The Story of William and Sarah (HORNBACK) ROBINSON

WILLIAM H. ROBINSON , born abt 1851 in Missouri. He married on 11 Sep 1871 in Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois, the marriage ended before 23 Mar 1882 SARAH ANN HORNBACK , born 3 Apr 1854 in Illinois; died 18 Feb 1911 in Salisbury, Sangamon County, IL; buried 18 Feb 1911 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, daughter of HIRAM HORNBACK and ELIZABETH J. SULLIVAN .

William H. ROBINSON was born about 1851 in Missouri. The name of his parents is not confirmed at this time. Further research is required. William ROBINSON married Sarah HORNBACK on 11 September 1871 in Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois. Sarah HORNBACK was born 3 April 1954 in Illinois, the daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth (SULLIVAN) HORNBACK.

William and Sarah’s oldest daughter, Rosetta Elizabeth, was born 23 March 1873 in Petersburg. Another daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, was born 23 February 1878 also in Petersburg. By 1880, the family had moved to Quincy, Adams County, Illinois where William was working as a fisherman at the time of the 1880 Federal Census. It was interesting to note that neither William nor Sarah could read or write according to the information provided on the census.

A third daughter, Emma, was born to Sarah & William about 1882.After the 1880 Federal Census, no further information can be found on William. It is unclear whether he died or the couple divorced. Sarah re-married to an English immigrant, John H. STONHAM, on 23 March 1882 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. Sarah & John had four children together: Angie (1884), Charles (1885), Myrtle (1888) and George (1891).

Not a lot of information is known about Sarah HORNBACK ROBINSON STONHAM, but she was probably a strong domineering woman. According to court documents filed in August of 1897 between Maggie ROBINSON & Samuel EVERHART, Maggie filed a complaint stating Samuel had abandoned Maggie and their son refusing to support them even though he made good wages. Maggie claimed Samuel spent his money on himself and others forcing her live with her parents since he would not provide for them. Samuel refuted those statements claiming that he did his best to provide for Maggie and William while living at her mother’s house, but Maggie’s mother didn’t like Samuel coming to their house. Samuel suggested he and Maggie find a home of their own, but Maggie refused after taking the advice of her mother.

John STONHAM died sometime before 1910. In the 1910 Federal Census, a widowed Sarah STONHAM is the head of household with her sons, Charles & George, as well as her grandson, Abel Everhart, living with her. Sarah took ill and moved in with her daughter, Maggie ROBINSON CRONISTER, in late 1910. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Sarah passed away on 18 February 1911 at the age of 52. Sarah was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Block 1-21, Section 1, Range D, Grave 9. The grave is unmarked.

Sarah & William’s oldest daughter, Rosetta, married John CAWLEY around 1900. Rosetta & John had five children: Robert, Clifford, Alice, Herman and Grover. Rosetta died in 1942 and is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Emma ROBINSON married Samuel REYNOLDS in 1897. Sam worked for the railroad and re-located the family to Iowa, Indiana and New York. Emma had at least two sons: Samuel Melvin and Clarence. No further information is available at this time.

Angie and Myrtle STONHAM married STEIL brothers: Fred & Frank. It is unknown at this time if Fred & Angie had children. Myrtle & Frank had at least one daughter, Mildred Aileen.

George STONHAM served in World War I from 1918-1919 serving with Co. A, 21st Infantry, at Camp Kearney, California. When George died in 1936, he was survived by his wife, Ruth, and daughters: Mildred and Georgia.

Charles STONHAM did not marry. He died in 1925 in Springfield. Charles was buried with his mother at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Sources for William H. Robinson
Menard County, Illinois, Marriage Records, William H. Robinson & Sarah Hornback, 11 September 1871; Menard County Clerk, Petersburg.
1880 U.S. census, Adams County, Illinois, population schedule, Quincy, P. 371A (stamped), sheet 41-A (penned), dwelling 340, family 374, Wm. H. Robinson household, NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 174.

