22 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



became a public figure. He had little time for social 

 amenities, yet when occasion offered could acquit himself 

 with credit. As shown by his writings he liked the ladies 

 and was popular with them as well. Among men he 

 made occasional enemies because of the forthrightness 

 and fearlessness with which he expressed his opinions, 

 but with few exceptions the animosities he aroused were 

 a credit to his character. Self-educated, for the most 

 part, and naturally serious in temperament, he evidenced, 

 when he chose, a dry humor and wit which made him a 

 marked figure in any company. 



As befitted a son of New England, Robinson strongly 

 advocated education, both general and agricultural. In 

 1840, when the county seat was established at Lake Court 

 House, he gave the community a lot for the erection of 

 a school. 1 Careful provision for the future education of 

 his children is an interesting feature of a will made in 

 1840, and they received the best schooling he could 

 provide. 2 



Solon's literary activities, other than his agricultural 

 writings, were not as extensive before 1851 as after- 

 ward. The political songs written in connection with the 

 national election of 1840 were mostly doggerel verse, 

 set to the meter of popular songs of the day, and 

 although their subject matter is indicative of public con- 

 cern with political events, they do not rank high as 

 poetry. His first short story or miniature novel, entitled 

 "The Will," appeared as a serial in the Daily Cincinnati 

 Gazette, February 25-27, 1841, and the same year was 

 reprinted in the Indianapolis Semi-Weekly Journal* This 

 intriguing story, which portrays scenes in New England, 

 events in the West leading up to and subsequent to the 

 Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, and concludes with pioneer 



1 Robinson, "History of Lake County, 1833-1847," op. cit., 53. 



2 The will is printed post, 124-27. Robinson's younger daughter, 

 Leila, was sent to St. Mary's Academy, probably at Bertrand, 

 Michigan. Leila Robinson in account with St. Mary's Academy, 

 November, 1852-April, 1853. 



* Printed post, 168-202. 



