Historic Property William Angus Robinson House 243 North 100 East American Fork, Utah Year Built: 1887 Current Owner: Colleen McTague Stoors Cincinnati, OH 1
History of the William Angus Robinson Home 1858 July 19 William Angus is born in Salt Lake City to William Davis Robinson and Ellatheria Dupont Peria W.D. Robinson was a millwright and was employed to help build new and operate flour mills in several communities. He was employed by Brigham Young in Parley s Canyon, Salt Lake City. 1859 W. D. Robinson supervised the mill operations for the grist mill in the LDS 19 th Ward in Salt Lake City. 1860 Oct 17 Sister Margaret was born in Salt Lake City William A. was 2 year old and he was called by the nickname Will. 1863 Feb 15 Family living in Springville area William s brother George Davis was born Jacob Houtz employed W.D. Robinson to help set up new mills in Springville. 1866 Jul 16 Another brother was born to William D. in Provo - Charles Edward Robinson 1870 Sep 1 A third brother, Emmett John was born in American Fork The W.D. Robinson family lived in American Fork/ Lehi area and W.D. Robinson went to work for Samuel Mulliner, who had purchased Arza Adams second mill in 1860. W.D. worked in the Mulliner Mill until it was sold to the American Fork Co-operative Institution in August 1872. 1872 Dec 29 A sister, Amanda Elizabeth Robinson was born in Lehi 1875 Aug 10 The last child was born, a girl, Ellatheria Dupont was born in Lehi 1877 W.D. worked for Arza Adams in a new mill one mile north of town. 1879 Jun 4 William (Will) Angus Robinson married Elizabeth (Bets) Ellen Adams in the St. George Temple. Members of the Robinson family accompanied them on the trip to St. George, which took two weeks by wagon and team. Bets was the daughter of Arza and Catherine Cunningham Adams. Likely members of the Adams family also accompanied the wedding party to St. George. 2
1879 Bessie Robinson, daughter of Will and Bets wrote that the new married couple lived in Draper, Utah at W.A. former home for a time. In early 1880 they moved to live with Bets, parents, Arza and Catherine Adams. 1880 Jun 4 The 1880 Census taker list William Angus and Bets Robinson living in the Arza Adams household in on Adams Street (200 North). William A. Robinson is listed as a laborer. Likely W.A. was working for his fatherin-law, Arza Adams. 1880 The date the original log home at 243 North 100 East was built on Arza Adams property is uncertain. It could have been built by Arza in the 1870 s for some of Arza s employees to live in while working on his farm. Will A. Robinson may have helped build the log home in 1880 while living with his Father-in-law. Arza, in 1880 was 76 years old at the time and W.A. was 22 years old. Since the Robinson s came to live in and make additions to this log home by 1886 suggests that they may have been involved with its construction. 1881 Nov 19 The first child of Will and Bets, a girl, Ellatheria Dupont Robinson was born. She was called Ella. This child was given the same name as William s youngest sister had died at age 3 just before Christmas in 1878. She was born in Am. Fork. Bets mother Catherine was there to help with the birth and care of the new baby. 1882 According to Bessie Robinson s history of her mother, Bets, they moved to live for a time at the Robinson Mill about a mile north of town on the Alpine Road (200 East). The Robinson Mill was originally built by Arza Adams and is now half owned and fully operated by Will A. Robinson s father William Davis Robinson. 1884 Aug 12 The Will A. and Bets Robinson family lived for a time on Spring Creek, south of where the Lehi Sugar Factory was built in 1890. The second girl of Will and Bets was born and named Catherine Curry Robinson, known as Katie. She is listed as being born in American Fork. It is likely that she returned to her mother Catherine Adams home in American Fork for the birth of the baby. 1886-87 After the birth of Katie and before the birth of Hazel, Bessie Robinson writes that the family moved to their own home at 243 North 100 East and remained there for the birth of the last three children. A one room log 3
