John Robinson, Sr.
John Robinson, Sr., a pioneer of Richland County, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in the year 1804. Five years after his birth, his parents removed with him to Mercer County, Penn. and five years later to Richland County, O., locating on the tract of land now owned by William Tarres and sons, and building their first house on the flat near the line of the railroad. The early school days of John Robinson, Sr., were spent in a log school-house on a corner of the farm now owned by Aaron Lockheart, and near the present residence of Jehu Durbin. Later he attended school near the site of the Honey Creek school-house, in a school building called Hard Scrabble. Reuben Evarts, Sr., and Mrs. Elmina Oldfield were among his school-mates. On January 17th., this year, Mr. Robinson was eighty years old, and in good health for a man of his age. He has ever lived an honest life, and at peace with his neighbors. He never made a purchase unless he had the money to pay for it, and thus escaped the evils resulting from the credit system of doing business. In early life he was very fond of hunting. He would rise on a morning and arm himself with a piece of corn pone and a gun, which he had secreted the night before, and not return until late in the evening. Of a family of six brothers, he and a brother in Van Wert County, are the only survivors.
From The Bellville Star, January 31, 1884