Finding James B Robinson

James Benjamin Robinson.  I grew up calling him Uncle Pete.  He was my Dad's Paternal Uncle.  I got to thinking about him the other day, while Jake was playing his harmonica at my Dad's house.  My Dad grabbed it and played a song for them.  I thought of Uncle Pete.  He always had his harmonica.  I can picture him sitting on the couch in my parents living room at Christmas time, jamming on the harmonica (if that's possible).  He was really into it!
The mystery that I'm trying to resolve is:  Who did Uncle Pete live with after his father passed away?
I've been told for years that he was raised by Ida's sister, Mabel.  My dad and mom had told me years ago that Uncle Pete was raised by an Aunt.  Never any mention of the father having passed away.  My Dad didn't know how young the brothers were when their father passed, so he just thought they didn't have the money to keep him.  Which is likely true, except that it was due to the fact that Thomas died.

The family consisted of Ida Alice Mason, AKA Mom Kuster (she later remarried), Thomas Crossley Robinson were the parents.  They had my grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson in 1898 and his brother James Benjamin Robinson in 1901.  They lived in the Kensington section of Philadelphia on G Street.  Hopefully it was a better place to be back then!  Thomas passed away in 1911, the death certificate says it was from Epilepsy with mental derangement as a contributing factor, when Samuel was 14 and James was 10.  I've been told that at this point James had to live with Ida's sister, Mabel.  Ida couldn't afford to keep both children.  It is my guess that Samuel was probably working already at the age of 14, so he was contributing some income.  I can't find any evidence of the split of the brothers, however, due to the time frame.  It all falls right smack in the middle of 2 censuses.  In 1910, They all lived with Thomas' mother, Mary,  at 3439 G Street (I suspect Thomas was sick at the time).  In February of 1911, based on the Death Certificate they lived at 807 Schiller Street.  By 1920, the next census year, Ida was remarried to Henry Benhart (unsure of spelling) Kuster, AKA Ben Kuster and both children were living with them at 3546 G Street.

So, this leaves me with my mystery...did Uncle Jim live with his Aunt Mabel?  My Dad and his brother Sam both recall this, however, Aunt Grace does not.  She tends to have the best memory about all of the Robinson family stories.  So, my Dad asked me to see if I could figure out if this is true or not!  So far, I cannot come up with a way to verify this.

Uncle Jim never married.  He was sent to Denver, Colorado by General Electric or Westinghouse to do electrical work there.  As far as we know, he worked for them until he retired.  While living out west, he developed a love of the rodeo.  I am unsure whether he just liked to watch or if he participated.

I wonder where I'll find him in the 1940 census when it's released next year.  It will likely take a while to find him, since it will not be indexed right away!!

Ida Alice Mason Robinson Kuster (Mom Kuster)

October 1877 – About 1945

Ida was born in Pennsylvania, most likely in Philadelphia.  Her parents, Samuel and Sarah were born in England.

The first record of her, that I have found, is the 1880 census.  Ida Mason was 4 when the census was taken on June 9th, 1880.  She lived with her family at 1923 Emma Street.  Based on a quick search, Emma street no longer exists.  However, if I look at previous pages in the census, I would say it was around Dauphin Street and Germantown Avenues.  Her brother, Joseph was two years old and George was only one month old.  Her father worked in a Woolen Mill.



Ida with Thomas, Samuel and James



She married Thomas C Robinson in about 1898.  My grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson,  was born in 1899.  In 1900, they lived on G Street, near Venango, they owned this house.  My grandfather, Samuel was 5 months old at the time of the census.   Thomas’ parents lived on G Street as well, at address 3439.  James B Robinson, whom I knew as Uncle Pete, was born in 1901.

 

Ida is pictured here with the Robinson Clan.
She is leftmost in the middle row.



I have been told that the family traveled back and forth to England together.  This included Thomas and Ida’s family, his siblings and their families and his parents, John and Mary.  They went to England to work in the winters.  Thomas was a bricklayer, as were his father and brothers.



Lettie Mae and Ida
in Atlantic City



When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas’ father, John Raynor had passed and Thomas, Ida, Samuel and James moved in with Mary (Thomas’ mother).  Thomas’ younger sister, Lillie M and her husband, Harry, lived there as well!  That was a fullhouse!  Thomas' sister Mary Lizzie lived next door at 3441 G Street. 

Thomas died February 21^st, 1911.  When he passed, they lived at 807 Shiller Street.  The death certificate states that he died of epilepsy with a contributing factor of mental derangement!



Sam, Jimmy, Norma and Grace with Ida



Sometime after Thomas passed, Ida married Henry Benhard Kuster, known as Ben Kuster.  In 1920, they lived at 3546 G Street.  Ida’s children, Samuel and James, lived with them.  Ben was a carpenter and had come to the US from France when he was 10.  

Mom Kuster with Uncle Sam
and Aunt Norma
Fox Chase



By 1930, Ida and Ben lived at 3029 Cedar Street.  Ben built this house.  They lived there with a "Roomer" by the name of Joseph P. Little.  For whatever reason, Ben is listed at 3031 Cedar, however this was a garage.   The property as a whole was worth $20,000 at the time.  The story craziest story that I've heard about Ben pertains to his car.  My father and his siblings were young when he was still alive.  In fact, my dad barely remembers him.  He would "electrify" his car by hooking it to the light somehow.  If the kids touched the car, they would get shocked!  WOW!



Mom Kuster, Mom Black and Bill?
Grandmom Robinson at Fox Chase

After Ben passed away, Ida lived at 3029 Cedar Street for a while but she couldn’t keep up with it financially.  Her sons, Sam and Jim took over the home and moved Ida to Sargeant Street.   Sam and his family lived in the Cedar Street house.  When the 1940 census is released, I will search for Ida.  I hope it doesn't proove to be as difficult as finding her in the 1930 census was. 

I have been unable to determine the exact date of Ida's death but it is estimated at about 1945.  I have been looking at these pictures of Ida more closely lately, I would guess she had a pretty tough life, but she sure looks like she knew how to laugh!