Frank and Cora Robison of Marion, Indiana

Frank Robison, born in May 1870, was the second child of Henry and Lucy Robison.

In 1870, Frank is 4 1/2 years old and living with his parents in Etna Township, Whitley County, Indiana. The 1880 census shows that 10 year old Frank resides with his parents, but in neighboring Troy Township.

On August 23, 1891 Frank was married to Cora B. Beard in Whitley County. The Whitley County Marriage Applications show that Frank was residing in Loraine, he was 21 years old and employed as a laborer. His parents are given as Henry Robison and Lucy Straight. Cora was 18 years old, living in Marion, and was the daughter of Levi Beard and Louisa Barney.

The obituary notices of his parents both stated that Frank lived in Marion, Indiana. That is where he was found, enumerated as Frank Robinson, in the census records for 1900 through 1930 (Marion is in Grant County). He worked as a moulder in an iron foundry. Frank and Cora had three children: Henry, Carl, and Claude.

The 1900 census shows that Cora was born in September 1873. Her age in later census records is consistent with an 1873 year of birth. Cora died on July 16, 1934 and a notice of her death was published in the Columbia City Post on that date.

Amon Beard today received a message telling of the death at Marion early today of Mrs. Cora Robison, about 62 years old, wife of Frank Robison of Marion. A number of cousins of the deceased reside in Whitley county. Mrs. Robison is survived by her husband and three sons, Henry of Fort Wayne, Carl of Cincinnati, O., and Claude of Marion. Two brothers, Earl Beard of Indianapolis and Elmer Beard of Marion, and a sister, Mrs. Henry Snyder of Marion, also survive. Mrs. Robison was the eldest daughter of Levi Beard, who resided in this county.

On the 17th of July, notice of her funeral was published in the Columbia City Post: "Among the local relatives who will attend the funeral services at 2 p.m. Thursday in Marion for their cousin, Mrs. Frank Robison, are Mr. and Mrs. Amon Beard, Mrs. Candes Schuman, Mrs. Joshua Schuman and Mrs. Goldie Bechtold. Mrs. Robison was the eldest daughter of Levi Beard, former local resident."

Nine months later, on April 26, 1935, Henry also passed away. The Columbia City Post of April 30, 1935 published the notice of his funeral.

Funeral services were held at Marion Monday afternoon for Frank Robinson, 65, a brother of Mrs. Mollie Watters, of Lorane. Mr. Robinson, who formerly resided just west of Lorane, died Friday afternoon of pneumonia. He had been a resident of Marion for 40 years. Mrs. Robinson, who was formerly Cora Beard, a daughter of Levi Beard, died last summer. A sister, Mrs. Ella Kimball, resides at Winegar, Mich.

Relatives from this county who called at the Robinson home in Marion Sunday included the Amon Beard family, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Schuman, Mrs. Angie Schuman and Mrs. Candes Schuman. Attending the funeral services Monday, at the Nelson Street Wesleyan church in Marion were Mrs. Watters and her grandson, William Gavitan of Lorane, and another grandson of Mrs. Watters, Paul Grimes, of Roundout, Ill.

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Henry Robison is listed as a "s-son" of Frank Robison in the 1900 census. Henry was born in Indiana in Sept 1892 and was 7 years old. In 1910 he is listed with Frank and Cora as a son, 17 years old.

An entry in the World War I Draft Registration Cards on ancestry was found for 24 year old Henry L. Robison. He was born September 20, 1892 in Marion, Grant County, Indiana. He lived at 517 Marshall street in Marion and was employed as a tool designer for Rulentino Motor Works in Marion. He was married. A crippled left hand might be cause for exemption from the draft. He was tall, with a medium build, brown eyes and brown hair. The registration card was dated June 5, 1917.

According to his mother's obituary of July 16, 1934, Henry Robison lived in Fort Wayne.

In 1930, we find Henry L. Robison living in Fort Wayne. He was 37 years old, rents his home $37, owns a radio, was married at age 21, and is employed as an educational supervisor in an auto factory. He and both parents were born in Indiana. Listed with him was his wife, Daisy M., who was 37 and born in Indiana.

Backtracking to the 1920 census, the only Henry Robison that came close to matching his age was found living in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. Henry L. Robison was 27 years old, born in Indiana, married, and a tool designer in a factory. His wife was Daisy M., who was also 27 years old and born in Indiana.

An entry in the Social Security Death Index shows a Henry Robison that was born September 20, 1892 and died in Sep 1977. His last residence was listed as Warren, Huntington County, Indiana. His social security card was issued in Illinois.

Daisy M. Robison was also found in the Social Security Death Index. She was born December 14, 1892 and died on May 17, 1988.

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Carl Robison was enumerated with his parents in the 1900 and 1910 census records. The 1900 census shows that he was born in May 1896. Like his brother Henry, he too is listed as a "s-son" of Frank Robison while in 1910 he is a son.

The World War I Draft Registration Cards show a Carl Robison residing at 1901 W 1st Street, Marion, Indiana. He was single, 21 years old, born on May 28, 1896 in Marion. Carl was employed as a tool maker with the Buick Motor Co., Flint, Michigan. Like his brother, he also had crippled left hand. He was of medium height and medium build with gray eyes and black hair. The registration was dated May 31, 1917.

In the 1920 census Carl was enumerated in Marion in the household of James E. and Margaret Shannon. James is a 52 year old minister. Margaret is 50 years old. Carl Robison is listed as son in law, age 23, married, born Indiana, toolmaker in a factory. Also listed was Eva Robison, daughter, 25, born Indiana.

I haven't found Carl in the 1930 census yet. According to his mother's obituary of July 16, 1934, he was living in Cincinnati, Ohio.

An entry was found for Carl Robinson in the Grant County, Indiana online Death Record Transcriptions 1970-present. He was a tool and die maker aged 75 years 6 months and 13 days. Born on May 28, 1896 and died on December 11, 1971 at his residence at 216 W 41st Street in Marion. His parents were Frank Robinson and Cora Beard. The informant was Vennetta Robinson. Carl was married but the name of his spouse was not given. He was buried at Clear Creek Cemetery in Huntington, Indiana.

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Claude Robison was listed in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census records with his parents in Marion. In 1910 his age is given as 1 - 1/12, in 1920 he is 10 years old. In 1930 he is listed as 20 years old and is employed as a photographer. According to his mother's obituary of July 16, 1934, Claude lived in Marion. I have no further information on him.

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What's next?

The Huntington Library has an excellent genealogy and local history room with an extensive obituary card file. So perhaps a trip to Huntington is in order since Carl is buried there and Henry's last residence was Warren, which is in Huntington County.

There are several other relatives (on Dad's side of the family) that lived in Marion. So perhaps, if I figure out what is need for those people, I might make a trip to Marion. It's about a 90 minute drive. Could stop by Huntington on the way. They are both on state route 9, as is Columbia City. If I wanted to wait a few months, I could tie this in with Megan's presentations on May 30, 2009 at the Marion Public Library...