Emmetsburg Democrat Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa Wednesday, Aug 25, 1920 MICHAEL A MUGAN DID THE LETTERING On Tombstone of Yankee Robinson, the Pioneer Circus Man (Jefferson, Iowa, Bee) Jefferson, Iowa, a nephew of Marshal M.F. Brennan of this city recently received an inquiry from a New Jersey party concerning the grave of Yankee Robinson, America's first and leading clown and showman, who died here on the 4th day of September, 1884. The letter received by Mr. Mugan was as follows: "Glassboro, N.J., July '31-My dear Mr. Postmaster: Between the years 1885 and 1890 there died in your city the celebrated circus proprietor, Fayette L. Robinson. Friends here desire to erect a monument over his grave. Will you do me the great kindness to let me have the official name of the cemetery in or near Jefferson, where, about 1855, Yankee Robinson could have been buried. I shall be grateful to you. Wm. J. Bok." Mr. Mugan wrote quite at length, giving detailed facts concerning the history of Yankee Robinson as it is connected with Jefferson, conveying also the information that a nice monument was erected over the grave. Visitors at the local cemetery are familiar with the last resting place of the showman, and the stone which was erected to his memory. This monument was purchased of Mr. W. F. Laidley, and the lettering thereon is the work of M.A. Mugan, of Emmetsburg, who was in the employ of Mr. Laidley at that time. Postmaster Mugan's reply, in part, is as follows: "Your card carries with it the impression that you have doubtless received from some reckless newspaper article, quite a few of which have been published to the effect that "Yankee Robinson" is buried in an unmarked and uncared for grave. Such articles are quite far from the truth and imply an unjustified slur against such characters as constitute the organizations of the Sells Brothers and the Ringling Brothers shows together with the local Masonic bodies and the local cemetery association. My own recollections of the circumstances surrounding the death of "Yankee Robinson" are somewhat hazy. However, partly from recollection and partly from talking with others it may be said taht the deceased had lost his earthly riches. Some say that he was taken from the train at this point because of his sickness while others say that at the time he was traveling with Ringling Brothers as an attraction and really as sort of a pensioner for what he had been to the circus world. However, he was taken sick and the show went on. He was left in the Head hotel and his identity not revealed. This because of his personal desire, because of the humiliation he felt because of having lost his fortune and being down and out. His condition grew worse and the local Masons, who were looking after him, informed the show, when a representative of the show returned, identified him, and stayed until after his death and funeral, when she returned to the show. The funeral was in keeping with his high personal character and waht would be due to a man who had done so much for others and the world. The burial took place in the Jefferson cemetery, located about a mile from the court house and to the edge of the city, and in a lot owned by the Masonic order. Some time after the death of "Yankee Robinson" and at different times, Sells Brothers shows and Ringling Brothers left money in the hands of a local committee for the purpose of a monument which was bought and place over the grave, the Masonic order, I believe, making up some deficiency. It must be said that, while the erosion of the stone is not bad at this immediate time, it will not probably improve with age. At the time the stone was erected it was all that could be expected, yet when it is considered in the light of his great life and mind and what he did for others, and in the light of the present day standards, this monument should be substituted by one more suitable for hte commemoration of the memory of a great character. On several occasions after the death and burial of the deceased, his son, Silas Robinson, came here at the head of theatrical organizations and on such occasions went broke and his company disbanded. Each time a number of local talent joined him in putting on one or two local talent plays for his benefit and let him out, and each time we heard a few weeks after that he was on the road with a company. The last heard of the son, was some years ago when we heard of his death at Seattle or Tacoma." 000525 Cathy Joynt Labath Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm