The Whitewater Falls Stock Farm

By 1911, the Whitewater Falls Stock Farm was the largest Percheron farm in the United States.

James William Robison
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Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scottland
  • Born, March 19, 1831 Near Banff, Scotland, UK.
  • Died, July 2nd, 1909, El Dorado, KS 
  • He was the first to grow alfalfa in Kansas and was a persistent advocate of wheat as the staple and most profitable crop for his section of the state, his advocacy of the latter earning for him the title of "Wheat Robison." 
  • He added by purchase to his original holdings until he farmed, with the assistance of his sons, 17,000 acres.
  • He served as a member of the upper house of the Illinois legislature from 1874 to 1879
  • He was elected to the Kansas state senate from Butler county
  • in 1901 was elected a member of the railway commission of Kansas and served for two years as chairman of the board
  • was for several years a member of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, in which he was a director at the time of his death and had served two terms as president
  • He was one of the most active factors in the organizing of the Kansas State Cattle Shippers' Association and served as president of that body
  • He was also for some four years a trustee of Washburn College at Topeka
  • He was a charter member of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, in which he served on the executive committee and one term as president
  • With the late N. F. Frazier he was one of the founders of the Eldorado State Bank and served on its directorate as well as on the board of the Farmers' National Bank of Pekin, Ill.
James William Robison was born in Banff, Scotland, UK to James and Isabella Robertson.  Due to a misspelling on a land deed in 1835, the name Roberston was changed to Robison.  Mr. Robison retained the new spelling and the family followed suite. Below is a genealogy chart with his children. 
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The farm has been the scene of many charming hospitalities and where the visitor always received a warm welcome. The dedication of the great central barn occurred on June 5, 1909. Two thousand invited guests were transported by special trains from nearby towns and cities and made merry at the largest barn dance ever held in Kansas.

The Percherons

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Casino
Former Heard Sire at Whitewater Falls,
winner of 115 First Place Prizes and Championships, including The American Royal and the Worlds Fair, St. Louis, 1904

The Restoration Project

After decades of neglect and decay, the barn is finally being restored! Today the barn is owned by Duane and Amanda Busenitz. They've got the roof replaced and things are happening!
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