John Thomas Robinson

"Tom" was born Aug. 12, 1861 in Richland, Wisconsin to John Samuel Robinson and Mary Ann Leslie, being the first
son and 2nd child of 9. By 1880 Tom's family had moved to the frontier in Cedar Rapids, Boone, Nebraska.
On Nov. 24, 1881, at age 20, Tom married Ida May Minkler. Together they had 6 children, plus an adopted daughter.
Tom followed his brother Clark to Oelrichs, South Dakota, where they and their brother Grant were among the first
to settle in this "very promising country of farm land."
Possibly after the depression, Tom and Ida moved to Lake County, CA, where they are first found in the 1910 Census.

Tom was a plasterer and farmer by trade, was a 7th Day Adventist and vegetarian after 21 years old, was deeply religious
and a good man. Ida died when Tom was 75 years old. He lived with his son, Guy's, family until his death on
Sept. 28, 1956, still in Lake county, at the age of 95.

John Samuel Robinson Family, circa 1879
Back Row: Lily, Roy, Clark. Front Row: Mary Ann, John, Tomas
Yes, this is a terrible photo of a photo - heads lopped off, glare and all. I hope to get a new one some day...

John Thomas Robinson and wife Ida May Minkler, circa 1881. Photo courtesy of Dr. William Robinson.

John Thomas and Ida May with three sons, circa 1890
John Tomas, Lewis, Clarence Wesley, Guy Leontine and Ida May. Later Leslie and Elsie were born.

Tom's house in South Dakota. Watercolor by Brett Robinson.

Tom Robinson with nephew Tom, named after him, circa 1944, age 83.
Photo courtesy of Dr. William Robinson.