The
Nicholas Robbins Family
OSCAR E. ROBBINS
OSCAR E. ROBBINS (Biographical data supplied through the courtesy of Hal Hileman from his Robbins family records and from related obituaries and census abstracts) Re: The Nicholas Robbins Family, No. 7.1.8
Oscar Edwin Robbins, son of Hiram Robbins and Emily Richardson, was born on November 27, 1842 in Chautauqua County, New York. It appears that this family relocated with Hiram's older brothers to the border area between northwestern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin within a few years after Oscar's birth. It also appears that Hiram had died and that Emily had remarried by 1850. In the census of that year for Gratiot, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Oscar Robins, age 8, born in New York, is recorded as a member of the household of John Kelly, age 37, born in Vermont and Emily Kelly, age 28, born in New York.
Oscar was engaged in farming throughout his life, both in Wisconsin and Illinois and perhaps for a time in Iowa. His obituary notes that he served in the Civil War as a member of Company H of the 96th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. Lafayette County, Wisconsin records note the marriage of Oscar Robbins and Lucina E. Perry on December 24, 1865 in Gratiot. Her obituary indicates that Lucina was born on January 13, 1844, and that she was adopted in her infancy by a Watertown, New York couple. Her formative years were spent in that place, where she received training as a teacher, the occupation she was engaged in before her marriage.
Oscar and Lucina continued to reside in the Gratiot area following marriage and were noted as residents there in both the 1880 and 1900 Censuses. By the 1910 Census they had resettled in Warren, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. According to his obituary, Oscar died at his home in Warren on September 6, 1923. Following Oscar's death, Lucina went to live with her daughter, Gertrude (Robbins) Yaw, in Hampton, Iowa. She died there on March 13, 1927 and was later buried with her husband at Elmwood Cemetery in Warren, Illinois.
The children recorded to Oscar and Lucina (Perry) Robbins included:
1. Emily Robbins, born in February, 1867 in Wisconsin; married Smith A. Breed on February 20, 1889 in Gratiot,
Wisconsin. Issue: Lucina Breed, born in October, 1896, in Illinois and Elsie Breed, born around 1902 in Illinois. In 1900 and 1910 this family was recorded farming in Rush Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. By 1920, Emily and Smith had divorced and Emily was recorded in the 1920 Census for Warren, Illinois as a practical nurse and head of household, residing with her daughter Elsie Kinney and granddaughter, Vera Kinney.
2. Hiram E. Robbins, born in August, 1870 in Iowa; married Nellie May Hintz on February 22, 1894 in Gratiot, Wisconsin. Issue: Floyd O. Robbins, born in June, 1895 in Wisconsin; Clarence H. Robbins, born in August, 1897 in Wisconsin; Susan M. Robbins, born in May, 1900 in Wisconsin; Ethel Robbins, born around 1902 in Wisconsin; and John Robbins, born around 1907 in Wisconsin. Hiram followed his father into farming. In the 1900 Census he and his family were recorded as residents of Wayne Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. By 1910 they had removed to Ibsen, Richland County, North Dakota. In 1920 they were living at Abercrombie, also in Richland County, North Dakota and in 1930 they were recorded at Everts, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Hiram died in Otter Tail County on December 29, 1934.
3. Gertrude May Robbins, born in April, 1872 in Illinois; married William H. Yaw on December 31, 1891 in Gratiot, Wisconsin. Issue: Alta L. Yaw, born March 23, 1893 in Alexander, Iowa; Harvey E. Yaw, born March 20, 1896 in Alexander, Iowa; William L. Yaw, born December 20, 1900 in Alexander, Iowa; and Forrest K. Yaw, born December 26, 1902 in Alexander, Iowa. Following their marriage, William and Gertrude settled in Franklin County, Iowa, where they had a farm. They were still residing in Franklin County at the time of the 1930 Census.
4. Cordelia Robbins, born in July, 1876 in Wisconsin; married Hamfred Larson on July 14, 1908 in Gratiot, Wisconsin. Issue: Edna B. Larson, born around 1909 in North Dakota; Harlie W. Larson, born around 1912 in North Dakota; and David F. Larson, born around 1918 in North Dakota. Following their marriage, Hamfred and Cordelia settled in Richland County, North Dakota, where Hamfred was noted as a farmer in the 1910 Census. By the time of the 1930 Census, they had resettled in Warren, Illinois.
Submitted by Lawrence G. Robbins, February, 2009. Note: Mr. Robbins gratefully acknowledges the family records supplied to him by Hal Hileman, a descendant of Melzar Robbins, an uncle of the subject of this profile, Oscar Edwin Robbins. For further information, Mr. Hileman may be contacted by email at hhileman@frontiernet.net.