>From the book "History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island" by J.R. Cole, published 1889, New York, W.W. Preston & Company. Beginning on page 515. [xxx] respresents either notes or the page number. JEREMIAH P. ROBINSON. – The subject of this biographical sketch began his business life as a poor boy. He had, it is true, the advantage of a long line of ancestors noted for honorable and praiseworthy conduct, and this alone always endows the youth about entering upon the career of manhood with an independent and fearless spirit. Among the first settlers of Rhode Island, those ancestors were contemporaneous with Roger Williams, who settled in Providence in 1636, since which time their descendants have been known in all parts of the land, in the pulpit, the forum, on the bench and in almost every branch of business. On the paternal side, William Robinson, six generations removed from the subject of this sketch, was a prominent man in Rhode Island. Sturdy and industrious, he became well known in the province as one of its valued citizens, and was frequently called to positions of high responsibility. Governor William Robinson was the great-grandfather of Christopher Robinson, a prominent and wealthy man of his time in the state. The latter was the father of George C. Robinson, the father of the subject of this biography. George C. Robinson was a man of great energy and commercial [516] enterprise. He followed the sea as a profession, and so great were his ability, integrity and manly qualities, that he soon became captain of a ship in the East India trade, and pushed his prow to the shores of countries as remote from his native land as any who sailed the then almost unknown seas. He married the daughter of Jeremiah Niles Potter, while quite young, and was suddenly stricken down, while at Canton, China, at the age of thirty-two, leaving five small, fatherless children without direct parental means of support. Of these Jeremiah P. was the eldest. The American progenitors of the families of Niles and Potter were among the first settlers of Rhode Island and of the highest respectability and standing. Jeremiah Niles was a man of large possessions, and for many years was judge of the superior court, holding commissions from both kings, George II. And George III., some of which are still in possession of the family. Beside this he held other positions of trust. John Potter, whose family was also among the original settlers of Rhode Island, was a man of wealth and high character. One of his sons married into the Niles family, and had a son named Jeremiah Potter Robinson. It will thus be seen that Mr. Robinson traced his lineage on both sides, through many generations of honorable men and women, and his christian names are taken from the two distinguished families on his mother's side. The family on his father's death having been left in straightened circumstances, Mr. Potter, quite a landed proprietor, took his daughter and her children to his home in South Kingstown, near the present village of Wakefield, and give his grandchildren such advantages as the locality afforded until able to undertake the struggle of life for themselves, the mother remaining on the homestead until her death. Jeremiah Potter Robinson was born August 18th, 1819, in South Kingstown, R.I., and early developed an independent and fearless spirit. When about twelve years of age, having been used to labor and toil on the farm, and having enjoyed but limited advantages of education, he went to Newport and entered the grocery store of his uncle, Stephen A. Robinson, where he attained the position of accountant. Here he remained about two and one-half years, when he for a short time returned to his grandfather's farm. In 1836, at the age of sixteen, he went to [517] New York, determined from that time to "paddle his own canoe." New York was then a comparatively small city, but to the adventurous boy it was his ideal of an opportunity to make himself a man. He applied to various business houses for employment,. Visiting nearly all parts of the city, but failed to discover anything that met his idea of properly starting on his business career, until, after long and weary search, he was employed by the firm of E.P.&A. Woodruff, jobbers in fish, salt and provisions. Under this arrangement he was to be boarded in the family of his employers, for which he was to give his labor for two years, he clothing himself. He soon exhibited those qualities which, as he advanced through life, bore him ever on to success. His pay was steadily increased, and by strict attention to business, steady habits and pleasing demeanor, he drew the attention of many leading business men, and flattering offers were made him to leave his old employers. He, however, stood by them, and attended to their affairs so faithfully that at the end of the fourth year he was offered and accepted a partnership in the firm. From that time he held a high place in the commercial world. He immediately took charge of some of the most important interests of the concern. On the death of Mr. E.P. Woodruff, the style of the firm was changed to A. Woodruff & Robinson. This firm soon added the warehousing and storage departments to their other business, thus becoming the pioneers in this line. Mr. Woodruff later retired from the house, and the business was continued by Messrs. J.P. & G.C. Robinson. Thus in a comparatively short time, Mr. Robinson rose from a boy working for his board, to the head of one of the largest and most prosperous houses of its kind in the metropolis. It is a fact that, with the exception of two years spent in Front street, his business desk stood for almost half a century on nearly the same spot, and business was transacted on what is practically the site of the old house whose service he entered as a poor boy. Sometime about the year 1843 Mr. Robinson began to look with much interest across the East river from his then home in New York upon the growing city of Brooklyn, and soon purchased large blocks of real estate on the Brooklyn river front, improving the same by building upon them warehouses and piers. He was thus among the pioneers of the great warehouse system of that city. A few years later, with William Beard, he became interested in the water front in South Brooklyn, and began [518] the work of planning and constructing the great Erie basin and the adjoining basins, building piers and warehouses, until at this time there is a wharfage and dockage of several miles where vessels are laden and unladen. It is the largest and most comprehensive dock system in the world, and destined to play an important part in the commercial interests of both New York and Brooklyn. Mr. Robinson was ever watchful of the rights of laboring men, and both in theory and practice indicated a desire to ameliorate the condition of the honest laborer. In his great business projects much care was taken to pay each laborer liberally for extra service, the result being great faithfulness to the interests of their employer. Mr. Robinson was one of the prominent supporters of the great East river bridge enterprise, and as a bridge trustee gave intelligent attention to all the details of its progress and management. He honorably filled the position of president of the board of trustees through the most trying period of the work. Mr. Robinson was married at the age of twenty-four to Miss Elizabeth Dewitt, of Cranberry, N.J., the children of this union being two sons and three daughters. One of his sons, Mr. Isaac Rich Robinson, resides on the homestead, which is retained in the family as sacred to the memory of his grandfather Potter, six hundred and fifty acres adjoining being also in possession of the family. His son Jeremiah P. Robinson is largely interested in the business his father established. Mr. Robinson and his family worshipped at the Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, of which Reverend Doctor Richard S. Storrs is pastor, and were liberal contributors to its support as well as to all its charities. Personally Mr. Robinson was a popular and liberal-minded gentleman. He was courtly but not ostentatious, and not fond of pomp and parade, but rather of modest comfort and real social entertainment among men and women of brains and heart. In politics he was accredited to the democratic party, but political garments sat so loosely upon him that he found no difficulty in throwing them off when the party went astray, either in men or measures. He was often importuned to run for office, but persistently declined. Successful for himself, kind, helpful, generous to the poor, and useful in the community, his death, which occurred in Brooklyn on the 26th of August, 1886, was universally regretted.