520 ROBINSON. ROBINSON. re-elected in 1885 and '86. In 18S7 Gov- ernor Robinson was tendered by Presi- dent Cleveland, an appointment on the Interstate Commerce Commission, but de- clined it. In 18S9 he was appointed by President Harrison, commissioner to the Cherokee and other Indian tribes, to receive title to lands in the Indian Terri- tory, but declined the office. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession at his home in Chicopee. Governor Robinson has never been invited to a position of public or private trust, that, having been accepted, has not been filled with honor, and managed with ability. He has been signally fortunate in being called upon at critical times in the history of the Commonwealth to serve her people, and few occupants of the guber- natorial chair have surpassed him in Un- dignified, courageous and impartial admin- istration of her interests. In the higher council of the Nation he left a record for an earnest, manly and broad statesman- ship which has reflected infinite credit upon the State which has a generous remembrance of his loyal service. Massa- chusetts has indeed cause to be proud of this, one of her most illustrious sons. ROBINSON, JAMES T., son of Thomas and Nancy (Wells) Robinson, was born 111 Adams, Berkshire county, September 6, 1822. He was educated in the public and select schools of Adams, North Adams, and the academies at Lenox, Shelburne Falls and Worthington. Having fitted for college, he entered Williams College in 1840, and was graduated in the class of 1844. He then studied law with his father, a leading lawyer at the Berkshire bar, and was ad- mitted to practice in 1844 ; at once enter- ing into practice with his father, with whom he remained until the death of the senior partner. Father and son were Whigs, but in the Free Soil movement of 1848, they endorsed the principles of that party, and, later on, were among the first in the Republican ranks ; and the father lived to cast his bal- lot the second time for Lincoln, and par- ticipate in the national victory of freedom over slavery. In 1852 Mr. Robinson was a member of the state Senate, elected by union of Free Soilers and Democrats. In 1859 he was again elected to the Senate, and was made chairman of the judiciary committee. Soon after the organization of the Senate he was appointed judge of probate for Berkshire county, to fill the vacancy caused by death of the incumbent. He left the Senate to accept the judgeship, and has continued in the same office up to the present time, having served over thirty years, and never having missed a session of the court from any cause. He has been editor ami part owner of the " North Adams Transcript " since 1S65. and is now publisher and sole owner. His son, a graduate of Williams College, now has the editorial management. In 1853 fudge Robinson was appointed one of the secretaries of the Constitutional Convention. He was a delegate to the national Republican convention that nomi- nated Lincoln for the second time. fudge Robinson was married in Marble- head, May 6, 1846, to Clara, daughter of Dr. Calvin and Rebecca (Monroe) Briggs. Of this union were three children : Arthur, and two others who died in infancy. ROBINSON, Levi Walter, son of Howland J. and Mary Jane (Shorts) Rob- inson, was born in Worthington, Hampshire county, May 29, 1854. Until fourteen years of age he attended the district school. He then went to work in the country store of F. H. .Brewster & Son, of Worthington, where he remained three years. He later on worked for H. Cole & Son, Worthington, nine months,
