From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 417-418.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


A. G. ROBINSON

A. G. Robinson, born in 1816, died in 1886, was one of the most 
enterprising and valuable citizens of Wheeling, and prominently 
interested in manufacturing.  He was born at Washington, Penn., son 
of a native of Ireland, and in 1840 came to Wheeling, where he 
engaged in merchandise, in the firm of T. W. Bassett & Co.  
Subsequently he embarked in the manufacture of paper, forming the 
firm of A. G. Robinson & Co., which became at that time the most 
extensive wrapping paper manufacturers in the United States, 
operating eight to ten mills, and supplying the entire west with 
their product.  Mr. Robinson also engaged in the iron manufacture, 
being interested in the Virginia mills, built on the point where the 
Baltimore & Ohio depot now stands, the first mill in the west devoted 
to the exclusive manufacture of nails.  He was also interested in the 
Benwood mills, the successor of the former enterprise, and was one of 
the Gill, Kelley & Co., at Benwood, in 1853.  Returning to the paper 
manufacturing in about 1861 he was engaged in that business until his 
death.   Mr. Robinson took an active part in politics also, and was 
one of the very few abolitionists in Virginia, taking a bold stand on 
that issue.  In 1860 he was a delegate to the Chicago national 
convention, and supported the candidacy of Lincoln.  When West 
Virginia was organized as a state, Mr. Robinson was elected and 
served two terms as recorder of Ohio county.  His wife was Anne 
Williams.  She is the daughter of Col. Williams, one of the engineers 
in the service of the national government in the location of the old 
national road, who married Naomi Eoff. The latter was born in the old 
fort at the forks of Wheeling creek, in 1791, the daughter of John 
Eoff, one of the first settlers of the county of Ohio.  When only 
three weeks old she was carried back over the mountain by her mother, 
on account of the hostility of the Indians.  Mrs.  Anne Robinson was 
born May 1, 1818, and is still living at Wheeling, her native place.  
To A. G. Robinson and wife were born four children, of whom three 
died in childhood.  The survivor is Cecil A. Robinson, president of 
LaBelle Iron works, and one of the most prominent of the young 
manufacturers of Wheeling.  He was born at that city, January 1, 
1855, and received a common school education.  In 1875 he became 
bookkeeper of the Aetna Iron works, where he remained until 1880.  In 
the following year he became the secretary of the LaBelle works, and 
in September, 1887, he was elected president, in which position he 
has the general supervision of the works.  Mr. Robinson was married 
in 1877 to Ella Wright, daughter of John Wright, of Wheeling.       


(Linda Fluharty)