Sources for Sarah Hornback
1860 U.S. census, Menard County, Illinois, population schedule, Township 17 Range 6, P. 4-5 (penned), dwelling 29, family 29, Simon Hornback household, NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 205.
1870 U.S. census, Menard County, Illinois, population schedule, Township 17 Range 6, P. 35B (stamped), sheet 18 (penned), dwelling 129, family 128, Hiram Hornback household, NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 260.
Menard County, Illinois, Marriage Records, William H. Robinson & Sarah Hornback, 11 September 1871; Menard County Clerk, Petersburg.
1880 U.S. census, Adams County, Illinois, population schedule, Quincy, P. 371A (stamped), sheet 41-A (penned), dwelling 340, family 374, Wm. H. Robinson household, NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 174.
Marriage record John Stonham, 3/23/1882, Springfield, Sangamon County, IL, Marriage Application #9811, UIS IRAD.
Illinois. Sangamon County Marriage Register, Illinois Regional Archives Depository System at University of Illinois in Springfield. John H. Stoneham to Sarah M. Robinson, 23 March 1882, Vol. 5, p. 388, Marriage Application #9811.
1900 U.S. Census, Sangamon County, Illinois, population schedule, Woodside Township, p. 295A (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 126, sheet 1-A, dwelling 9, family 10, John Stonham household, NARA microfilm publication T623 roll 344.
1910 U.S. Census, Sangamon County, Illinois, population schedule, Capital Township, p. 217B (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 152, sheet 17-B, dwelling 308, family 325, S. M. Stonham household, NARA microfilm publication T624 roll 401.
Sarah Stonham Obituary, Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, Dated 20 February 1911, p. 7.
Oak Ridge Cemetery Office (Springfield, Illinois) to Carla Leber, letter, providing administrative record for Sarah Stonham, Block 21, Sec 1, Range D, Grave 9.

The Children of William H. and Sarah Ann (HORNBACK) ROBINSON
Children of William H. Robinson and Sarah Ann Hornback were as follows:

i Rosetta Elizabeth Robinson , born abt 1873, born 23 Mar 1873 in Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois; died 12 Jun 1942 in Springfield, Sangamon County, IL; buried 15 Jun 1942 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. She married abt 1900 John Cawley , born 1875; died 23 Oct 1957 in Springfield, Sangamon County, IL; buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois. Notes: Roseta Robinson Birth Record 1880 Federal Census: Wm. H. Robinson household 1900 Federal Census: Birth record of children: Robert, Clifford(11/4/1903), Grover (12/28/7), Alice (1904), Herman Franklin (abt Jan. 1906) Obit of Herman Franklin Cawley: Illinois State Journal, 8-16-6, p. 6, Springfield, IL: "Cawley - Died, at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, August 15, 1906, at the residence of his parents, 1304 East Cedar street, Mr. And Mrs. John Cawley, jr., Herman Franklin Cawley, aged 7 months. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral. The interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery. The decedent is survived by his parents, two brothers and one sister." 1910 Federal Census: Marriage Record John Cawley (bef 2/20/1911) 1920 Federal Census: 1930 Federal Census: Obit of John Clifford Cawley: Illinois State Journal, 1/15/32 p. 18, Springfield, IL: "CAWLEY, JOHN CLIFFORD Of 1611 George Avenue died at 9:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, 1932, at St. John's hospital, age 4 months. Survived by parents, Mr. And Mrs. Clifford Cawley; one sister, Ana Verne; grandparents, Mr. And Mrs. John Cawley and Mr. And Mrs. Frank Philips. Remains to Bisch & Son funeral home. Funeral notice later." Death Record 6/12/1942, Spfld, Sangamon Cty, IL Obit Illinois State Journal, date and page unknown, Springfield, IL: "Rosetta Cawley Taken By Death: Mrs. Rosetta Elizabeth Cawley, 1611 Georgia avenue, resident of Springfield sixty-six years, died at 3:42 p.m. yesterday at St. John's hospital. She had been an invalid for the last ten years. Mrs. Cawley was born in Petersburg March 23, 1873. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Surviving are her husband, John H. Cawley; three sons, Robert and Clifford, both of city; and Grover, of Peoria; a daughter, Mrs. Alice Armour, Peoria; three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Groat, Mrs. Frank Steil and Mrs. Fred Steil, all of city; nine grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Remains were taken to Bisch Memorial Home." Sexton Records: Obit of Alice Armour: 1963, ?Peoria, IL Obit of Clifford Cawley: 12-81 Spfld Obit of Grover H. Cawley: Journal Star, 10-8-1990, P. C-8, Peoria, IL: "Grover Cawley: Grover Harold Cawley, 82, formerly of 2805 W. Nevada, died at 6:10 a.m. Sunday (Oct. 7, 1990) at Sharon Oaks Nursing Home, where he has been a resident for the past year and a half. Born Dec. 28, 1907, in Springfield to John and Rosetta Cawley, he married Anna Farris on Aug. 18, 1951, in Peoria. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Shirley Harken of Bartonville; two stepdaughters, Arlene Maile of Bartonville and Shirley Chambers of Moreno Valley, Calif.; one step son Charles Pendergrass of Lombard; three grandsons; eight stepgrandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Rosetta Harms, one sister, two brothers and two grandchildren. He worked for many years as a laborer for the city of Peoria before retiring in 1968. He was a member of St. Paul Episcopal Church in Springfield, Masonic Temple Lodge and the Peoria Boat Club. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel, with the Rev. Paul Tolo officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel, with Masonic services at 8. Burial will be in Lutheran Cemetery, Peoria. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice or to Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children." Obit of Robert Cawley: 1966, Spfld

