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THOMAS L. ROBISON.
The records of the Civil war show that Illinois contributed some of the best and bravest of its sons to the Union cause, and that they bore the brunt of some of its hardest-fought battles. The real record of that great conflict is written deep in the hearts of those who participated in it. Aside from wounds, sickness, broken health and shattered nerves, the survivors of the great rebellion had seared on their memory scenes and incidents that even the hand of time could not erase, and the carefree youths who marched away so gayly in defense of their country 's flag returned to their homes full-grown men, old, if not in years, in experience. The Robison family was one whose members sacrificed themselves on the altar of their country's honor, for four brothers served gallantly as soldiers in the Union army, and it is of one of these, Thomas L. Robison, a retired farmer of Ozark, Illinois, that this sketch speaks. Mr. Robison was born April 1, 1842, on a farm in Pope county, Illinois, and is a son of Allen and Diona (Keef) Robison, natives of ireland and Tennessee, respectively.
Allen Robison first settled in North Carolina on coming to the United States, subsequently removing to Kentucky and then to Tennessee, where he was married. In 1812 he migrated to Pope county, filed government land, and for many years cultivated a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Of his children, four grew to maturity, Robert A., Thomas L., William F. and George W., all of whom enlisted for service in the Union army. Robert A. died at Corinth, Mississippi, soon after the battle at that point, and William F. met his death in the battle of Fort Pillow. On November 7, 1861, Thomas L. Robison enlisted in Company K, Fifty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after serving one year was transferred in January, 1863, to Company G, Sixth Illinois Cavalry,
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with which he continued to serve until the close of the war. He received his first honorable discharge October 25, 1862, at Corinth, Mississippi, and re-enlisted at Germantown, Tennessee, September 6, 1863, his final discharge coming at Selma, Alabama, November 5, 1865. Mr. Robison participated in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, including Corinth, Moscow, Hurricane Creek, Collinsville, Franklin, Nashville and Columbia. At the battle of Nashville he was wounded in the left thigh, and a bursting shell so injured the drum of his right ear that during his later years he has been affected by partial deafness; at the battle of Moscow he was wounded in the right arm, and in the battle of Franklin was severely wounded in the right breast. A brave and faithful soldier, he is remembered by his old comrades as one to whom no danger was too great to risk, no march too long, no duty too irksome, and he was respected by his officers and admired by his fellows. Golconda G. A R. Post, No. 332, has no more highly esteemed member.
On his return from the service Mr. Robison engaged in farming in Pope county until November 9, 1884, which was the date of his advent in Johnson county. In 1901 he purchased a farm of eighty-nine acres three miles west of Ozark, but on April 14, 1902, moved to the village, where he has since resided. He is the owner of five town lots and a handsome residence, and is numbered among the substantial men of his community. During the eighteen years he lived at Sanburn, from 1884 until 1902, he served as justice of the peace and notary public. He was also one of the most successful pension attorneys in Southern lllinois, and supplemented his service as a soldier by greatly aiding the veterans and the widows of those who had lost their lives in battle. Fraternally he is connected with Tunnel Hill Lodge, No. 611, I. 0. 0. F., and his religious belief is that of the Baptist church.
On October 8, 1871, Mr. Robison was married to Miss Sarah J. Oliver, who was born January 27, 1849, in Franklin county, Alabama, daughter of James F. and Barbara (Hamilton) Oliver, and came to Pope county, Illinois, March 8, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have had no children, but have reared several children as though they were their own: Carrie Oliver, George Robison, Belle Hardin and Sarah Ford.