Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
DR. EDWIN T. ROBBERSON. In the early days southwest Missouri was often a tempting field to the energetic, ambitious, strong-minded, courageous people of Tennessee, Virginia and the Carolinas, and this country was filled with them during the time Missouri was struggling up to a respectable position in the sisterhood of states. There was a fascination in the broad fields and great promise which this new region presented to activity and originality that attracted many men, and induced them to brave all the privations and discomforts of frontier life for the pleasure and gratification of constructing their fortunes in their own way and after their own methods. It is this class of men more than any other who give shape, direction and character to the business of a community county or state. The late Dr. Edwin T. Robberson, one of the early pioneers of Greene county and for a long lapse of years one of the most substantial, useful and prominent citizens of Springfield and vicinity, became identified with the affairs of this favored section during its first stages of development and he subsequently wielded a potent influence in industrial circles and professional life. He gave to the world the best of an essentially virile, loyal and noble nature and his standard of integrity and honor was ever inflexible. He was a citizen of high civic ideals, and ever manifested his liberality in connection with measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of the locality honored by his residence, his keen discemment and sound judgment auguring much for the general upbuilding of the Queen City of the Ozarks. Doctor Robberson won a reputation, not only as a successful physician and business man, but as a leader in public affairs and a citizen who was well worthy of the unqualified confidence and esteem in which he was universally held.
Doctor Robberson was born November 3, 1830, in Maury county, Tennessee, and was a son of Bennett and Elvira (Sims) Robberson, both natives of Tennessee, in which state they grew up and were married and spent their earlier lives. In 1831 they removed to Greene county, Missouri, when the subject of this memoir was an infant, and settled on what has since been known as Robberson Prairie, and there by hard work and perseverance established the permanent family home. The father devoted his life successfully to farming and he became a prominent man in the county, was active in Democratic politics and was elected to the state Legislature from Greene county, serving a term of two years with ability and satisfaction. He was one of our best known pioneers.
Doctor Robberson grew to manhood on the home farm in this county and there found plenty of hard work to do when a boy, and for those early times he had good educational advantages. Later he attended Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1854. Returning home he began the practice of his profession in Greene county continuing the same with great success the rest of his life, or a period of nearly forty years, during which he ranked among the leading general practitioners of the county, throughout which his name was a household word. He became a man of means and owned considerable valuable property and was a heavy stockholder in the National Exchange Bank in Springfield, of which he became president, discharging the duties of this responsible position, along with his large practice, in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability, fidelity and integrity and the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank the rest of his life; in fact, the large success of this widely known institution was due for the most part to his wise counsel and judicious management.
Doctor Robberson was married April 18, 1854, to Elizabeth J. Sproul, who was born in Monroe county, Missouri, March 11, 1837.
The union of Doctor Robberson and wife was blessed by the birth of seven children, all living but one.
Doctor Robberson was a Democrat, and while he was interested in public affairs never had time to seek political office. In his earlier years he was a-member of the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the Missouri State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. Religiously, he belonged to the Methodist, Episcopal church, South.
Doctor Robberson was called to his eternal rest November 10, 1893. He was in every respect entitled to the esteem of all classes which was freely accorded. He was the architect of his own fortune and upon his entire career there rests no blemish, for he was true to the highest ideals and principles in business, professional, civic and social life, living and laboring to worthy ends, and as one of the sterling citizens and representative men of Greene county in the generations that are now merged with the irrevocable past, his memory merits a tribute of honor on the pages of history.
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