Husband Elisha Robinson 1 2 3 4 5
Born: 4 Dec 1791 - Windham, Windham Co, CT 2 6
Christened:
Died: 17 Oct 1874 - ? Armstrong Co, PA 2 7
Buried:
Father: Andrew Robinson (1762-1849) 2 3 4
Mother: Olive Hovey (1760/1762-1812) 6 8
Marriage: 7 Jan 1816 2 9
Wife Elizabeth Rohrer 2 4 5 7 10
Born:
Christened:
Died: 21 Sep 1881 2 7
Buried:
Children
1 M Simeon Hovey [1] Robinson 7
Born: 20 Mar 1817 7
Christened:
Died: Bef 1824
Buried:
Spouse: Did Not Marry
2 F Mary Ann Robinson 7 10
Born: 14 Jan 1819 7
Christened:
Died: Aft 1891
Buried:
Spouse: George Bovard ( - ) 7 10
3 M William D. Robinson 2 7 10
Born: 20 Oct 1820 or 2 Oct 1820 - Parkers Landing, Armstrong Co, PA 2 7
Christened:
Died: Aft 1891
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Kelly ( - ) 2
Marr: Jun 1852 2
4 F Olive Robinson 7 10
Born: 28 Jun 1822 7
Christened:
Died: Bef 1883
Buried:
Spouse: Thomas McConnell (1813-1888) 10 11
5 M Simeon Hovey [2] Robinson 7 10
Born: 2 May 1824 7
Christened:
Died: Aft 1883
Buried:
6 M Frederick Augustus Robinson 7
Born: 22 May 1826 7
Christened:
Died: Bef 1883
Buried:
7 M Andrew Jackson Robinson 7
Born: 17 Apr 1828 7
Christened:
Died: Bef 1883
Buried:
8 M Samuel Marshall Robinson 7 10
Born: 10 Mar 1830 - Hovey Twp, Armstrong Co, PA 7
Christened:
Died: 1 Apr 1908 7
Buried:
Spouse: Emma Louisa Prosser (1838- ) 7
Marr: 13 Sep 1860 7
9 M Elisha Robinson 4 5 9 10
Born: 4 Dec 1832 - Hovey Twp, Armstrong Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 2 Apr 1912 - Parker City, Armstrong Co, PA
Buried:
Spouse: Caroline Truby ( -Aft 1914) 4 5 9
Marr: 24 Nov 1857 9
10 M Frederick Rohrer Robinson 7
Born: 29 May 1835 7
Christened:
Died: Bef 1883
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Elisha Robinson
He learned the trade of tanner with a Mr. Bingham, of his native town, and in 1814 set out for what was then the West, his uncle, Dr. Hovey, having promised to build a tannery for him and make him his heir. In 1814 he located in that part of old Perry township now known as Hovey, in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. There he engaged in shoemaking and had a tannery, undoubtedly the first in the northern part of Armstrong County, and carried on both lines, in which he met with steady success. This industry was continued there for over fifty years, Mr. Robinson following same for over thirty years, until about 1846, when he turned it over to his son Samuel M. For the next quarter of a century he devoted himself to farming, which he always followed, having a gristmill also. The log school which he built for his children was still standing in 1914. When he arrived in that region he began improving part of the tract belonging to his uncle, Dr. Simeon Hovey (in whose honor Hovey township was named), and his first purchase of land was the "Thorn's run" property, a tract of 100 acres which he paid for in shoes and leather, working to acquire his land. "A Revolutionary soldier named Joseph Thorn was a pioneer settler on the stream which is still known as Thorn's run. He built the first saw-mill in this part of the county, and operated it for several years. He sold his tract of land to Elisha Robinson (Sr.) and moved away." With his wife Mr. Robinson inherited the property of his uncle, Dr. Hovey, who was married but left no children.
As Mr. Robinson's receipts after the opening of the oil industry were so large as to place him among those who became very wealthy as a result of that activity, it is only just to him to say that his well-directed industry and good management as a business man and farmer had brought him independence before then. He prospered by dint of enterprise and energy, becoming the owner of 1,100 acres in his home farm, besides acquiring other interests. This farm became one of the most noted properties in the entire oil region, for there were made the first discoveries of oil leading to the development of the Parker and Butler county fields. (The Grant farm in Butler county, which became famous as oil territory and produced from $200,000 to $300,000 worth of petroleum, was sold by Mr. Robinson for $100, and never paid for until its value as oil property was discovered.) In 1865 a portion of the Robinson farm a quarter of a mile north of Parker City was purchased by the Philadelphia Company, and a well was sunk under the superintendency of W. D. Robinson, son of Elisha Robinson. Oil was struck Oct. 10th of that year. This well (the first oil discovered in the county) proved to have a production of about twenty-five barrels a day, which was an important yield at the price of oil which then prevailed: $8.50 per barrel. This well was controlled by the Clarion and Allegheny River Oil Company, and was known as Clarion No. 1. No important results immediately followed the discovery, though within the next few years the pioneer operators had demonstrated beyond doubt that the territory around Parker's Landing was rich in petroleum. Mr. Robinson began to lease his land to the operators for one-eighth to one-fourth royalties, and as a large number of good wells were soon struck he found himself in receipt of a substantial income. It was not until the latter half of the year 1869 that a genuine oil excitement revealed the importance of the oil fields surrounding Parker. About a dozen wells had been put down on the hill near Parker prior to the time mentioned. But those test wells had proclaimed the value of the Butler county oil territory in addition to that of Armstrong, and such an impetus was given to the business that it speedily became known that Parker was to become an important point as a base of operations for producers and operators. [HAC 1914, 981]
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Rohrer
from Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA
She was a niece of Dr. Hovey's wife.