Robinsonc
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON, lumberman
and fruit grower, of Lakeside, Chelan county, was born in Ontario, Canada,
November 19, 1853, the son of William Robinson, who came to Ontario with
his parents when he was seven years of age. The mother is a native
of Quebec, her parents having come from Ireland. She resides at Winnipeg,
Manitoba. William Robinson died in 1862.
The youthful days of our subject were passed
in Canada where he passed through the public schools and learned the trade
of a carpenter. At the age of twenty-three he went to Ludington,
Michigan, remaining three years, and thence to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Three years subsequently he removed to Minnesota and North Dakota, where
for four years he was engaged in the sawmill business. He came to
Chelan county in 1888, bringing a saw mill from Minnesota, via Ellensburg.
This he erected on the lake shore where Cottrell's boat shop now stands,
and it was the first private mill in the district. Its capacity is
fifteen thousand feet of lumber per day. Our subject came as manager
for the Lake Chelan Lumber Company, Woodin & Nicholas, of Minneapolis,
being the principal parties interested. A general store was conducted
in connection with the mill, of which Mr. Robinson was in charge five years.
He purchased a relinquishment of forty acres of land, on the lake front,
near Chelan bridge, built a home and set out a small orchard. He
then turned his attention to the steamboat industry, and has worked on
nearly all the lake and river boats in the vicinity. He built the
City of Wenatchee. In 1899 he purchased the T. J. Smith farm, two
hundred and eighty acres, two and one-half miles north of Chelan.
Of this he has sold one hundred and twenty acres. In 1901 he shipped
two thousand boxes of apples to Iowa receiving forty cents a box on the
trees. He has sold the bearing orchard and has set out one thousand
apple trees. He cultivates ninety acres and last winter carried through
twenty-five head of cattle. Mr. Thompson has a fine Shorthorn registered
bull, and all of his stock is graded.
Our subject has one brother, Hector, and one
sister, Mary, wife of D. J. Switzer, of Chelan. On November 20, 1876,
he was united in marriage to Ellen McNeil, of Ontario, where the ceremony
was performed. Her parents were natives of Prince Edwards Island,
the father, Charles, dying at Colfax, Washington, in 1900. His widow
survives him. Mrs. Robinson has four brothers living at Colfax, Charles,
Hiram, David and Jeremiah W., and one brother, William, in North Dakota.
She has two sisters, Jeanette, wife of John Stewart, and Margaret, wife
of Allen McDonald. To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson two children have been
born, Charles and Frank C. Our subject is a member of W. W., and
a Republican.