Mrs. Jane C. Robinson, 75, a resident of Blandford for over 40 years, but for the last two years living in Columbus, Ohio at the home of her brother, H. M. Sessions, died at Columbus Friday morning. (July 31, 1896)
She was born in Hampden and received her education at Wesleyan Academy. After graduation, she was a teacher at the Academy for some time and afterwards, a teacher at an Academy in western N.Y. While there, she met and married David Parmalee Robinson and removed with him to Blandford about 47 years ago. (Married Sept. 20, 1848)
Mr. Robinson was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blandford and it was largely through his aid the church was able to exist. He also kept a store and was postmaster for several years. Mr. Robinson died (Dec. 25, 1865) not long after removing to Blandford and his wife took his place as postmaster and supporter of the church.
For many years she was postmaster, resigning the office only when she left the town a year ago last fall. So well did she fill the office, and so much were the people attached to her, that at one time when a man attempted to get the office during a change of administration, the people were practically unanimous in successful support of Mrs. Robinson.
It was through Mrs. Robinson's aid the Methodist Episcopal Church survived a long struggle and became as firmly established as it is today. (1896) She was very generous in her gifts and a constant attendant at the several services. Many poor of the parish and town were aided by her, and she was the last to give anyone up as utterly bad.
She interested herself in the schools of the town and was superintendent of schools for several years.
In addition to her other duties, she was in charge of the state wards and orphans for whom homes were found in and about Blandford.
Her activity was remarkable and no one ever went to her without receiving comfort and help. She was discreet, as well as generous, and gained considerable wealth, but she spent most of it in aid of the church and worthy charities.
For many years, Mrs. Robinson sent Blandford news to 'The Republican." Her house on Main Street was a popular resort during the summer and she had a faculty of making her guests feel at home. All respected and honored her and her action was deeply regretted by the town when she sold her property there in the fall of 1894 and moved to Columbus to live with her brother.
Mrs. Robinson was a frequent and welcome visitor in this city (Springfield), where she had many friends and her death will be mourned, not only in Blandford, but by all who ever had the pleasure of meeting her.
The funeral was held from the Methodist Church Sunday morning. (Aug. 2, 1896) Rev. E. G. Smith, formerly of Chester, preached the sermon, assisted by Rev. A. C. Ferrin. The large number of friends and the many floral tributes attested to Mrs. Robinson's many friends. Bearers were C. B. Hayden, William Bates, George Emmons and Roscoe Ripley.
(Source: Taken from an obituary (undated) in a scrapbook in the Blandford Historical Society-probably from the Springfield Republican. The last paragraph was taken from the Westfield Times & Newsletter, Aug. 5, 1896.)
A tribute written by an unknown person and printed in the Westfield Times & Newsletter, Aug. 26, 1896.
The death of Mrs. Jane C. Robinson at Columbus, Ohio deserves more than the "passing tribute of a sigh," for she was a notable woman well known and highly educated, both for the little community in which she lived and far outside it. Few women have touched life in more points than she did.
For many years, she taught the young and moulded character; she was an artist of taste and skill; she opened her large and hospitable house summer after summer to the reception of a cultivated class of people who sought recreation and health on the Blandford heights; she served the town as superintendent of schools; the state as a visitor in connection with the Board of Charities; and the nation as postmistress of Blandford for years; she was the mainstay of the little Methodist Episcopal Church in Blandford and taught the little children in its Sunday School for a score of years.
She was abundant in labours of divers sorts and carried to them all the spirit of an intelligent, sacrificing, devoted Christian. Nobody met her without being impressed by the strength and the dignity of her bearing, and the wonder of those who knew her intimately was, that she could do so many different things so well.
Two years ago, failing health compelled her to sell her estate in Blandford and she went to Columbus, Ohio to live with her brother, Horace Sessions and her nieces.
Her memory gradually failed and for the last few months of her life she was again almost a child. But her religious nature knew no variableness, nor shadow of a turning - steadfast, keen, undoubting, triumphant - that remained even down to the end.
Her last sickness was typhoid malarial fever of two weeks duration, and in all the wanderings of her mind, she was beseeching young people to lay well the foundations of a Christian character.
