In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1895) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1854
From Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota: containing ... (1895), Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominenet ... citizens .. (1894)
W. L. ROBILLARD.
Wilford L. Roblllard
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
To Wilford and Mary Robillard were born seven children: Joseph, now a resident of Dresbach; Josephine and Johnnie, both of whom are now deceased; Jennie, who is the wife of James Wilkinson, a resident of Dakota; Wilford L, of this sketch; Josephine, deceased; and Mary R., wife of John Brown, a railroad man, living in AVabasha. After the father's death the mother became the wife of Alfred Purdy, and by their union were born three children: Mrs. Hattie Castor, who is now living in Dakota; >Scott F., who is at home with his parents; and George, who is also yet under the parental roof.
No event of si)ecial importance occurred during the boyhood and youth of the subject of this sketch. He remained with his parents and acquired his education in the public schools, though from the early age of ten years he earned his own livelihood. While still a youth he engaged in service on the river steamers, being employed as watchman and receiving a man's wages. He continued on the river until eighteen years of age, saving some money during that time. He then went to Jordan, Minn., and for one summer worked on a farm. On the expiration of that period he returned to Dakota, where he engaged in chopping wood during the succeeding winter. In the spring he went to the pineries, where for three years he was emplojxd as a cook and in lumbering, after which he removed to the state of Dakota, and there gave his attention to selling farm machinery, making his home in that place for six years. His next journey was across the plains to the West, to California, but after a short time lie returned home and pui'chased a farm on section 12, New Hartford Township, in this county, comprising two hundred and thirty acres of land. To this heat once turned his attention, and for three years engaged in its cultivation.
In September, 1885, Mr. Robillard was united in marriage with Miss Dora Foreman, whose birth occurred May 18, 1863, and who was the daughter of John Foreman. The latter was a native of Pike County, Mo., born November 1.5, 1829. When a little over two j-ears old he accompanied his father to Pike County, Ill., and in 1848 be went with his brother to Stillwater, Minn. Soon after he went to St. Paul, in or near which place he lived up to the time of entering the army. He served as cook on a Mississippi steamer for several years, but when the war broke out in 1861 he gave up his position, offered his services to the Government, and donning the blue marched to the front. His death occurred in 1866, and his wife passed away shortly after, leaving four children: Silas, who is now Assistant State Oil-tester and resides in St. Paul; Josephine, now the wife of Osgood Fulington, a resident of St. Paul; Edward, who is engaged in editing a newspaper in California; and Dora, novT Mrs. Robillard. Our subject and his wife also have four children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are Ella M., Mary R., Wilford L., Jr., and Josie Belle.
After his marriage Mr. Robillard removed to Duluth, Minn., where he engaged in the real-estate business with good success for three years. He then returned to his old home in Dakota, and after a short interval of rest embarked in the sawmill business, which he has since followed. He is regarded as one of the enterprising citizens of the town, and one of its prosperous business men. His success is the result of close application, earnest effort and untiring industry. In addition to his sawmill he owns one hundred and sixty acres of pine timber-land in the South and one hundred and sixty acres in North Dakota. Mr. Robillard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and its upbuilding.
Col. John Ball.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona county, Minnesota. Containing biographical sketches of prominent ... citizens .. (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILFORD L. ROBILLARD, a well known business man of Dakota, is the senior member of the firm of Robillard k Helaaple, proprietors of a sawmill. The gentleman whose name heads this record has the honor of being a native of Winona County, for he was born in the town of Dresbach, August 15, 1854. His parents, Wilford and Mary (Maynafd) Robillard, were both natives of Canada, and came to New York State in 1 845. From there in 1846 they went toFreeport, Ill. Later, in 1850, they moved from there to Wisconsin, locating in the village of Dresbach, Winona County, where the father carried on a tavern. To that business he devoted his energies for about twelve years, after which he moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where his last days were spent. His wife passed away a few years later. Mr. Robillard and his father-in-law were the first settlers in Dresbach. The latter was a pilot on the river. Both entered laud from the Government, and Mr. Robillard operated his farm for sotiie years, after which he sold it to Mr. Dresbach, who laid out the village and divided the farm into town lots.
To Wilford and Mary Robillard were born seven children: Joseph, now a resident of Dresbach; Josephine and Johnnie, both of whom are now deceased; Jennie, who is the wife of James Wilkinson, a resident of Dakota; Wilford L, of this sketch; Josephine, deceased; and Mary R., wife of John Brown, a railroad man, living in Wabasha. After the father's death the mother became the wife of Alfred Purdy, and by their union were born three children: Mi's. Hattie Castor, who is now living in Dakota; Scott F., who is at home with his parents; and George, who is also yet under the parental roof.
No event of si)ecial importance occurred during the boyhood and youth of the subject of this sketch. He remained with his parents and acquired his education in the public schools, though from the early age of ten years he earned his own livelihood. While still a youth he engaged in service on the river steamers, being employed as watchman and receiving a man's wages. He continued on the river until eighteen years of age, saving some money during that time. He then went to Jordan, Minn., and for one summer worked on a farm. On the expiration of that period he returned to Dakota, where he engaged m chopping wood during the succeeding winter. In the spring he went to the pineries, where for three years he was Employed as a cook and in lumbering, after which he removed to the state of Dakota, and there gave his attention to selling farm machinery, making his home in that place for six years. His
Google next journey was across the plains to the West, to California, but after a short time iie returned home and purchased a farm on section 12, New Hartford Township, in this county, comprising two hundred and thirty acres of land. To this heat once turned his attention, and for three years engaged in its cultivation.
. In September, 1885, Mr. Robiliard was united in marriage with Miss Dora Foreman, whose birth occurred May 18, 1863, and who was the daughter of John Foreman. The latter was a native of Pike County, Mo., born November 15, 1829. When a little over two years old he accompanied his father to Pike County, Ill., and in 1848 be went with his brother to Stillwater, Minn. Soon after he went to St. Paul, in or near which place he lived up to the time of entering the army. He served as cook on a Mississippi steamer for several years, but when the war broke out in 1861 he gave up his )Osition, offered his services to the Government, and donning the blue marched to the front His death occurred in 1866, and his wife passed away shortly after, leaving four children: Silas, who is now Assistant State Oil-tester and resides in St. Paul; Josephine, now the wife of Osgood Fulington, a resident Of St. Paul; Edward, who is engaged in editing a newspaper in California; and Dora, now Mrs. Robiliard. Our subject and his wife also have four children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are Ella M., Mary R., Wilford L., Jr., and Josie Belle.
After his marriage Mr. Robiliard removed to Duluth, Minn., where he engaged in the real-estate business with good success for three years. He then returned to his old home in Dakota, and after a short interval of rest embarked in the sawmill business, which he has since followed. He is regarded as one of the enterprising citizens of the town, and one of its prosperous business men. His success is the result of close application, earnest effort and untiring industry. In addition to his sawmill he owns one hundred and sixty acres of pine timber-land in the South and one hundred and sixty acres in North Dakota. Mr. Robiliard is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and its upbuilding.
Col. John Ball.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winona County, Minnesota: containing ... (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1895. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.