Edwin Judson ROBINSON
(1G Grf of Judson Edwin Roberts - wife Marilyn is researcher)

Who are his parents?
Where was he born? Where is he in 1850?

Birth: 04 Nov 1833 New York - Parents from Syracuse (Onondoga Co) per death certificate. However, they aren't named. Why would his wife (informant) know Syracuse without their names? But it's the only clue available for his origins. Date confirmed by tombstone.

Census1850: Haven't yet found. (*see note at bottom)

Residence: 1856 Moved from Onondago Co NY to Peoria Co IL. (per Atlas, see 1873)

Marriage: 14 Apr 1859 Peoria Co., Illinois to Sarah Jane ESLINGER ( (b. 11 Nov 1841, d. 24 Feb 1941); Have copy of marriage record ( bk 2 #197). This was before marriage application books, so no clues on parentage from that source.

Census1860: 01 Jun 1860 Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois

Son: 1861 Alvah Jerome ROBINSON born Illinois.

Son: 05 Jun 1863 Herbert Alexander ROBINSON born Elmwood, Peoria Co., Illinois

Daughter: __ Oct 1865 Eva Adelaide ROBINSON born Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois.

Daughter: 1868 Jennie M ROBINSON born Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois.

Daughter: 19 May 1870 Ella Lydia ROBINSON born Elmwood Twnshp, Peoria Co., Illinois

Census1870: Elmwood, Peoria Co., Illinois; pg 69 E J 37 NY carpenter $1300(**see note at bottom), Sarah J 29 OH, Alvah J 9 IL, Herbert 7 IL, Eva A 5 IL, Jennie M 2 IL, Ella L 2/12 IL

Daughter: 1872 Laura ROBINSON born Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois.

Residence: 1873 Elmwood, Peoria Co., Illinois; In the 1873 Atlas Map of Peoria County, IL it lists Edwin J. Robinson living in Elmwood; a foreman in a lumber yard; was from Onondago Co., NY; and came to Peoria County in 1856.

Son: 25 Sep 1877 Charles Clifton ROBINSON born Peoria Co., Illinois.

Census1880: Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois; pg 349 age 38 lumber dealer

Census1900: Brimfield, Peoria Co., Illinois; ED 57 sheet 7 age 66 b.Nov 1833 m.41 years, book keeper, own home w/mortgage

Residence: 1903 715 Illinois Ave, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; city directory pg 582 Edwin J at 715 Illinois Ave.

Residence: 1903 307 Columbia Terrace, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; E J R not listed - 1913 - ditto, street name changed to 307 Columbia Terrace.

Residence: 1905 715 Illinois Ave, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; city directory E J Robinson.

Residence: 1907 715 Illinois Ave, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; city directory VP Avery Mfg Co.

Residence: 1910 715 Illinois Ave, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; 1910-1911 city directory VP Avery b.2301 N Adams Rd r.307 Chambers Ave.

Census1910: ED 71 sheet 6 age 76 marr 51 yrs "own income" for occupation.

Residence: 1916 307 Columbia Terrace, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; New listing for Edwin J Robinson (Jane) at 307 Columbia Terrace.

Death: 06 Jun 1919 Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois; Have death record which says lived in town 7 months. Lived 305 Columbia Terr Peoria as usual residence. (Presumably went to Chicago when he was ill.) Died of pneumonia, but also had Brights disease for "some years."

Burial: Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; per cemetery index he was age 85y 2m 7d. (Index to Springdale Cemetery, Peoria IL 1857-1927, Peoria Chapter DAR, SLC 977.3521 P1 V32a v.2)
Tombstone reads:
Edwin J. Robinson
Nov. 4, 1833
Jun. 6, 1919

Obituary: 07 Jun 1919 The Peoria Star, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; Page 10, Saturday. Robinson, Edwin J. June 6, at 12 o'clock (noon) at the home of his son, Chas. C Robinson, Chicago Ill., age 85 years. Funeral Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs Horace Clark, 305 Columbia terrace. Please omit flowers. Interment private in Springdale Cemetery.

Obituary: 08 Jun 1919 The Sunday Journal Transcript, Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; Page 7, To Hold Funeral At Home Of Horace Clark.
    Funeral services for the late Edwin J. Robinson, former Peorian of prominence in the business and social circles of the city, who died at his residence in Chicago, June 6, will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home of his daughter, Mrs Horace Clark, 305 Columbia terrace. It is requested that flowers be omitted.
    Mr Robinson was 85 years of age at the time of his death and had not been a resident of Peoria for fifteen or twenty years. Prior to his removal from the city, however, he was engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of E.J. Robinson & Company.
    He was the father of the late H.A. Robinson, and Mrs. H.C. Roberts and Mrs. Horace Clark, all of this city. Private burial will be made in Springdale Cemetery.

Notes:
*1850 census Robinson families in New York are so far negative.
Other lookups will eventually need to be done along a migration path between Syracuse and Peoria, in upper PA, OH, IN, IL.
In Geauga Co OH, Newbury Twnshp, crayon page 53x (copy cut off) entry 20 there is an Edwin who doesn't seem likely to be the right connection. Making note of it just in case. Here are the rest of the particulars on that entry.
Edwin Robinson 35 m Farmer 1500 OH
C ? 21 f NY (2 initials, not sure of second)
Edwin 14 m OH
Ellen 7 f OH.

**To-Do: He had land $1300 in 1870. He has land with a mortgage in 1900. A search needs to be done in Peoria in the land records, plus a thorough search of all records available at the courthouse, especially civil records and all records that haven't been microfilmed and available at SLC. The Peoria Public Library has a genealogy section, that also needs to be searched for any clues. Surrounding counties may also give clues. If research done on spot, putting together other Robinson families may yield results as well, better than what we've come up with so far. While there, photos should also be taken of his tombstone. Other people with Peoria connections to check out (as time available) are: Baughman, Capps, Eslinger, & Roberts.