Robison Park History

William R. Robison was the son of a Creek blacksmith. His mother was a Chickasaw. He was born in Stonewall, Indian Territory, just months before the end of the Civil War.

His business training began in 1879 when his father asked him to drive the mail wagon between Okmulgee and Wetumka. Many times, farmers on the mail route asked young Will to shop for necessities in the next town. The farmers then entrusted him with money for the purchases that Will delivered on the return trip.

Will came to Muskogee in 1884 with his father. They opened a livery stable in the 200 block of Broadway Street. In this business on the north side of the street, they met a lot of "drummers" passing through town.

Drummers were traveling salesmen who hawked a wide variety of merchandise. They traveled from town to town throughout the American West peddling such non-perishable items as pots and pans or bolts of fabrics.

Will often traveled with these men on their routes as a companion and co-salesman. It was common for him to be away from Muskogee for two months at a time.

His journeys took him as far west as Shawnee. He usually returned through Eufaula in completing the circuit. Then Will and the drummers followed the Texas Road back to Muskogee. This extensive traveling during his youth spoiled him as far as indoor work was concerned. Instead of becoming another one of the drummers, Will eventually went into real estate sales following the allotting of tribal lands.

When the Dawes Commission began tribal registration, Will Robison went to Tams Bixby for help with his registration. As acting chairman of the federal commission to enroll citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes, Bixby had authority to make decisions regarding enrollment.

By common practice, applicants were enrolled according to their mother's tribal affiliation. Robison would have normally been enrolled as a Chickasaw. However, Will wanted to claim Creek tribal land where he had built improvements. Bixby granted Robison's request to allow him to enroll as a Creek and thereby keep his farm.

Robison's allotted land was located southeast of Muskogee. There he developed the Robison Addition on the property. The subdivision still exists today on the north side of Robison Park. It includes the streets named Robison, Sallie, Augusta and Monta. Monta Cottingham was Robison's step-son. Augusta Street was named for Will's niece. Sallie was Robison's wife.

In late March, 1916 Will offered thirty acres for sale to the city. The city council was looking for land to use as a city park. At the time, the property was still outside of the limits, with the city boundary now abutting the land on two sides.

Initially, half of the city council balked at the transaction. The competing property considered by the council already had trolley tracks extending to within a block of the site on Okmulgee Avenue. The alternate property was located just beyond the end of paving at the 24th Street intersection.

The councilmen then "motored" out to see the Robison property. During the trip, they learned that the trolley company was willing to extend track to the Robison location.

The opposing councilors thereupon agreed to proceed with the Robison purchase. The city used bond money voters approved for parkland acquisition. The price was $80,000 ninety-three years ago.

Work on improving Robison Park is moving forward under the leadership of Mark Wilkerson and the city's Parks Department. Finally, this city jewel is receiving its long neglected polishing.