Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 525 - 526 

GEORGE C. ROBBINS, senior member of the banking firm of G. C. Robbins & Co., at Mt. Hope, stands conspicuous among the successful business men and financiers of the county, where he is recognized as a straightforward and thoroughgoing business man, and one whose word is a sufficient guarantee for the fulfillment of his promise. Mr. Robbins' early home was in the town of Scott, Ogle Co., Ill., where lie was born Nov. 17, 1849. His father, Sandford Robbins, was a native of Oneida County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, and for several years thereafter carried on an extensive business in lumber. He subsequently moved to Warren County, Pa., but not being encouraged by the business outlook there he afterward proceeded to Wisconsin. In 1845 he removed to the Prairie State, and settled in Ogle County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1866. Mr. Robbins was three times married; his first wife, whose maiden name was Smith, became the mother of three children, two of whom, Lewis and Delilah, now Mrs. Alvin Schrambling, survived her. For his second wife Mr. Robbins married Miss Mary Smith, a sister of his first wife. She died in Pennsylvania, leaving two children: John, of Republic County, Kan., and William D., of Pottawatomie, Kan. During the late Civil War William became a member of the 12th Illinois Cavalry, enlisting in 1862, and serving until the close of the war. Diana Luce became the third wife of Mr. Robbins. and by their union five children were born, namely: Hiram F., Amelia, Meda, G. C. and Mark. Hiram, an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, of Pottawatomie County, Kan., is a prominent citizen, and has represented his district in the State Legislature; Amelia, deceased, was the wife of Ervin Clark; Meda, deceased, was the wife of F. Walsh; Mark resides in Michigan.

            George C., of whom we write, remained on the farm with his parents until twenty-two years of age, receiving a good common-school education, and a thorough training in habits of industry from his excellent parents. His first move after leaving the home of his parents was to visit O'Brien County, Iowa, where he remained about six months, going from there to the Territory of Utah. In that place he became interested in mining, and followed that occupation for two years, and then the ensuing two years was engaged in the same business in Colorado. But mining was too precarious for a life work, and our subject next engaged in stock-raising at different times in New Mexico, Tex., and No Man's Land, and finally, in the fall of 1882, pushed northward to Kansas, where he still continued his lucrative occupation. A year later, having amassed quite a sum of money, our subject purchased 160 acres of land in Greeley Township, and increased his business by including sheep-raising, and besides rearing stock is extensively engaged in buying, feeding and selling the same, his stock farm being one of the most valuable in the county. He is also a member of the firm of H. Sowle & Co., dealers in grain, and derives a satisfactory income from that business. In 1886 Mr. Robbins, alert to the financial needs of the township, with Mrs. Ellen A. Gilmore as a partner, established his present banking business, which is carried on in an able and systematic manner.

            Perhaps the most important step in the life of our subject was his marriage, which took place Oct. 3, 1883, the bride being Miss Ida Heck, daughter of I. H. Heck, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. To them has been born one son, George Ingalls.

            Mr. Robbins is a wide-awake, energetic man, and from a modest beginning, in which he was dependent upon his own resources, has placed himself among the wealthy citizens of Sedgwick County. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the Congregational Church, to the support of which they give liberally and cheerfully. In politics our subject is a steadfast Republican, and as a man and a citizen contributes his full share toward enhancing the intellectual and moral welfare of the township and county.

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