John Robertson came to Texas in 1889 from Mississippi and quickly became one of Rosser's first successful business men.  By 1891 he owned a Hotel, a Gin and a General Store and within ten years he owned those businesses plus a second gin, a farm implement store and two large farms.

     John A Robertson was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama 10 Oct 1850, son of Thomas Pinkney Robertson and Martha Washington Smith.  His parents were influential persons in that community as noted in the archives of the Library of Congress and John's lineage includes his great grandfather who was Maj. James "Horseshoe" Robertson, a Revolutionary War hero  

     In 1877 John married Willie Mirah Hudson who was born 1 Oct 1856 in Chickasaw MS.  They lived in Mississippi and had the following children:

1. William Pinkney b. 1879 d. 1943 (see his obituary)
2. Nancy Sue b. 1882
3. Jesse Clay b. 1885
4. John Addison b. 1887
5. Emma Kate b. 1889 in Texas

     John A & Mirah are among the charter members of the First Baptist Church of Rosser and John was one of the first members of the Scurry-Rosser Masonic Lodge.  John had a reputation as being a fair businessman and was one of the few who would extend credit in his businesses to those of the African-American race.  He was fondly referred to as "Mr. Robinson" by the persons of color within the Rosser community.

     John died 8 Apr 1928.  Mirah died 2 Nov 1935.  Some of his descendants live in the Scurry-Rosser area of Kaufman County today.

John Alford's grandson, William Pinkney Robertson, Jr., served in WW II.  He was MIA.  See newspaper article here.