Biography

Homœopathy was introduced into Auburn, Cayuga county, by Horatio Robinson, who was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1804. He graduated at the Berkshire Medical School and commenced practice at the age of twenty-one. For the next twelve years he resided at Stonington, Connecticut, after which he went to Yates county, New York, where he remained four years and then settled in Auburn. While living in Yates county he became acquainted with Mr. Bayard of Seneca Falls, afterwards Dr. Bayard of New York, who was then testing the merits of the homœopathic system. This was Dr. Robinson's first introduction to homœopathy. He, like others, became convinced only after practical demonstration. When he located in Auburn in May, 1841, he formed a partnership with Dr. Humphrey, who was physician to the hospital of Auburn state prison, and who was ignorant of his partner's change of medical faith. The day after he arrived Dr. Humphrey took him to see a case and the next day went to New York, leaving Robinson to attend the business. The patient had been sick for seven weeks, and had been seen by two allopathic physicians in consultation. Dr. Robinson treated this case secretly and successfully with homœopathic medicines, and the result caused the new system to be favorably received. Soon afterward cholera broke out in the prison, and Dr. Robinson at Dr. Humphrey's request treated certain cases with arsenic and veratrum, and with marked success. In July, 1841, Dr. Robinson was called to Throopsville to see a patient for Dr. McCarthy, who was anxious to observe the effect of the homœopathic remedies. The success in the case was so complete that he began to investigate, only to become convinced and soon to adopt the new system.

Horatio and Mary Ann had 5 children: Mary Ann Robinson,age 3, who was buried on March 31, 1831 and interred in the Robinson Family Vault, Horatio Jr., Margaret, William P., and Elizabeth Ann.