Duportal D. Robinson
Sept. 1, 1822-Dec. 22, 1907
Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 23, 1907, pp. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
D.D. ROBINSON'S FORGE IS COLD
VENERABLE SMITH PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY
HAD ATTAINED THE AGE OF 85
Recently Celebrated Sixty-Eighth Anniversary of His Career as a Mechanic
D.D. Robinson, a highly respected and well known pioneer resident of Niles, passed away at his home on State street, West Niles, Sunday morning at 7:45 o'clock, aged 85 years. Death was due to heart trouble.
The deceased was a very remarkable man and his powers of endurance were great, he having labored at the forge for nearly three-quarters of a century. Mr. Robinson was born in New York, Sept. 1, 1822, and came to this state 53 years ago. For two score years he made all the chisels used on the western division of the Michigan Central, in addition to doing other tool and general blacksmith work. Subsequently he opened a shop in Niles and had been engaged in steel and iron work continuously until up to a few weeks ago, when he was stricken with illness.
Mr. Robinson was married in New York when 21 years of age and six children were born of this union, all of whom save one, Henry Robinson, who died at Three Rivers a years ago last November, survive him. There are S.L. Robinson of Petoskey, this state, D.L. Robinson of North Platte, Neb., Mrs. Mary Porter of Niles, R.E. Robinson of Chicago and J.I. Robinson of Three Rivers.
Generations of Niles children have watched the sparks fly from D.D. Robinson's forge, and they only knew him to esteem him as the years passed by. Today they miss his kindly smile and friendly greeting; they long in vain to hear the ring of his anvil and to feel again his genial presence.
"And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door,
They love to see the flaming forge
And hear the bellows roar."
Mr. Robinson was the last of a family of six children, and recently, when in conversation with the writer, he attributed prolongation of life in his case, first, to the fact that he came of good long-lived stock, his paternal great-grand-mother having lived to be a 102 years old; secondly, to the fact that he lead a judicious life, have been temperate in his habits; thirdly, because he had lived a life of incessant toil, getting plenty of exercise, which tended to prevent the atrophy of the tissues and organs connected with the changes in blood vessels, which causes death from old age, and becuase he had [continued on page 2] always cultivated a joyful disposition and performed his work cheerfully.
His kindness to everybody will long be remembered as a fragrant memory in the home which his presence brightened and with his friends generally.
The funeral services will be held at the home at 126 State street at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. Messrs. F.H. Clapp of the M.E. church and C.J. DeCoux of Trinity church officiating.