Nodaway Valley Bank President Frederick Paul Robinson (1875-1936)

Caption from Forum on : Fred P. Robinson, president of  Nodaway Valley Bank until 1936,when he died, is shown in about 1886 on his high wheeler bicycle.  Picture was furnished by  Mrs. Edward W. Gray, Long Beach, Cal. 

Nodaway Countians in History
The Maryville Daily Forum, January 2, 1973, Page 2. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-fred-p-robins/200068675/

Taken by Death
Bank President and Former Mayor Dies Last Night at Age of 61 Years.
The Maryville Daily Forum, July 17, 1936, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-obituary-for-f/200145792/

Death removed a civic and business leader from Maryville last evening. F. P. Robinson, president of the Nodaway Valley bank and a former mayor, was unable to withstand complications of diseases during the trying heat wave and succumbed at the St. Francis Hospital at 8:15 o’clock last night.

Christened Frederick Paul Robinson. but better known as “F. P.” he became ill in March.

On April 24 he suffered a stroke of paralysis from which he had never recovered. Mr. Robinson who was 61 years of age, had lived his entire life in Maryville. Funeral services will be held at 3 o’- clock tomorrow afternoon at the First Christian church, conducted by Rev Sherman B. Moore.

Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery Music for the services will be furnishec by a quartet composed of W. E. Goforth. John G. Mutz, Mrs.

Janet Willis and Mrs. John Curfman of Macon, Mo The body will lie in state at the home from 10 o’clock a. m. until 2 o’clock p m. tomorrow. Mr. Robinson is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Edward W Gray and Miss Virginia Robinson; one sister, Mrs. Charles T. Bell; and four grandchildren, Barbara, Mary Jane, Edward R., and Ronald Gray, all living in this city. One daughter, Katherine, preceded him in death.

The Nodaway Valley Bank will be closed after 11 o’clock in the morning Connected With Bank 42 Years Mr. Robinson had been president of the Nodaway Valley Bank since April, 1932, assuming the office upon the death of his brother, James B. Robinson. He had been actively connected with the bank for 42 years. For 13 years he was cashier and gave full time to that position.

During the twenty-five years prior to becoming the president, Mr. Robinson, owing to his outside interests, divided his time between the bank and his other affairs, but during those years he continuously had been vice president and a member of the board of directors acting in an advisory capacity. Mr. Robinson also had been legal adviser of the bank for 20 years.

Mr. Robinson was a former mayor of Maryville, first filling an unexpired term in 1907 and then holding the office for two terms, the one from 1908- 10 and the other, 1921-23. Became Mayor in 1907. In the spring of 1907, a special city election was held to elect a successor for Mayor W. H. Totterdale, who had resigned. Mr. Robinson was elected to fill the unexpired term. At the regular spring election in 1908,

Mr. Robinson was a candidate for re-election. He was elected over his opponent, the late W. L. Johnson by a majority of 382 votes. In the 1910 election, Mr. Robinson lost his race for mayor to Arthur S. Robey, with Robey winning by a 16-vote margin. Mr. Robinson returned to city politics in 1921 to make another bid for mayor. He won the election, defeating Roy J. Curfman by a majority of 94 votes. The outgoing mayor that year was W. O. Garrett who had held the office three years. But in 1923 Mr. Garrett returned to his former office, defeating Mr. Robinson by a majority vote of 244. Served on City Council During the years of 1901 and 1902.

Mr. Robinson served in the city council and, as chairman of the street committee, he directed the construction of twelve miles of brick paving. As mayor of Maryville he was the first to give personal attention to the police court. Mr. Robinson was instrumental in having an ordinance passed to keep minors out of saloons, and recommended the passage of an ordinance compelling pool room keepers to keep minors out of the pool halls unless they had permits from their parents.

Mr. Robinson did a great deal to regulate the peddler evil. He was the first to establish an office where all the city records could be kept in one place, and was the first mayor to advertize for bids for sinking funds of the city, Before that time city funds earned no interest for the city, Under a strong opposition, Mr. Robinson as mayor had a vehicle ordinance passed. Its theory was that those who use the streets most should pay something to maintain them.

He also supported an ordinance compelling all insurance companies and agents to pay a license.

Helped Get Normal Here

Mr. Robinson played a large role in getting the Fifth District Normal school, now titled the Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, 1ocated here. In 1905 he was named treasurer of the committee in charge of the canvass to procure the location of the Normal here.

Along with Nat Sisson and S. G. Gillam, both now deceased. Mr. Robinson was on the executive committee that went to Jefferson City to hear the bids from him in various towns in the district before the Normal school commission appointed by the Governor. Mr. Robinson was admitted to the Nodaway County bar in June of 1910, after studying law in the office of the late Judge W. W. Ramsey.

When the United States entered World War I, it found Mr. Robinson beyond enlistment age. But Mr. Robinson rendered his country a service by taking over in the fall of 1917 the office of Northwest Missouri food administrator, whose work was in conjunction with the nationwide food conservation program under the administration of Herbert Hoover.

