WI BIO - Dodge Co - ROBINSON, Almanzo

History of Dodge County, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1880, pp 
630-633

Almanzo ROBINSON, retired, was born 05 May 1822 in Shoreham, Addison County, 
Vermont, son of Samuel ROBINSON, who was a farmer and drover, and used to 
drive his cattle to Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts] for sale. He 
[Samuel ROBINSON] was a soldier in the war of 1812. His ancestors were among 
the earliest settlers of New England. He [Samuel ROBINSON] was born in 1795, 
and died 13 November 1858 in St. Lawrence County [New York].

Almanzo worked on the farm at home until he was fifteen years old. In July 
1837 he fell from a load of hay, receiving injuries necessitating the loss [p 
633] of his arm. He attended school in Potsdam [St. Lawrence County], New 
York, and also at Ogdensburg [St. Lawrence County, New York], and entered 
Middlebury College [Addison County, Vermont], but his health failing, he had 
to give up his studies. Shortly after he purchased a hotel and store in 
Bombay, Franklin County, New York. He then sold out and engaged in business 
in Norfolk, St. Lawrence County [New York], then went to Brush Mills 
[Franklin County, New York, now Brushton], and was in same business.

In spring of 1860 he [Almanzo ROBINSON] came to the town [township] of 
Chester, Dodge County, Wisconsin, settling on ninety-one acres, and was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits for five years. He then sold out and 
removed to Oshkosh [Winnebago County, Wisconsin], where he was successfully 
engaged in the building supply business, lime, brick, etc. Afterward he came 
to Waupun [a border community in both Emmet Township, Dodge County, and 
Watertown Township, Jefferson County, Wisconsin], and kept a general store. 
He built and now owns the fine store occupied by John J. ROBERTS. In 1870 he 
[Almonzo ROBINSON] retired from business, having obtained a competence 
through his industry and good management.

In 1845 Mr. [Almanzo] ROBINSON married Louisa E. DAY [a maiden name?]. The 
children by this union [of Almanzo and Louisa E. ROBINSON] were: (1) 
Alfonzo S., born 01 December 1846, who enlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and died of disease 30 August 1864; (2) Alonzo D., born 
14 October 1848, who is in Nevada in the cattle business; and (3) Allen P., 
born 23 March 1851, also in Nevada in the cattle business. On 21 January 
1863 Mr. [Almanzo] ROBINSON's [first] wife [Louisa E. ROBINSON] died.

In September 1863 he [Almanzo ROBINSON] married the second time, to [Miss] 
Lodena SAUNDERS, daughter of E. T. SAUNDERS, who was a soldier in the War of 
1812, and his [E. T. SAUNDERS'] father, John SAUNDERS, was a Revolutionary 
soldier. This family, originally from Vermont, moved to New York State at an 
early day. Mr. [Almanzo] ROBINSON, while in New York State, held positions 
of trust; he was Town Clerk, Justice of the Peace, and Postmaster. He has 
been Justice of the Peace in Waupun [a border community, in both Dodge and 
Jefferson Counties], and has been on the Town Board many times. Mr. and Mrs. 
ROBINSON [Almanzo and Lodena (SAUNDERS) ROBINSON] have an adopted child, 
Jessie, born 20 November 1875.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly