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Family Stories

The History of Area Families
The full story and additional photographs are available at the Museum for this family and countless others that have played an important role in Raytown's history.
The Robinson Family
To tell the story of the Robinson family is to tell the story of Raytown. The members of this family have been intricately woven into the tapestry of our history, as much or more than any other group of people Please click through the photos to learn more about the Robinsons and their footprint on Raytown.
  • Reverend James J. Robinson
    James J. Robinson was born in 1821 in Kentucky to Jesse and Nancy. He married and moved to Jackson County in 1843.
  • West Fork Baptist Church
    The Reverend began preaching at this church that was built on a 2-acre walnut grove at 62nd & Woodson. First services were held in 1847.
  • James J. Robinson's Home
    James J. Robinson's home was located at 63rd Street & Willow. The house was spared during the Civil War's Order 11.
  • S. G. Robinson Store on 63rd St.
    Samuel Green Robinson operated this general store on the NW corner of 63rd St. & Raytown Road from 1897 to 1901. The Masonic Lodge Hall was upstairs.
  • J.L. Robinson Grocery Store
    James Luther, Sr. (left) with his father, Samuel G., in front of their grocery store on Raytown Road. Samuel was James J. Robinson's nephew.
  • Robinson Auto Dealership
    J. Luther originally started selling Fords in Jewell, KS. Later, the Robinsons sold and serviced Ford cars at "Raytown Motor Co." on Raytown Road for 30 years.
  • The Children of Robinson Row
    Children from the Robinson, Thompson, Otto, Oetting, Hall, Ebbe, and Hayes families lived on "Robinson Row" (now Overton).
  • James Luther Robinson, Sr. Family
    Luther Sr., son James Jr., daughter Shirley (Latare), wife Annie (Dehoney), and daughter LuAnn (Reese) celebrating Jim's safe return from WWII.
  • Robinson Elementary School
    1959 aerial view of the Robinson Elementary School at 67th & Woodson named after J. Luther Robinson, Sr. who donated the land.
  • James Luther Robinson, Sr.
    As well as many other accomplishments, James Luther Robinson, Sr. served 3 terms as a Missouri State Representative in the mid-1960s.
  • Raytown Federal Savings
    J. Luther was Board Chairman of the Raytown Federal Savings & Loan Assoc. and Vice President of the Raytown Bank.