"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 641.
 
FRANCIS MARION ROBINSON, M. D.

     who has attained prestige as a representative of the medical fraternity, is
now practicing successfully in Beaverton, and is one of Oregon's native sons,
his birth having occurred near Hillsboro, February 5, 1848. His father, James B.
Robinson, was born in December, 1812, in Westmoreland county, Pa., while the
paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany and became a member
of the German navy. While on a cruise along the coast of America he deserted,
together with two hundred others, and took up his abode near Philadelphia. He
died during the early boyhood of his son, James B. Robinson, who at that time
was bound out, remaining with his employer until about fourteen years of age,
when he ran away in order that he might make his own way in the world. He lived
at different times in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Illinois and Iowa, taking up
his abode in the latter state about 1840. There he engaged in farming and while
residing in Iowa he was united in marriage to Melissa H. Warner, a native of
Tennessee. They began their domestic life in the Hawkeye state and in 1847 left
for the far west, becoming residents of Washington county, Ore. Their home was
near Hillsboro, where the father took up a donation claim of six hundred and
forty acres, and continued to follow farming until his death, which occurred
when he was about forty-five years of age. His widow, long surviving him, lived
to be seventy years of age. In their family were two children, but the younger,
Mary A., has now passed away.
     Dr. Robinson is therefore the only surviving member of the family. Under
the parental roof his boyhood clays were passed and in the public schools near
his home he acquired his early education, while later he became a student in the
Forest Grove Academy. He also studied in other institutions and for several
terms he engaged in teaching school, principally in Washington county. He left
home at the age of twenty-seven years and for some time resided in Wyoming and
in Montana, being employed as a bookkeeper in those states. Attracted by the
science of medicine, and believing that he would find its practice a congenial
profession, he began studying toward that end in 1876, reading under the
direction of Dr. Joseph Teal, of Umatilla county, Ore. He pursued his first
course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Iowa and
located for practice with Dr. Teal, near Echo, Ore., where he remained for two
years. He then went to Portland and in the scholastic year of 1884-85 was a
student in the medical department of Willamette University, where he was
graduated. He then traveled through Arizona for about fifteen months, after
which he came to Beaverton, where he has since practiced with gratifying success
and at the same time has conducted a drug store. The doctor by continued reading
and research has broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency and today
his skill and ability in the line of his profession are indicated by the liberal
patronage accorded him.
     October 20, 1889, occurred the marriage of Dr. Robinson and Lottie A.
Banks, a native of Wisconsin, and their union has been blessed with two
children. Nellie M. and George Francis Train Robinson. The doctor is prominent
in the town because of his deep interest and active cooperation in everything
pertaining to the general good. He served as a councilman for some time and at
present is mayor of Beaverton. Socially he is identified with the Masonic Lodge,
in which he has filled all the chairs ; and he has likewise held all of the
offices in the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs
to the United Artisans, of which he is the present deputy supreme master, and in
the line of his profession he is connected with the Oregon State Medical
Association, and is the president of the Washington County Medical Society. In a
profession where advancement depends upon individual merit, upon capability and
close application, Dr. Robinson has attained a very creditable position.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.