Carlton McKindrey Robison family

Pictured above is the Carlton McKindrey Robison family, or at least the first three of five sons born to Carlton and his wife, Mary Myrtle Harbor. The little boy standing between his parents is Ross Collins Robison, who is 96 years young and living in Hernando, Miss. Ross told me that he was named after Congressman Ross Collins who was from Meridian. Congressman Collins was a regular visitor at the Robison house during his trips to and from the capitol in Washington, D.C. Ross said that his mother often provided room and board for travelers in the area.

Carlton was the son of John Taylor Robinson and Mahala Jane Shotts of the Tremont-Shottsville area. John Taylor was the brother of my great-great grandfather, George Emerson Robinson, so Ross and I share a common ancestor in John E. Robinson - Ross's great-grandfather and my great-great-great grandfather. We also share a common ancestor William Evans, again, Ross's great-grandfather and my great-great-great grandfather. William's daughter, Martha, was Mary Myrtle Harbor Robison's mother.

You may have noted that Ross spells his family name as Robison instead of Robinson. As I've learned since doing my family research, our ancestral name can be found spelled as Robinson, Robison, Robertson, Roberson, etc. but we all come from the same line. When I first started researching, I tended to discount the other spellings as not belonging to "my" line but quickly I learned that we are all related regardless. I believe that Ross told me that one of his brothers spelled his name as Robinson.

I've visited with Ross a few times, and he is sharp as a tack. Along with his brothers, Ross graduated from Mississippi State University where he received a master's degree in dairy production. He worked for a time as a county agent before moving to Hernando where he was put in charge of developing dairy farms to meet the growing need for milk and dairy products for Memphis and the surrounding area.

Sitting on the horse on the left is Roy, second oldest, and sitting on the horse on the right is Ray, the oldest son. Roy served many years as supervisor of Itawamba County's Farm Security Administration. Another brother, Ruble, was not yet born when this picture was taken, and a younger brother, Rex, died when he was only ten years old in 1928. This picture was likely taken about 1915 or 1916.

Itawamba County Times

August 1, 1946

Robisons Enjoy Family Reunion at Tremont Home

Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Robison of Tremont enjoyed having all their children and grandchildren present for their first family reunion on Sunday, July 28th. A picnic lunch served down on the old Johns Creek was enjoyed by all. Their children and families are Mr. and Mrs. Ray M. Robison, Rud, Carl D., Charlie, Sidney and Mary Ann of Tupelo; Mr. and Ms. Roy F. Robison and Sammie Joel of Fulton; Mr. and Mrs. Ross Robison and Joan and Nancy Ruth of Decatur, Miss.; and Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Robison and Martha Carolyn of Tremont, Miss.

Guests were Mrs. Bunyan Hartsell of Santa Rosa, Texas, Mrs. Hattie Parish of Smithville, Mrs. Lillie Spearman of Tremont and Mr. and Mrs. Quinn Smith of Amory.