robinss
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
SAMUEL C. ROBINS is and has been
one of the prominent men in Douglas county, owing to the excellent manner
in which he has handled the resources at his command here and the wisdom
displayed in laboring for the welfare of the county at large. He
is now engaged in farming and resides about two miles south from Waterville.
He was born in Miami county, Indiana, on November 30, 1848, being the son
of Samuel C. and Katherine (Ryan) Robins, natives of New Jersey.
The father died on March 14, 1863, in Miami county, Indiana, and was descended
from an old New Jersey family. The mother died in 1850, in Indiana.
Her ancestors were natives of Ireland. The first twenty-one years
of our subject's life were spent in Indiana, during which time he gained
his education from the public schools and also in special training in farming
and the ways of the world, having been left an orphan at the age of fifteen.
From Indiana, he went to Minnesota and for five years was in various employments,
then returned to his native state, remaining there until February 19, 1884,
the date when he started west. On March 29th of the same year, he
located where he now resides and since that time has been one of the substantial
and wide awake men of the Big Bend country. In 1886, he was appointed
sheriff to serve out the unexpired term of Mr. Jordan, deceased, and at
the expiration of that time was formally elected to that office, his name
appearing on the Democratic ticket. In 1890, he was elected county
commissioner, running far ahead of his ticket. He has been school
director of the district since its organization and has also been director
of the Waterville high school since its establishment. In the fall
of 1890, Mr. Robins was elected at a mass meeting of the citizens in Waterville
and took charge of the Douglas county exhibit of the first Inter State
Exposition held in Spokane. His knowledge and wisdom displayed in
brining to the front the products of this county and its resources, resulted
in untold good to Douglas county. Fraternally, Mr. Robins is a member
of the A. F. and A. M. and of the O. E. S. His wife also belonging
to the latter.
Mr. Robins has two brothers, Charles E. and
Ezekiel V., and one sister, Margaret N. Deeds, and one half sister, Katherine
Brower.
On May 7, 1880, at Peru, Indiana, occurred
the marriage of Mr. Robins and Miss Ida H. Steiner, a native of Lima, Ohio.
Her parents, Gottleb and Mary M. (Steiner) Steiner, were natives of Germany
and are now living in Waterville. Three children are the fruit of
this marriage, Edwin S., Nellie M. and Florence S.
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