Lewis H. Robbins, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Lewis H. Robbins
LEWIS H. ROBBINS. As one of the representatives of Porter county's agricultural interests, one of the largest land owners in the county, and a man who has achieved a worthy success and holds the confidence and esteem of the public, a review of the career of Lewis H. Robbins, of Portage township, is of more than ordinary interest. His business prosperity has been built up by his own energies and capacities, and he stands as an example of what thrift, diligence and sagacity will do for a man in this land of great opportunity. Mr. Robbins was born on the farm on which he now makes his home, and he is a son of Samuel P. Robbins, and a grandson of Samuel Robbins.
Samuel Robbins was a native of New England, from whence he came west as far as Athrns county, Ohio, at an early day, and there spent the remainder of his life in farming. Samuel P. Robbins was born near Springfield, Massachusetts, March 26, 1809, and was ten years of age when he was taken to Athens county, Ohio, there securing his education in the common schools. In 1833 he came to Porter county, Indiana, and bought a claim of one hundred and sixty acres for $100, and after it was proved up, in 1835, he returned to Ohio, and was there married, June 18, 1837, to Miss Caroline Coe, who was born in Athens county, September 6, 1815. Returning to his claim in the woodland, Mr. Robbins and his bride settled down to pioneer life in a little log cabin, and during the years that followed suffered all the hardships and privations that fall to the lot of pioneers in any community. However, by hard and industrious labor they succeeded in developing a good property, on which they erected the frame house in which Lewis H. Robbins was born, and resided therein until 1854, in which year Samuel P. Robbins removed to Valparaiso. There he engaged in business, contracting twelve miles of the Panhandle Railroad, but this venture proved disastrous, and Mr. Robbins was forced to return to his farm and again build up a competency. This he succeeded in doing, and at the time of his death, which occurred near Gossett's Mills, April 8, 1889, he was a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen. His widow survived him until October 19, 1898. Of their nine children, five grew to maturity and two are now living: Lewis H. and Joseph D., the latter of whom married Etta Gaylord, and resides in Mills county, Iowa.
Lewis H. Robbins was reared on the home farm, and save for six years spent in Valparaiso has spent his entire life here. He attended the district schools until he was sixteen years of age, and then gave his attention to farming, forming a partnership with three of his brothers. Later, however, he purchased the interests of the others, by this transaction coming into possession of 800 acres, buying part of the lands at $125 an acre, and to this he has added from time to time until he now owns 2,200 acres. Mr. Robbins' land is all in a high state of cultivation. Nothing that he takes hold of is allowed to languish for want of intelligent attention, and he is an energetic and wide-awake man, giving due attention to all matters affecting the general welfare of the community as well as his own private business. A great believer in the value of education, he has been active in promoting movements calculated to benefit the county in this way, and all of his children have been given excellent advantages. He is also greatly interested in church work, liberally supporting the First Presbyterian church of Valparaiso. In this respect he is following the lead of his parents, who founded the first Presbyterian church in Portage township, and with the exception of $100 donated the money for its erection. In political matters he is a Republican, but has not cared for public office. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have erected one of the most beautiful mansions in Porter county. It is built upon the lines of modern architecture, finished in hard woods, lighted by electricity and gas (which is furnished from their own plant), and heated by the most modern type of furnaces. The mansion is furnished in the most modern style, and spacious lawns surround the premises, shaded by forest trees. It is a home of contentment and peace, and the hosts of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, as well as the stranger, will be accorded a cordial greeting. This beautiful country seat is known as "Robbins Hurst."
On February 17, 1888, Mr. Robbins was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Stacy, who was born in Ohio, September 3, 1853, educated in the common schools, worked her way through high school, and eventually became a teacher in Hocking county, Ohio, her native county. She is a daughter of Samuel I. and Sophia J. (Camp) Stacy, and a granddaughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Rice) Stacy, the grandfather being a native of near Salem, Massachusetts, and the grandmother of Rutland, Vermont. Samuel Stacy came to Ohio at the age of seventeen years, locating at Marietta, where he obtained employment, and subsequently became a farmer. His wife came as a girl with her parents and settled in the same locality, and they were there married. Four sons were born to them: Flavius, Samuel I., Alvin and Joel. Samuel I. Stacy grew up in Athens county, Ohio, where he was married to Sophia J. Camp, and they continued to reside there during the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in August, 1889, and she passing away in 1907. They were the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living, Mrs. Robbins being the only resident of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have had four children, as follows: Joseph S., who attended the public schools and graduated from Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, and is now postmaster at McCool, Indiana. He married Gertrude Lenburg and has three children, Grace L., a graduate of Oberlin College. Ohio, was for a period a teacher in Wisconsin, and in September, 1911, married Frank G. Moran, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Edith A., a graduate of Oberlin, married Tracy Strong, who also graduated from that institution, and they reside in Seattle. Glenn L., a graduate of the agricultural course in the Illinois State University, is now associated with his father in business.
Mr. Robbins has been successful in business undertakings, and yet has never been indifferent to his duties as a citizen and member of society. Every good enterprise for the advancement of his community has his and Mrs. Robbins' active support, and they have illustrated in public and private life the best attributes of lofty and exemplary citizenship in consequence of which they are universally respected and esteemed.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 515-517
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook