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Thomas Wright Robinson & Lulah Fletcher Greathouse Clippings

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MR. ROBINSON
            DIES IN WEST
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Native of Frederick County
     Passes Away In Macon,
         Mo.====Funeral Today.
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     Relatives and friends in Winchester have received intelligence of the death from paralysis of Mr. Thomas Wright Robinson, which occurred on April 5 at his home in Macon, Mo. He was the oldest son of the late Jackson and Emeline Robinson, of Apple Pie Ridge, Va., Mr. Robinson went to Macon when a young man, and engaged in Merchandizing and continued in it until overtaken by death. He made his annual visit to Winchester every fall at fair time, and always took great pleasure in shaking hands with his old friends. Mr. Robinson made friends readily and possessed that faculty of holding their esteem and commanding their confidence.
     He made trips to New York City each year in the interests of his business, and during the past 23 years he has made 40 such visits to that city. He occupied the same building during all of his mercantile career, which was abundantly crowned with success by reason of his fair dealings and uncompromising integrity.
     Mr. Robinson's wife, Mrs. Lulah Greathouse Robinson, died in 1899, and his only child, Wright Robinson, was drowned at Long Beach, Cal. on April 29, 1907. Mr. Robinson is survived by three brothers, Messrs. J. A. Robinson, of Red Oak, Iowa; N. W. Robinson, of Sheridan, Wyo., and E. J. Robinson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and three sisters, Mrs. Anna R. Smith, of Sheridan, Wyo.; Mrs. Margaret C. Saeger, of Los Angeles, Cal., and Miss Etta Robinson, of Winchester.
     The funeral service in Macon were conducted today, and his remains were interred in the Macon Cemetery.
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THOMAS WRIGHT ROBINSON.
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     With much sorrow we announce the death of the founder and senior member of this firm, THOMAS W. ROBINSON, whose death occurred on April the 5th, 1913. We are very grateful to all friends for kind sympathy given, and to our fellow merchants for the marked degree of respect shown him in closing their places of business during the funeral.

     There will be no change in the management of the business, which will be conducted in the future as in the past, by the remaining members of the firm.

Very Respectfully,

ROBINSON BROS. MER. CO.


HARRY B. WILSON
EDWIN H. HARTMAN.

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     The following out-of-town relatives and friends were here to attend the funeral of T. W. Robinson Tuesday afternoon: Dr. J. E. Wilkinson, Ottumwa, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Robinson, John Robinson and Hunter Robinson of Kirksville; H. C. Steer, Trenton, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Young, Lawrence, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Berry, Atchison, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Robinson and Earl Robinson, Red Oak, Iowa; E. J. Robinson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Atley Smith, Sheridan, Wyoming.
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LULAH FLETCHER ROBINSON.
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     Born near Lewisport, Ky., Sept. 11th 1853;               Died at Ottumwa, Ia., Feb. 10th 1899.
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     "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
     It is a gratifying reflection that the world is not lacking in noble women. In millions of homes, from the humblest hut to the proudest palace, the God-given qualities and characteristics which have vouchsafed to man the bliss and endearments of "Home, Sweet Home" are daily exemplified.
     Mrs. Robinson was bounteously endowed with the lovable traits which hallow the dear words, daughter, sister, sweetheart, wife, mother, and her suffering and death, in the prime of womanhood, are a grieving shock to her family and friends.
     She was descended from an ancestry not wanting in heroism or eminence. She was the only child of the marriage of Fletcher and Louisa Greathouse who were cousins and children of two brothers, Isaac and William Greathouse. The latter, her maternal grandfather, was a veteran of the war of 1812 and some Indian campaigns. Her paternal grandfather, Isaac Greathouse, married the sister of Hon. Joseph Lewis, a congressman from Virginia for many years.
     Beyond these she traced her lineage to revolutionary sires.
     Her father died at the early age of twenty-two. When Lulah was about six years old, her mother married Dr. John E. Wilkinson, now a prominent physician of Ottumwa, Iowa. Her mother died soon after and Dr. Wilkinson married her aunt, Miss Jennie Greathouse, the mother of Mrs. Hallie E. Wardell.
     Dr. Wilkinson honored the relationship he had assumed toward this young girl and was rewarded by her filial affection. She honored and loved him as her father. Upon the death of her Aunt Jennie, she assumed the devoted relationship of mother to her sister Hallie.
     On Oct. 22, 1872, she married Thomas Wright Robinson, the senior member of the firm of Robinson Bros., of staid Quaker stock, from Winchester, Va., whose honorable and prosperous firm name has now been a household word in this community for a generation.
     One child, T. Wright Robinson, was born to them, who is now in the hopeful flush of early manhood; a dutiful son upon whom it is believed the fervent benedictions of a mother's love have not been lavished in vain.
     This dear lady, from the bright days of gentle girlhood, through the vicissitudes of maturity, to the grievous affliction of middle life, was the same kindly, affectionate, unselfish being. She had little taste for the madding whirl of fashionable society, but preferred the humbler throne of domestic life dispensing hospitality, sunshine and affection to friends and loved ones. She was a Christian, though, perhaps, in deferance to her husband's traditions, had not connected herself with a church. A few days before her death, she repeated to her attendant the 23d Psalm and dwelt with unfaltering faith upon the 4th verse.
     All that wealth and affection could do for her was done, but without avail.
     Many relatives and friends, from far and near, honored her memory by their presence at her funeral.
     An eloquent and sympathetic discourse was rendered by Rev. Grant A. Robbins; beautiful and fragrant flowers typified the spring of immortal hope; sacred songs echoed their tender and solemn melodies; a last fleeting look was taken at that once glowing face, now blighted by the touch of decay's effacing fingers; and then the precious mortal casket was borne to the tomb and buried beneath the pure shroud of winter's fleecy snow.
W.P.H.

     Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Robinson, John Robinson and Mrs. George Tull, of Kirksville; Henry Steer, of Trenton; Lon Young, of Ellsworth, Kan.; Mr. and Mrs. William Brown and son, Glenn, Mrs. Mollie Watson and Mrs. Mattie Kettering of Hannibal; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Robinson, of Red Oak, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Robinson, of Callao; Dr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, of Ottumwa, Ia.; and Mrs. Amanda Smith, of Ash, attended the obsequies of Mrs. T. W. Robinson Sunday.
          
Mrs. T. W. Robinson's Death.
     Many eyes were dim with tears Friday morning when the tidings came that Mrs. T. W. Robinson had died at Ottumwa, Iowa.
     The remains were brought here for burial and the funeral took place from the residence of T. E. Wardell Sunday afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of grieving friends. Rev. Grant A. Robbins conducted the services. Interment was made at Oakwood cemetery. The following were pall bearers: D. H. Payson, W. P. Beach, W. P. Walker, J. G. Van Cleve, J. P. Moore and C. R. Barclay.
     Mrs. Lula F. Robinson, nee Wilkinson, was born in Lewisport, Kentucky, in 1853, but in childhood came to Macon, where her sweet life was spent. As a school-girl her cheery nature won for her the sobriquet, "Sunshine." No trials or pains discouraged her. She ever preserved her serenity of temper and her hopefulness.
     In 1872 she was married to Thos. W. Robinson and the union was a happy one. Her husband and their only son, T. Wright Robinson, survive her.
     The last years of her life were full of physical suffering but it did not acidulate her nature. Her courtesy was innate. In her last hours when water was brought her, her lifelong and inherent courtesy caused her to tender it to the watchers at the bedside before drinking. Kindness was the essence of her life. She was free from cant or deceit, a woman without guile. She was a woman of intellectual culture and social refinement, with a love of the beautiful in art and literature. She was a natural and trained musician.
     Medical skill was invoked in vain for the restoration of her health. A few weeks ago she was removed from the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich.; where she had been under treatment for some time, and taken to Ottumwa, Iowa, to her father's, Dr. J. E. Wilkinson, where surrounded by loving friends her spirit took its celestial flight. In speaking of her faith and life, Rev. Robbins said: "She believed in God, and her life was not separated from that belief and what it means. Although not connected with any church organization, she retained her integrity and faith in the infinite and the future. Some days prior to her death she quoted the twenty-third Psalm: 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.' She dwelt long upon, 'Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' Indeed the valley was reached. The mountain had been climbed--ascended and descended. The summit was yonder sunkissed and beauteous, and the valley had no terrors e'en though, it flung a shadow o'er her pathway; yet out of its unknown depths came a hand and a staff and a voice that whispered, 'fear not I am with thee.' The deceased was devoted as a wife. She always had such solicitude for her husband's welfare, and such restless anxiety for his happiness. She was a mother in that nobler sense, and blessed is he whose heritage is the memory of the life and love of such a mother. When suffering had racked her body and almost rent her reason, she still manifested that same devotion to husband, sister, son and loved ones. And they who lingered long beside her couch and with earnest, eager eyes hoped against the tides for the coming back of life and health, are paid a thousand-fold for every extra pulsebeat and every falling tear. To her life was linked the happiness of husband, son and sister. But may the night of your sorrow be the morn of new born hope for heaven and immortal glory. Remember, that for her, 'To live in hearts she left behind is not to die.' He who came to this burden-bruised condition of mankind, and made bread and fishes for the hungry, and wine for the wedding feast, wept at the grave and said, 'Lazarus, come forth.' Remember that this hope is a 'boon to mortals given,' that it enables man in darkness to turn to this only light, and say:
'There is no death.
     The leaves may fall
The flowers fade away.
     They only wait through the wintry hours
The coming of the May.

'There is no death,
     The stars go down
To rise upon some fair shore.
     But bright with heaven's jeweled crown,
They shine forever more.'"
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