James Marion Robinson I (1851 - 1901)

Born 13 Apr 1851 in Lando, Chester County, South Carolina

Husband of Sarah (Whitlock) Robinson — married 19 Feb 1882 in South Carolina

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1901 at age 49 in Richburg, Chester County, South Carolina

Biography

James Marion and Sarah (Whitlock) Robinson Family

The wife of J. M., I, Sarah “Sallie” Whitlock Robinson (7 Feb 1861 – 14 June 1896 Richburg, Chester Co., SC) left their children, ranging from thirteen years to a newborn, motherless in 1896 at her sudden, unexpected death. Jim lived only another 5 years and the children were then orphans. Brother Sidney Robinson and wife Frances took the baby Harvey Whitlock, the rest were sent out to extended families.

Jim and brother Sidney had co-owned "Robinson's Racquet," in the mid 1880s, a general store in Factory, SC, later to be named Lando. A photo of the store remains in the Lando Museum. The Racquet was said to be the building annexed to the current Post Office.

and another for comparison:

In 1893 he became a member of the Masons of Factory, SC, evidenced by the diploma, now framed and in my possession.

Our subject also became Postmaster of the cotton mill town of Factory on 22 Dec 1894 and again on 1 June 1895. The PO may have had an annex at the time or it may have been added later. After J.M. I died in 1901, he was succeeded by Henry Heath as Postmaster. The memorial written by Richburg Union Presbyterian church was highly commendable.

A story from a grandson reported that his grandfather and Heath had been at loggerheads in the past over the purchase of a building for retail sales. Heath bid on it but the train was late and J.M. just missed out on the bidding - which was encouraged to close after the one bid by Heath and before the train arrived. This is only a family tradition, however. Later J.M. II lived upstairs in that building with his brother, Frank, and worked in the store. This enabled J.M. II to start his own warehouse business in Chester that lasted until his death in 1956. Heath's retail store is now the Museum of Lando and the old Post Office is adjacent and still in service. This was part of the history of Lando relayed to me in 1993 by Mrs. Jean Agee, Chester historian. She knew JM II and shared the story of he and Frank living upstairs in the old Heath Building.

Children of James Marion, I and Sallie

1. Ernest Franklin Robinson also went into retail. He developed a serious illness, possibly diabetes or kidney disease and died relatively young. He left two daughters and his wife remarried. Interviews with his late daughter "Buncy" Kelly gave his history.
2. William Sidney Robinson went into the insurance business, married Mary Robertson and had two daughters. 1. Mary Foster Robinson died c1949 of meningitis while studying at Emory University to be a laboratory technician. 2. Sidney (Robinson) md Harry Bagby of Chester and moved to Birmingham, AL where he was a Pediatrician.
3. James Marion Robinson, IImd []McManus- |Kate McManus]] owned the warehouse in Chester until 1956. They had two children: 1. Sarah Harriet Robinson and 2. James Marion Robinson, III.
4. Laura Graham Robinson md Julius Fisher and are memorialized on Findagrave.
5. Mary Lillian Robinson who died in 1900 and is buried with her parents, J.M. I and Sallie Whitlock Robinson at Union ARP Presbyterian Church in Richburg, Chester, SC. A lock of her hair remains in remembrance. Behind the photo of her aunt []Robinson_ |Harriett Ann Robinson]] was a photo of a small child that family tradition suggests was Lillian.
6. Harvey Whitlock Robinsonwas a successful banker in Rock Hill, York Co., SC and md Jean Roddey Black. They too are memorialized on Findagrave.

Sources

First hand research,documents and memories of [Breece-42|Barbara Roesch] great- granddaughter of J. M., I. June 2014

The coin was used as currency at the “company store” with a unit valued at one dollar. Purchased from Lando Museum 2000.

Family Collection of Barbara Breece Roesch, courtesy Lando Museum

Sources

• He married Sarah "Sallie" Whitlock on 19 Dec 1882 and they are buried at Union Presbyterian Church Find A Grave: Memorial #39487954
• Records of Mrs. Della Robinson Whiteside, Edgemoor SC <1969