| Randolph and Elizabeth Robb and is the only one now living. His parents were natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively and they moved from their Pleasant Hill farm to Kinderhook township in January, 1867. The mother died in September of the same year and the father was afterward again married in 1872. At that time he decided to sell out and remove to Kansas and Charles P. Robb, not desiring to go to the west, watched his chance and ran away from home. He afterward went to live with an uncle, James Demoin, who took a great interest in him and sent him to school, so that he acquired a good English education, displaying a special aptitude in his studies. He afterward engaged in teaching school in the winter and farmed in the summer up to the time of his marriage, which was celebrated on the 26th of March, 1879. Miss Sarah Mygatt, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Mary Mygatt became his wife. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Kinderhook township, where Mr. Robb carried on general agricultural pursuits until March 1, 1883, when he removed to Pleasant Vale township, where he purchased the farm which had been the childhood home of his wife. Through his excellent management and keen judgment as a farmer and dealer in stock he was soon able to pay for his farm and also have some surplus capital. In 1889 he was appointed agent for Colonel Price, of Quincy, Illinois, to have charge of and look after all of his lands in Pike and Adams counties. To this work he assiduously applied himself and gained much of the experience which has contributed so largely to his success as a land dealer in later life. In 1890 he removed to New Canton and there entered on a somewhat different mode of living. He was chosen justice of the peace, which position he filled for eleven years. He also read law to some extent and his practice in the justice courts was attended with a gratifying measure of success. The line of experience was also of much benefit to him later in life, as he was always able to write all documents necessary to trading in land, doing it without assistance and so perfectly that he never became involved in law suits. He had always been interested in the lands of the Mississippi bottoms and, possessing keen sagacity and an optimistic mind, he believed that some day this land would become very valuable, although at that time it was regarded as comparatively worthless by most people because of its litigation in the Bond suit and also by reason of the lack of drainage and improvements. Mr. Robb however, was not afraid to risk his chances, having firm faith in the future value of the property. In 1901 he admitted Charles Gard to a partnership in the land business and together they invested in much of this bottom land. In 1902 the Bond suit was forever settled and then it was that the people began to realize the worth of the bottom lands. An excellent business sprang up and Mr. Robb and Mr. Gard bought and sold about ten thousand acres in that year, their business operations amounting to a quarter of a million dollars. Lands in that locality have advanced from fifteen and twenty dollars to one hundred dollars per acre--a fact which indicates the keen foresight and business discrimination of Mr. Robb. He and his partner have certainly done much to build up their community and county. Through their earnest efforts, zeal and energy even in the face of many discouragements they have endeavored to make this district as attractive and valuable as any to be found and their labors have been attended with success when viewed from a material as well as financial standpoint. The firm is now recognized as among the most prominent representatives of land interests in this part of the state and the position to which Mr. Robb has attained in business circles is indeed an enviable one. ______________
GEORGE W. CAPPS |