So has lived and died a good woman - herself an exemplification of what she believed and taught.
She was born in Hampden and received her education at Wesleyan Academy. After graduation, she was a teacher at the Academy for some time and afterwards, a teacher at an Academy in western N.Y. While there, she met and married David Parmalee Robinson and removed with him to Blandford about 47 years ago. (Married Sept. 20, 1848)
Mr. Robinson was a leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blandford and it was largely through his aid the church was able to exist. He also kept a store and was postmaster for several years. Mr. Robinson died (Dec. 25, 1865) not long after removing to Blandford and his wife took his place as postmaster and supporter of the church.
For many years she was postmaster, resigning the office only when she left the town a year ago last fall. So well did she fill the office, and so much were the people attached to her, that at one time when a man attempted to get the office during a change of administration, the people were practically unanimous in successful support of Mrs. Robinson.
It was through Mrs. Robinson's aid the Methodist Episcopal Church survived a long struggle and became as firmly established as it is today. (1896) She was very generous in her gifts and a constant attendant at the several services. Many poor of the parish and town were aided by her, and she was the last to give anyone up as utterly bad.
She interested herself in the schools of the town and was superintendent of schools for several years.
In addition to her other duties, she was in charge of the state wards and orphans for whom homes were found in and about Blandford.
Her activity was remarkable and no one ever went to her without receiving comfort and help. She was discreet, as well as generous, and gained considerable wealth, but she spent most of it in aid of the church and worthy charities.
For many years, Mrs. Robinson sent Blandford news to 'The Republican." Her house on Main Street was a popular resort during the summer and she had a faculty of making her guests feel at home. All respected and honored her and her action was deeply regretted by the town when she sold her property there in the fall of 1894 and moved to Columbus to live with her brother.
Mrs. Robinson was a frequent and welcome visitor in this city (Springfield), where she had many friends and her death will be mourned, not only in Blandford, but by all who ever had the pleasure of meeting her.
The funeral was held from the Methodist Church Sunday morning. (Aug. 2, 1896) Rev. E. G. Smith, formerly of Chester, preached the sermon, assisted by Rev. A. C. Ferrin. The large number of friends and the many floral tributes attested to Mrs. Robinson's many friends. Bearers were C. B. Hayden, William Bates, George Emmons and Roscoe Ripley.
(Source: Taken from an obituary (undated) in a scrapbook in the Blandford Historical Society-probably from the Springfield Republican. The last paragraph was taken from the Westfield Times & Newsletter, Aug. 5, 1896.)
A tribute written by an unknown person and printed in the Westfield Times & Newsletter, Aug. 26, 1896.
The death of Mrs. Jane C. Robinson at Columbus, Ohio deserves more than the "passing tribute of a sigh," for she was a notable woman well known and highly educated, both for the little community in which she lived and far outside it. Few women have touched life in more points than she did.
For many years, she taught the young and moulded character; she was an artist of taste and skill; she opened her large and hospitable house summer after summer to the reception of a cultivated class of people who sought recreation and health on the Blandford heights; she served the town as superintendent of schools; the state as a visitor in connection with the Board of Charities; and the nation as postmistress of Blandford for years; she was the mainstay of the little Methodist Episcopal Church in Blandford and taught the little children in its Sunday School for a score of years.
She was abundant in labours of divers sorts and carried to them all the spirit of an intelligent, sacrificing, devoted Christian. Nobody met her without being impressed by the strength and the dignity of her bearing, and the wonder of those who knew her intimately was, that she could do so many different things so well.
Two years ago, failing health compelled her to sell her estate in Blandford and she went to Columbus, Ohio to live with her brother, Horace Sessions and her nieces.
Her memory gradually failed and for the last few months of her life she was again almost a child. But her religious nature knew no variableness, nor shadow of a turning - steadfast, keen, undoubting, triumphant - that remained even down to the end.
Her last sickness was typhoid malarial fever of two weeks duration, and in all the wanderings of her mind, she was beseeching young people to lay well the foundations of a Christian character.
So has lived and died a good woman - herself an exemplification of what she believed and taught.
