From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Polly Oliver.

Page 808


JOSEPH ELWOOD ROBINSON, general agent for West Virginian and Eastern 
Ohio of the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Detroit, 
Michigan, was born in the Quaker Village of Mount Pleasant, Jefferson 
County, Ohio.

His father was a member of the Society of Friends, and with his parents 
emigrated from England to America in 1820, and settled in Wilmington, 
Delaware.  As a civil engineer, his father was engaged in building of 
the famous Delaware Breakwater.  His ancestors belonged to the English 
nobility, but on account of their religious conviction renounced the 
title and became members of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

The mother of Mr. Robinson was born in the Ligonier valley, 
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.  Her parents left Ireland during the 
trouble of 1798, and were among the first pioneers of Western 
Pennsylvania, and from their families have descended some of the most 
prominent person in the Ohio Valley, particularly in Cincinnati and in 
the state of Indiana. 

In 1866 Mr. Robinson's family removed to Sistersville, West Virginia, 
and ten years later he removed to Wheeling, where he resides at his 
pleasant home at No 114 South Penn Street (Island).

J. E. Robinson engaged in the insurance business in 1885, with the 
Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company, and has been in its continuous 
employ ever since, and has built up a large and prosperous business for 
the company.  His office rooms are at No. 1205 Market Street, McLain 
Block.

Mr. Robinson is a prominent member of the Masonic order and is 
affiliated with Ohio Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M.; Wheeling Union 
Chapter, No.1 R. A .M.; Cyrene Commandery, No. 7, K. T.; Osiris Temple, 
A. A. O. N. M. S.; and West Virginia Consistory, No 1, A. & A. S. Rite.  
He is also a member of Black Prince Lodge, No. 19, K. of P.; and Lodge, 
No. 28, B. P. O. E..   He and his family are members of the Second 
Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Robinson bears the reputation of being just and upright citizen and 
enjoys the confidence o his company and host of policyholders and 
friends, and is most successful businessman.