Rix Robinson, 1789-1875 - Cemetery #2

He was born in Massachusetts, studied law in New York, and moved to Detroit to avoid the draft when the War of 1812 broke out.

Robinson became an accomplished fur trader and at one time managed twenty outposts along the shores of Lake Michigan. His first outpost was located where the Grand and Thornapple Rivers meet, which is now what we call the Village of Ada.

He developed friendly relationships with the Native Americans, and had two Ottawa Native American wives (at different times). But he also helped facilitate the Treaty of 1836, which gave half of the lower peninsula of Michigan to the Federal Government. Robinson received $23,000 for his efforts, and you know what the Natives Americans got.

He later served as a Township Supervisor, an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court, a Michigan State Senator, and a member of the State Constitutional Convention. To his credit, while a Senator (1847-1849), he presented a bill to allow women the right to vote. It was defeated.

There's a small Robinson family plot on top of a hill in the Ada Cemetery. The cemetery property was sold to Ada Township by Robinson.

Cemetery #1