Robbins, J. F. bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 194-195; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
J. F. Robbins - manufacturer of and dealer in marble and granite, both imported and domestic, is one of the most reliable business men of Canton. He carries a large line of goods, varying from the common grades to that which is fit for the sculpter’s chisel, and is therefore able to supply the needs of various classes, from those in humble financial circumstances to the capitalist. He is deserving of the patronage of the people and secures a large proportion of the trade in his line of business. He comes of English ancestry and his kinsmen in both maternal and paternal lines have for several generations held important social and commercial positions in the United States.
Our subject is a son of John and Edee S. (Cummings) Robbins, natives of New Hampshire and Maine respectively. They moved with their family to St. Clair, Mich., in 1852, and there for two years the father carried on a farming and milling business. At the expiration of that time he removed to Quincy, Ky., at which point he was engage in the lumber business. But after a few years he quitted the Blue Grass State and journeying northwest located in Canton in the year 1856. He purchased a good farm in Buckheart Township, but retired from agricultural life some years since. The mother passed away to her final resting place, May 18, 1880, and the father died in September, 1890. The latter had reached an advanced age, his natal day having been June 26, 1804. The parental family included J. J., born March 23, 1837; Edee Elizabeth, born September 9, 1838, and now deceased and J. F., of whom we write.
The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Newport, Me., August 22, 1843, and remained at home until he had reached his eighteenth year, at which age he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry. They were mustered in at Chicago, and then sent to St. Louis where they were in barracks awhile, and then went to Paducah, Ky., drilling and performing the various camp duties. They next went up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, where they took part in the battle, and where Mr. Robbins was severely injured by some flying missile. After the fight he was placed in the field hospital, and from there sent to Hamburg, Tenn., where he remained a week or so, afterwards going to Benton Barracks, St. Louis. He was finally discharged by order of the surgeon as unable to resume service. Mr. Robbins suffered greatly even after reaching home, and it was quite a while before he was able to attend to business of any kind.
Our subject having in a measure regained his health, commenced to learn the marble cutting trade with Sanford & Barrows at Canton. Finishing his apprenticeship in a year’s time, he was employed by this firm for a long time, and traveled for them in different directions. Finally, in 1879, Mr. Robbins bought out the business, and has continued to run it most successfully up to the present writing. He carries a large supply of marble, and is the oldest man in his line of business in the city.
Mr. Robbins married Miss Jennie Watson, of Canton, on May 28, 1871. She was a native of Ohio and a daughter of Stanley and Celia (Woodhouse) Watson. Of this union have been born three children, viz: Walter, February 29, 1872; Leona, August 5, 1873, and Clifford, October 3, 1877. The subject of our sketch is a highly respected gentleman, and one who possesses a great amount of information. Being a constant reader and interested in ancient matters, he has collected a number of prehistoric relics, and those of our Indians and Mount Builders.