First Red Cross Secretary

Mr. Robinson, was secretary of the first Nodaway County chapter of the American Red Cross.He became secretary upon the organization of the chapter in June, 1917.

Mr. Robinson was a charter member of Maryville lodge No. 760, B. P.O., Elks, being one of fifty men taken into the lodge on March 1, 1902. At the time, he was made the lodge treasurer. He served as exalted ruler in 1907. He was appointed a member of the club building committee in 1908 with Paul Sisson, W. R Smiley and the late C. J. Alderman and the Inte E. W. Keek.

The Elk’s building was dedicated 27 years ago.

He was a Mason of high degree, being eminent commander of Maryville Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar, also past master Nodaway lodge No. 470, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of Owens Chapter No. 96. Royal Arch Masons and a Noble of Molla Temple at St. Joseph.

Official in Church

Mr. Robinson was for 43 years a member of the First Christian church of this city, and up until the time of his death held the chairmanship of the general board. He was chairman of the pulpit committee to select a successor to Rev. W. M. Wickizer, who resigned this spring. but later withdrew from the chairmanship because of ill health.

Among other of his early-day activities in the community was the presidency of the old Maryville chautauqua association. He was also president of the welfare board for many years. Mr. Robinson took part in the formation of the old Bull Moose party in Nodaway County and attended its national convention 24 years ago, when it backed Theodore Roosevelt against Taft and Wilson. He was a candidate for Congress on the Progressive Ticket in 1912.

Born In Maryville

He was instrumental in building the Nodaway Milk Products company here and was secretary of the board of directors. Mr. Robinson was born in Maryville on December 13, 1874. His father was Theodore Robinson, a native of Callaway County, Missouri, who came to Nodaway County in about 1848 and settled in Maryville. He died in 1894.

On April 24, 1895, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Mary Miller, daughter of John S. and Catherine Miller. Mrs. Robinson’s sister, Mrs. F. D. Irwin of Los Angeles, and her brothers, Henry C. Miller and J. R. Miller of Vinita, Okla., and Arthur Miller of Kansas City, will be unable to attend the services. Arthur Miller is on a European tour, and the other three can not come because of illness in their families.

Citation for page 2 of obituary The Maryville Daily Forum, July 17, 1936, Page 4. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-fp-robinson/200146071/

Jokes About His Many Accomplishments

1. “F. P. ran the bank so long he probably thought interest was a family trait.”
2. “He got the college here — proof he could sell Maryville better than any brochure.”
3. “As mayor he kept kids out of saloons and pool halls — basically Maryville’s first babysitter with a gavel.”
4. “Between the Elks and the Knights Templar, F. P. collected enough regalia to start a costume shop.”
5. “He helped found the Bull Moose club — so if anyone asked for a progressive push, F. P. brought the whole moose.”
6. “He ran for Congress on the Progressive ticket — because once you organize a city, why not try a country?”
7. “Part of his estate became Camp Robinson — which explains why every scout now knows how to tie a knot and balance a budget.”
8. “He convinced pool room keepers to keep minors out — and probably told them to keep their excuses out, too.”
9. “As bank president and civic booster, he was the man who could count your deposits and your blessings.”
10. “F. P. wasn’t just a community leader — he was the committee that formed the committees.”
11. “He served as food administrator in wartime and then kept the town fed with plans and projects ever after.”
12. “If Maryville had a Hall of Influence, F. P. would have a reserved seat — and a ledger to go with it.”

What are the Elks?

The BPO Elks (officially the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks or BPOE) is one of the largest and oldest fraternal organizations in the United States.Founded in 1868 in New York City by a group of entertainers, the nonprofit organization now boasts over 850,000 members and more than 2,000 local “Lodges” across the country. [1, 2, 3]

Locally, the Elks are known as a prominent fixture in their communities, operating much like social clubs while deeply focusing on civic service. [1, 2, 3]

Core Mission & Activities

• Veteran Support: The Elks operate a massive national veterans program, aiming to end veterans’ homelessness and assisting those returning to civilian life. [1, 2]
• Youth Programs: They are one of the largest private providers of college scholarships in the U.S. and run youth-focused drug awareness programs. [1, 2]
• Community Charity: Their guiding principles are Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity, with a modern motto of “Elks Care, Elks Share”. [1, 2]

Elks Lodges

Members belong to local chapters called “Lodges”. These lodges often feature social amenities like dining rooms, banquet halls, and recreational facilities, and serve as gathering spaces for neighbors and family events. Membership is by invitation and is open to U.S. citizens over the age of 21 who believe in God. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For further details on their history, or to find a lodge or apply for membership in your area, you can visit the BPO Elks Official Website.

What is the Eminent Commander of the Knights Templar

An “Eminent Commander” is the highest-ranking officer of a local Knights Templar unit (called a Commandery). This title indicates a Master Mason who has completed the chivalric degrees of the York Rite and serves as the presiding leader and administrative head of their specific commandery. [1, 2]
A “Mason of high degree, being Eminent Commander of Maryville Commandery, No. 40, Knights Templar” refers to an individual leading a specific, localized branch of the Knights Templar. Breaking down the components reveals exactly what this means in Freemasonry: [1]