Robison, Willis Eugene, -1937

Willis Eugene Robison (1854-1937) was a Mormon pioneer, missionary, public servant, and farmer in Utah. He served a mission to the Southern States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1882 and 1884.

Mormon pioneer, missionary, public servant, and farmer.

Willis Eugene Robison was born to Benjamin Hancock Robison and Lillis A. Andree on March 1, 1834 in Crete County, Illinois, where the family had settled soon after the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. In April of 1854, Benjamin and Lillis sold their home and headed for Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City in August of that same year. The family stayed a short time in Salt Lake, then continued on to Fillmore, Millard County.

It was in Fillmore that Willis grew up and received the rudiments of his education. He attended school in the winter and worked on the farm the remainder of the year. At the age of twenty Willis married Sarah A. Ellet and soon thereafter they moved to Scipio, Millard County. Willis remained in Scipio until he was called in 1882 to serve as a missionary in the Southern States Mission.

While serving in Tennessee Elder Robison witnessed and was a victim of the growing animosity towards the members of the Church within the boundaries of the Southern States Mission. Hatred towards the missionaries was so strong in this area that two of his companions were slain.

Upon hearing the conflicting rumors surrounding the deaths of his comrades, Elder Robison thought it appropriate that he go to Cane Creek, Tennessee, the sight of the massacre, and obtain the true facts of the killings for himself. Because he feared that he might fall into the hands of the mob, he disguised himself as a migrant cotton worker looking for a job. When he arrived at the James Condor home, the sight of the attack, he was told that Elder John Gibbs, Elder William Berry, and the two sons of Brother Condor had been murdered. The same night Elder Robison arrived in Cane Creek he was encouraged to leave. If the mob had found him in the Condor home it would have meant death to all present. His departure from Cane Creek was aided by a thick fog fell, enabling him to travel undetected.

The bodies of the martyred Elders were recovered by the acting Mission President of the Southern States Mission, B.H. Roberts, who also traveled in disguise. Elder Robison was assigned to escort the caskets to Utah. During the trip home Elder Robison faced a variety of problems including constant ridicule and nearly having to leave the caskets behind because a conductor threatened to not to let them on the train.

After Robison returned from his mission he led an active life in the Church and the community. In 1889 he was called to be a Bishop in Loa, Utah, and was elected to represent Beaver and Paiute Counties in the Utah House of Representatives. In 1892, he was responsible for splitting the large Paiute County in half, and naming the new county Wayne, after one of his sons. In 1893 the Wayne Stake of the L.D.S. Church was organized and Willis Robison was called as its first president.

While living in Wayne County Robison's service to the community continued. He was elected Superintendent of Schools three terms in a row and he was also chosen as a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the Utah State constitution. Willis Robison died on July 17, 1937 at the age of eighty three.