5 ii Margaret Elizabeth Robinson , born 23 Feb 1878 in Petersburg, Menard County, Illinois; died 21 Nov 1966 in St. Margaret Hospital, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; buried 25 Nov 1966 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. She married (1) on 13 Feb 1897 in Sangamon County, Illinois, divorced 9 Jan 1901 in Sangamon County, Illinois Samuel C. Everhart ; (2) on 17 Jun 1906 in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, divorced 9 Dec 1929 in Sangamon County, Illinois Henry Smith Cronister , born 22 Mar 1865 in now Darkesville, Berkeley County, West Virginia; died 16 Mar 1932 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; buried 18 Mar 1932 in West Cemetery, Athens, Illinois, son of Cornelius Cronister and Sarah M. Strumbal ; (3) aft 24 Oct 1931 John Riley , born abt 1878; died Apr 1957 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois; (4) on 24 Oct 1931 in Sangamon County, Illinois Cornelius Groat .

iii Emma F. Robinson , born abt 1882. She married on 30 Apr 1897 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois Samuel Reynolds . Notes: Emma F. Robinson Reynolds Birth Record abt 1882 Marriage Record REYNOLDS, SAMUEL M ROBINSON, EMMA F 4/30/1897 007/0158 SANGAMON Birth Record of children: Clarence, Samuel Melvin 1900 Federal Census: 1910 Federal Census: 1920 Federal Census: Samuel Reynolds household, Marshall Township, Logan, Iowa, ED 157, page 12A: Samuel (head-41-M-IL-IL-IL), Emma (wife-39-M-IL-IL-IL), Clarence (son-11-S-IL-IL-IL), Melvin (son-15-S-IL-IL-IL), Leonard (ftr-74-W-IL-US-US). Samuel is a foreman at the RR. Leonard is a laborer at the RR. 1930 Federal Census: Samuel Reynolds household, Bedford, Lawrence, IN, ED 16, page 7B: Samuel (head-51-M-IL-US-US), Emma (wife-48-M-IL-Eng-IL), Samuel Jr. (son-26-S-IL-IL-IL). Samuel 1st married at 20, Emma at 16. Samuel is a foreman at the RR and Sam Jr. does track work at the RR.