home would be crowded for a family of four. This is likely when William A. acquired ownership of the log home and property from Arza and began adding more rooms for his growing family. He enclosed the log cabin into the home as the front living room. He added two bedrooms on the north and a kitchen and bathroom on the west. He covered the house with wood siding. Even though the Utah County Records show the home being built in 1900, according to family journals the home was built in 1887. 1887 W.D. Robinson was elected Mayor of American Fork 1889 Apr 15 Arza Adams, father of Bets dies at the age of 85. 1889 Sep The third girl of Will A. and Bets was born. She was named Hazel Rebecca. She was born in American Fork. 1890 s William D. purchased full ownership the mill from Arza Adams estate in the 1890 s and he successfully operated it until 1899. (The Shelley history book states the William D. Robinson s sons continued to operate the mill for two or three years, thereafter, when it was sold to John Crooks who operated it for a year, when it was consumed by fire. William D. had three sons, William Angus would be 41 yrs old, George David, 36 yrs old, and Charles Edward, 33 yrs old. It is most likely that George and Charles were the sons who worked at the mill because Will moved to Bingham in 1900 to work as a teamster.) 1891 Dec 21 The fourth girl was born to Will A. and Bets. Her name was Elizabeth Adams Robinson. She was known as Bessie. Her birthplace is American Fork. 1894 Jul 9 The last and fifth girl of Will A. and Bets was born and named Amanda Lillian. All five girls were born in American Fork. 1900 Bessie Robinson says in her mother s history. About 1900 they moved to Bingham Canyon to make their home. Her husband was engaged as a teamster, hauling ore from the mines. A great deal of skill was necessary in hauling the heavy ore wagons down the steep narrow roads of the canyon. Will, her husband, was know for his love of horses. He kept them well groomed and gave them the best of care. He was well known as Dad Robinson and for the wonderful way he rode horses. Horseback 4
riding was a very popular form of amusement at the time. Elizabeth loved to ride. She had a fine saddle made of plush and leather with the curved horn made exclusively for women riding horsed at that time. 1900 Jun 7 Census takers in Bingham, Utah found the William A. Robinson family living in town. All five girls are listed. William is listed as a Teamster for the Bingham Coal and Lumber Company 1900 Dec 31 The American Fork Ward had 2686 members. 429 families. The largest ward in Utah Stake. William D Robinson, (William Angus father) was the Bishop and Ellatheria Robinson was the Ward Relief Society President. Utah Stake embraced all Utah County. (George F. Shelley The Early History of American Fork p. 139) 1910 Apr 19 Census of Bingham Canyon show that William A. is 52 years old and is working as a Stable Manager for a Lumber Yard. He and his wife Elizabeth E, Hazel Chase a divorced daughter with her 3 year old son, Elizabeth A. is 18 and Amanda is 15. 1920 Jan 13 Census of Bingham Canyon show the William is 62, Elizabeth is 59, Bessie is 28, Manda is 25. 1920 Jan 12 Census of American Fork show Hazel Robinson Thomas was living with her husband Richard Thomas on first east in American Fork with Hazel s son Carl Chase from a previous marriage. 1920 May Bessie records in her mother s history In May 1920 while visiting her two daughters in American Fork, her husband Will passed away. After his death she returned to her home in American Fork to live. The last years of her life were spent pleasantly traveling a great deal, visiting her daughters and their families in whom she took a great interest and pride. She enjoyed exceptionally good health, being up and about until two weeks before her death on Tuesday, September 7 th, age of 87, surrounded by her family who had given her every care and attention to make her later years comfortable and enjoyable. 1920-1976 Bessie Robinson never married. She stayed in the home with her mother until 1948. Bessie remained in the home in American Fork until her death on 27 May 1976 at the age of 84. 1976-2012 The ownership of the home is now Colleen McTague Storrs. Bessie Robinson was Colleen s Aunt. 5
PROPERTY INFORMATION Parcel 020450007 Tax Year: 2011 Select Tax Year Address: 243 N 100 EAST AMERICAN FORK 84003-1736 Owner: STORRS, COLLEEN MCTAGUE Account Type: Primary Use: RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY RES Land Size: 0.62 Land Size Sq Ft. 27,007 IMPROVEMENT INFORMATION Improvement Number: 1 Improvement Type: Salvage Sq Ft: 1 Bsmt Sq Ft: Bsmt Sq Ft Finished: Year Built: 1900 Adj Year Built: 1900 Quality: Condition: Exterior: Interior: Roof Type: Roof Cover: Foundation: Average Average None Flat Composition Shingle Bedroom Count: Full Bath: 3/4 Bath: Half Bath: Fireplace: 6
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William Angus Robinson House 243 North 100 East, American Fork, Utah East Façade: South Façade: 8
West Façade: North Façade: 9
Looking West from 100 East Street: Satellite View of Property: 10
Floor Plan for 243 North 100 East, William Angus Robinson House 11