lish Wilkinson was on the "claim." His right Robinson purchased. The first years were hard ones, for he was in a new country with everything to do and nothing to do it with. The first winter he worked on the night shift in a sawmill at Milwaukie, while his young wife and babes were in the long cabin home amid a dense forest, seven miles away. But industry has its reward, for in less than a decade fortune smiled on this, her favorite son, and competence was his possession. Now the Robinson donation land claim is one of the most valuable farms in the country. In character Robinson was one of the strong men of the county – a leader Public-spirited, generous and modest, his influence was positive. Good roads, commodious schoolhouses, comfortable churches, were his delight. One public institution that was dear to him was Crescent Grove cemetery. So well has he cared for that city of the dead that it is the fairest monument that could be erected over his ashes. As early as 1853, he with Thomas Tucker, now of Hillsboro, and James McKay, deceased, took hold of it, and so skillfully managed its affairs till now it is one of the best cemeteries in the county, and not excelled by any in the state. Mr. Robinson was treasurer for 20 years. The work is to be continued by his son, Raleigh. Mr. Robinson always took a great interest in young people who desired an education, and in many instances he has furnished money with which they secured it. It has been his proud boast that he never lost a dollar by helping such ambitious youths. Many people today, who are teachers and in other good positions, owe their places to the start given by him. The orphan and widow found in him a warm friend, and a liberal giver, his alms being bestowed so quietly that the public had no knowledge of it in many instances. He was a member for many years before his death of Hassalo lodge, I. O. O. F., and while, because of the distance from the lodge, he was not very regular in attendance, the principles of the order were well grounded in his life. In politics W. J. Robinson was a republican, and positive in his allegiance to the platforms. He never sought… himself, and never held office, but as friends knew his worth, and Billy… son's support. In a nominating competition, was always recorded equal… support of a large precinct…. But if his favorite was defeated, he never sulked. He was too… that, and though he was skilled… political tricks, he would not… himself or let others. He was a … votegetter, as the returns from… of the county always testified… was in the first convention at the …zation of the republican party… county, and few have been … he has not attended. As a business… he was shrewd, but never … During the later years of his life… bought and sold, either as principle… agent, many tracts of land, but … to the full satisfaction of his clients. He leaves a comfortable fortune for his wife, and a fair portion for each of his children. He has done a good work in his… and while his friends would like to have had him with them for another… yet they cannot complain that he is gone from them.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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