John Robinson Sr.

John Robinson Sr. was born Feb 14, 1824 in Bury, England to Robert and Elizabeth Read Robinson. John is a Pioneer of Richmond. John was a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

When John was young, he lost one of his eyes and had a glass eye for the remainder of his life. When John was young, his father died, making John take on more responsibilities. By 1841, John was a weaver of fustian, a thick and heavier cloth.

John married Ann Platt on Feb 23, 1846 in St. Mary, England. They had a single child who died 16 days after its birth from cholera. In 1845, John was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John relates in a letter about a miracle during this time:

"Dear President Pratt, - According to your request I now take up my pen to inform you of the wonderful manifestation of the power of God in this place, on Wednesday, the 6th of June. On returning from my work about six o'clock at night, I turned into a brother's house by the name of Thomas Crawshaw. On entering the house I was told that his wife had been taken with a kind of a stroke, which suddenly deprived her of her speech. I went up stairs, and found it to be the case; she seemed very much troubled, and wanted to make something known to me, but was unable. Her son's wife had sent for the doctor, but as luck would have it he was not in. Seeing that the case was a serious one, I immediately laid hands upon her; I then told her husband to get some oil. In the meanwhile I sent for Elder Platt, who brought some oil with him. I gave her some, and Elder Platt and myself laid hands on her again; we both of us prayed over her that God would again restore her speech. After consoling her a little we left her. Her husband came for me again about ten o'clock; I went, and astonishing to say she could talk as well as ever she could in her life. I gave her some more oil, and prayed to God that he would remove every other pain that was preying upon her system. I went the day following, when she was in the house doing the work. She told me that she wanted to tell me the night before that her desire was that her youngest son (a young man) would obey the gospel, and that she did not want the doctor, but the Saints. She now feels thankful to God for his mercy towards her. The above is a true and faithful statement."

Unfortunately, Ann died in 1850. The following year, John married Ann Gregson on Sep 21, 1851 in Manchester, England. In 1854, John was called to serve as President of the London conference, essentially as a stake president. In 1854, the Robinson family began preparation to move to the United States to live with the Saints.

The Robinson family left Liverpool on April 22, 1855 on the S. Curling and landed in New York City, New York on May 22.1 They traveled to Mormon Grove, Kansas Territory and joined the Moses Thurston company on July 3, 1855. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 19 and moved to Willard, Utah. During his time in Willard, John was called to be a counselor to Bishop Verlen Dives.

By 1861, the Robinson family moved to Richmond. When the school system was established in 1872, John was hired as one of the first teachers.

"In Richmond John taught school and in his own handwriting we find the roll call of the students attending the school term commencing January 6, 1875. It carries names familiar to all of us: Julian Griffin, Dicey Griffin, Tency Griffin, Andrew Allen, Henry Allen, Joseph Allen, Mandy Burnham, Mary Andrews, Peter Peterson, Simmion Walton, Benjamin Walton, Warraner Allen, Katy McGary, Richard Christensen, Justin Shepherd, James and Eva Shepherd, Vilate Whitehead, Matthew Bell, Martha Horn, Mary Ann Webb, Arthur Walton, Thomas Horn, Franklin Peterson, James Robinson, Wm. Paxton Robinson, Sarah Robinson and Willard Robinson, also Maria Isaacson.

He was very accurate in his accounts, keeping everything down in his day book in detail. And he was not paid on a salary basis for his efforts in teaching. Some of his accounts show as follows:

"'H. Bowman, Dr., to 4 scholars: By 1 3/4 bu. Wheat, $1.50; by 40# flour, $2.00, by 225# salt $1.00, by wood, $5.00.'

"'Davenport, Dr.; By 5# coffee, 85 cents; by 5# sugar, 85 cents; 1 drink, 10 cents, 1 pt. Brandy, 50 cents, etc.'

"We find him accepting anything and everything from wood to a bar of soap or a pair of mittens in payment for his services as pedagogue."

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. John was appointed as a Private in both instances.

Epilogue