The
Nicholas Robbins Family
MELZAR ROBBINS
(An obituary abstracted from The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, compiled and published by H. F. Kett & Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1878) Re: The Nicholas Robbins Family, No. 7.1.3
Melzar Robbins was born in the Green Mountains of Vermont on June 14, 1809. In 1831 he removed with his father's family to Chautauqua County, New York. In 1834 he married Aurelia Sprague and was engaged in farming in which occupation he continued for several years. Hearing the glowing reports of the far West and being favorably impressed with the many advantages claimed for the new country, he determined to brave all the hardships and privations that must necessarily be undergone by all the early settlers. He came to Illinois in the Spring of 1841 and remained until the Fall of the next year, when he returned to New York and brought his family back with him.
He was one of the pioneers of Northern Illinois, locating on a claim about one mile east of where now stands the Village of Apple River, where he was engaged in farming for a number of years. He had ten children, all of whom were still living at the time of his death. He died at his residence in Apple River on April 11, 1876. Many are they who will long cherish his memory for his unbounded generosity and large-heartedness. He was ever the poor man's friend, giving wherever there was need, and many were the acts of kindness he has performed. He was a kind husband and indulgent father. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian Church at Apple River, which was too small to contain the great number who followed the old citizen to his last resting place. Such is the record left by him that we could fill a volume with recitals of his good deeds but no words that we can employ would add any new luster to the character he bore in the community where he lived so long.
Submitted by Harold ("Hal") Hileman of Hopewell Junction, New York, January, 2007. Mr. Hileman may be contacted by email at hhileman@frontiernet.net.
NRD: Nicholas Robbins, John Robbins, Jeduthan Robbins (Sr), John Robbins (Sr), John Robbins (Jr), Seth Robbins, John Robbins, Melzar Robbins, William H. Robbins, Fanny (Robbins) Hileman, Harold H. Hileman, Lee E. Hileman, Harold D. Hileman