WILLIAM ELLIOT ROBBINS

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 1155

WILLIAM ELLIOT ROBBINS. Numbered among the prosperous and influential residents of Stafford, Tolland Co., Conn., is William Elliot Robbins, who was born Feb. 13, 1854, in Springfield, Mass., a son of Brinton Payne and Caroline Dorothy (Jones) Robbins.

The father of William E. Robbins was born in 1813, in Hebron, Conn., and died in 1896 in Springfield, Mass. By calling, he was a farmer and continued in that line all his life, going to Springfield, Mass., when a young man. In 1838 he married, his wife being a daughter of Elijah Jones, of Wilbraham, Mass., and she died in Springfield, Mass., in 1899, aged about eighty-two years. To these parents were born: Henry Lee, a farmer of Wilbraham; James Edward, a railroad man living in Springfield, Mass.; Sarah Emily, married Ira B. Kibbe, of Somers; Francis Eugene, a carpenter of Springfield, Mass.; Austin Monroe, a farmer of Springfield, Mass.; William E., our subject; Mary Jones, married Leoline Kendall, and they now live in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts.

Joel Robbins, the paternal grandfather of William E., was born at North Bolton, Conn., Aug. 25, 1766; he was the only son of Miner and Dimis Payne Robbins. He was a very worthy man, a miller by trade, who was a very successful citizen of Hebron, Conn., and died deeply mourned by all.

The education of William Elliot Robbins was obtained at Chicopee Falls, Mass., and when he was sixteen he returned to the farm and remained with his father until he removed to Stafford in 1879, at which time he began to learn the trade of carpenter with his father-in-law, Mr. William Robinson Davis. Since then Mr. Robbins has divided his time between his trade and farming, now owning sixty acres of land in Orcuttville, which formerly was in the possession of Mr. Davis. On July 31, 1898, Mr. Robbins was given the position of carpenter for the Stafford Worsted Co., which he still retains, although he also directs the management of his farm and keeps a few cows. All of the butter used by the family is made on the place, and is of most excellent quality.

The marriage of Mr. Robbins occurred Dec. 28, 1880, to Madelia Augusta Davis, the daughter of William Robinson and Clarissa (Howe) Davis, of Stafford. Mr. Davis was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, and his family is one of the oldest and most highly respected in Stafford. To Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have been born: Grace May, born May 5, 1882; Blanche Eveline, Aug. 13, 1885; Marcia Leona, Aug. 18, 1887; Hazel Davis, Nov. 30, 1890.

Mr. Robbins is a member of Wasseon Lodge No. 32, I.O.O.F., of which he has been secretary, and which he has served in other capacities, and he is also associated with the A.O.U.W. In religious matters he is an active member of the Methodist Church of Stafford Springs and is one of its firm supporters, serving upon the Sunday-school board and always giving liberally of his means to its support. While in national matters Mr. Robbins is a Democrat, in local affairs he believes in voting for the man best suited for the position, but he is conservative and has never been a seeker of official distinction. Honorable in all his dealings, attending to his own affairs, Mr. Robbins is a respected citizen of Stafford.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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