Frank Chester Robertson (January 12, 1890 – July 29, 1969) was an American author best known for his western novels. He published over 150 hard cover books and countless other short stories, serials and newspaper articles. In later years, he also wrote a column for the Provo Herald called "The Chopping Block".
Robertson was born in Moscow, Idaho. His father had become a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and moved his family to Chesterfield, Idaho. His family were farmers. To help support his family while his father was away on LDS missions, Robertson herded sheep and his mom briefly became a postmistress.[1] In 1914, he obtained a 320 acres (1.3 km2) homestead in the hills a few miles east of Chesterfield.[2] In 1919, he married Winifred "Winnie" Bowman with whom he had three children. After moving to Ogden Utah in the 1920s and then Salt Lake City, Robertson and his family settled in Mapleton Utah in 1937. He lived the rest of his life in Mapleton, writing stories and working in his cherry orchards.[3]
Careeredit
Robertson started writing short stories while in Chesterfield. He wrote his first novel in 1924 titled, The Foreman of the Forty Bar. The novel was first published in People’s Popular Monthly and then syndicated in several newspapers.[3][4] It was published as a book in 1925. His most popular book was his 1950 autobiographical book, A Ram in the Thicket: The Story of a Roaming Homesteader Family on the Mormon Frontier, which was later condensed in Reader's Digest. His prime writing years were from the 1920s to the 1940s, but he continued writing until his death. He wrote under several pseudonyms including Frank Chesterfield, Robert Crane and King Hill.[5]
In 1954, the Western Writers of America presented the Silver Spur award for best juvenile story for Robertson's story, Sagebrush Sorrel.[6] He was also the 1959-1960 president of the Western Writers of America.[7] His library of letters, notes, and correspondence were donated to BYU's Harold B. Lee Library.[8]
^. General Land Office Records. Bureau of Land Management. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
^ ab"Famed Utah writer dies in L.V." Deseret News. Salt Lake City. July 30, 1969. pp. B15.
^"The Foreman of the Forty-Bar". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. September 28, 1926. p. 4.
^"Pseudonyms Were the Cover for a Real Author". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. November 24, 1986.
^. Western Writers of America. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
^. Western Writers Association. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
^"Correspondence, 1937-1963". BYU's Harold B Lee Library. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
External linksedit
Works by Frank Chester Robertson at Faded Page (Canada)
January 01, 1970
frank, chester, robertson, january, 1890, july, 1969, american, author, best, known, western, novels, published, over, hard, cover, books, countless, other, short, stories, serials, newspaper, articles, later, years, also, wrote, column, provo, herald, called,. Frank Chester Robertson January 12 1890 July 29 1969 was an American author best known for his western novels He published over 150 hard cover books and countless other short stories serials and newspaper articles In later years he also wrote a column for the Provo Herald called The Chopping Block Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Notes 4 External linksEarly life editRobertson was born in Moscow Idaho His father had become a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church and moved his family to Chesterfield Idaho His family were farmers To help support his family while his father was away on LDS missions Robertson herded sheep and his mom briefly became a postmistress 1 In 1914 he obtained a 320 acres 1 3 km2 homestead in the hills a few miles east of Chesterfield 2 In 1919 he married Winifred Winnie Bowman with whom he had three children After moving to Ogden Utah in the 1920s and then Salt Lake City Robertson and his family settled in Mapleton Utah in 1937 He lived the rest of his life in Mapleton writing stories and working in his cherry orchards 3 Career editRobertson started writing short stories while in Chesterfield He wrote his first novel in 1924 titled The Foreman of the Forty Bar The novel was first published in People s Popular Monthly and then syndicated in several newspapers 3 4 It was published as a book in 1925 His most popular book was his 1950 autobiographical book A Ram in the Thicket The Story of a Roaming Homesteader Family on the Mormon Frontier which was later condensed in Reader s Digest His prime writing years were from the 1920s to the 1940s but he continued writing until his death He wrote under several pseudonyms including Frank Chesterfield Robert Crane and King Hill 5 In 1954 the Western Writers of America presented the Silver Spur award for best juvenile story for Robertson s story Sagebrush Sorrel 6 He was also the 1959 1960 president of the Western Writers of America 7 His library of letters notes and correspondence were donated to BYU s Harold B Lee Library 8 Notes edit Robertson Frank 1995 A Ram in the Thicket The Story of a Roaming Homesteader Family on the Mormon Frontier Moscow ID University of Idaho Press ISBN 978 0 89301 173 4 National Register Information System General Land Office Records Bureau of Land Management Archived from the original on July 26 2011 Retrieved March 7 2010 a b Famed Utah writer dies in L V Deseret News Salt Lake City July 30 1969 pp B15 The Foreman of the Forty Bar Deseret News Salt Lake City September 28 1926 p 4 Pseudonyms Were the Cover for a Real Author Deseret News Salt Lake City November 24 1986 Spur Award History Western Writers of America Archived from the original on January 24 2010 Retrieved March 7 2010 About WWA Western Writers Association Archived from the original on July 9 2011 Retrieved March 7 2010 Correspondence 1937 1963 BYU s Harold B Lee Library Retrieved March 7 2010 External links editWorks by Frank Chester Robertson at Faded Page Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Chester Robertson amp oldid 1221435317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
