ROBINSON, SOLON: 1803-1880.
" Solon Robinson (Oct. 21, 1803-Nov. 3, 1880), pioneer, agriculturist, author, was born at Tolland, Conn., the fourth child of Jacob and Salinda (Ladd) Robinson and a descendant of the Rev. John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrims at Leyden . An orphan at the age of ten, a carpenter's apprentice at fourteen, and a Yankee peddler at eighteen, he made his way alone in the world. In 1828 he had become a cashier for a theatre in Cincinnati , and in October of that year married Mariah Evans of Bucks County, Pa.
"Two years later, at Madison, Ind., the young man was writing for the local press and interested in the promotion of an urban land site near North Vernon. In the fall of 1834, because of a dearth of buyers, he disposed of most of his land and traveled to northern Indiana . Here, in the wilderness, he opened a general store and soon built up a large trade with the Potawatomi Indians and incoming settlers. The Indians gave him the name of 'Wyonett Tshmokeman' sometimes translated 'Chief Big Knife.' To preserve his own holdings and those of others, in the area then known as Robinson's Prairie, he formed a Squatter's Union in 1836 for protection against speculators and made it possible for some five hundred members to secure their land at government prices. Henceforth, by popular acclaim, he was known as the 'King of the Squatters.' After Lake County was organized in 1837, he served at various times as county clerk, justice of the peace, register of claims, and postmaster. At the county seat, Crown Point, on the first printing press in the region he published intermittently a small news sheet. Active in politics, he took a prominent part in the Log Cabin Convention at Lafayette in 1840 …
"As early as 1837 Robinson began to contribute articles on various aspects of the frontier to the Albany CULTIVATOR and other agricultural periodicals. The simple, homely, and often humorous style of these essays, signed 'Solon Robinson of Indiana ,' reflected the personality of the author, and they soon won a large following. His enthusiasm and spirit carried conviction. Before 1840, in company with James Mercer Garnett, Henry L. Ellsworth, and others, he advocated the formation of a national agricultural society … The society had hoped to establish a national agricultural school and journal, but failure to receive an anticipated bequest made by James Smithson to the United States defeated this plan and was largely responsible for the premature dissolution of the organization. However, these activities paved the way for the formation of the United States Agricultural Society in 1852 by Robinson and others. This in turn played an influential role in the establishment of the Department of Agriculture ten years later.
"Robinson's descriptions of rural life observed on his journey to and from Washington in 1841 were the first of his discerning travel sketches. During the next decade he made a number of tours, covering practically every state in the Union, and regularly reported his observations in the CULTIVATOR, PRAIRIE FARMER, and AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, from which they were reprinted in the SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR and other periodicals. These travel sketches today form an invaluable historical record of rural society of that period … In 1852 at New York City he published a periodical called THE PLOW, and the following year became agricultural editor of the NEW YORK TRIBUNE. His editorial work, combined with visits to various parts of the country, was largely responsible for the widespread circulation of the weekly edition of the TRIBUNE and the subsequent national influence of that publication. At Westchester, N. Y., Robinson conducted an experimental farm which provided the basis for many of his articles.
"Illness in 1868–he suffered nearly all his life with tubercular tendencies–forced him to retire to Florida. Residing at Jacksonville, he published the FLORIDA REPUBLICAN, wrote for the NEW YORK TRIBUNE, and carried on other literary work. He was the author of novels, short stories, and poetry, in addition to his travel sketches and agricultural articles … After the death of his first wife, by whom he had five children, he married, June 30, 1872, Mary Johnson of Barton, Vt. He died at Jacksonville in November, 1880."
Condensed from H. A. K., Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. XVI.
- The Will: a Tale of the Lake of the Red Cedars and
Shabbona. 1841.
- Guano: a Treatise of Practical Information for
Farmers. New York, 1853.
- Hot Corn: Life Scenes in New York, Tales of Slum
Life. New York, 1854.
- Facts for Farmers: Also for the Family Circle.
New York, 1864. 2
vols.
- Me-Won-I-Toc. A Tale of Frontier Life and Indian Character;
Exhibiting Traditions, Superstitions and Character of a Race That Is Passing
Away. A Romance of the Frontier. New York,
1866.
- How to Live: Saving and Wasting; or Domestic Economy
Illustrated by the Life of Two Families of Opposite Character, Including the
Story of a Dime a Day. New York, 1873.
- page: 276[View Page 276]
- Hot-Corn Katy; or, Life in New York. New
York, 1882.
- History of Lake County.
- Solon Robinson, Pioneer and Agriculturist; Selected
Writings. (Edited byH. A. Kellar.) Indianapolis, 1936.
(Indiana Historical Collections, vol. 21-22)
2 vols.
