The Lorenzo (Len) Robinson Family

The Lorenzo (Len) Robinson family were certainly a part of the history of Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, since he was born near there and spent his entire life in that vicinity.

He was born in the Robinson family residence three miles east of Ridgeville Corners on Route 6 in 1840. His parents were Chester and Maria Marsh Robinson. He was one of ten children, six boys and four girls.

He joined the Union Army and served from the beginning until the end - 1861-1865. He enlisted in the 68th Regiment in Napoleon, Ohio. He was wagonmaster on the famous (or infamous) Sherman's March to the Sea. (Atlanta). The wagon train carried the pontoon bridges which were used to get the army across the many streams and rivers that they encountered.

After his return from the war, he was married to Cordelia Bates on December 6, 1867. After their marriage they moved to a farm a few miles from Ridgeville Corners on the Liberty Center Road.

Robinson Family. Left to right, clockwise: father, Lorenzo (Len) Robinson, Cora Robinson Lindley, George, Nellie Robinson Bokerman, Cordelia Robinson, Melissa Robinson Rowe.

Lorenzo and Cordelia Robinson

Philip Rowe and Flora Kigar Rowe

There were born to this union four children: the eldest was Cora who married Thaddeus O. Lindley, March 17, 1887. They had six children - Grace Rowe, Mick, Carrie Crew, Orson who died at 8 years, Ora Edson, Leo, and Clifford Lindley.

Nellie Robinson married Daniel Bokerman on December 28, 1892, and had two children, Clara who died at 8 months and Lawrence Bokerman.

George Robinson was married to Estella Fauver on July 15, 1892, and they had Myrl, Valetta who died in infancy, and Loretta Gye Shaffer.

The youngest, Melissa, married Samuel O. Rowe on November 9,1900, and they had one child - Welthea Grose.

They moved to Ridgeville Corners in 1893 and were there until the last few years of their lives when they lived with their son George in Wauseon, Ohio.

Cordelia Robinson walked back of her house across the street to the historical Congregational Church and acted as janitor for many years. Then, she always sat in the front pew in her black taffeta coat. During World War I she knitted 75 pairs of sox for the Red Cross. For many years Lorenzo did custom butchering for many of the people around the vicinity.

Of the family, five grandchildren survive: Carrie Crew, Clifford Lindley, Myrl Robinson, Loretta Gype Shaffer, and Welthea Rowe Grose.

Submitted by Welthea Rowe Grose