Brevard County FlArchives Biographies.....Robbins, George M. 
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Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 September 2, 2015, 10:48 pm

Source: Vol. II  pg.62-63  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present 

        GEORGE M. ROBBINS. In view of the wide diversity of interests he
represented and managed, the late GEORGE M. ROBBINS was one of the foremost
lawyers and business men of the state. His home for upwards of thirty years was
at Titusville, but he was closely associated in many ways with the development
of South Florida, including the country around Miami.
	Mr. Robbins was a native of Bath, Maine. He was first educated for the 
engineering profession, being a graduate of the Polytech Institute of Worcester 
Massachusetts. As a young engineer he was employed on construction work of the 
Mexican Central Railway in old Mexico. Subsequently he studied law, taking the 
full course at the Albany Law School in New York. On completing his legal 
education he came to Florida in 1885, and for about a year practiced at 
Orlando. Then in 1886 he removed to Titusville. At that time his law practice 
was not sufficient to engage all his talents, and he combined it with work as 
an engineer. He conducted surveying and other engineering operations along the 
Indian River. In a few years his law practice had reached proportions to absorb 
all his time and energies and he about that time became associated with the 
late Dr. W. S. GRAHAM, who died at Miami. The firm of Robbins & Graham has long 
been a prominent one in the bar and in business activities. Robbins & Graham 
combined with an extensive law practice a large real estate and abstract 
business. In time Doctor Graham took charge of the company’s business at Miami,
and a branch office was also opened at West Palm Beach under a separate
corporate organization. C. C. CHILLINGWORTH of West Palm Beach became a member
of the firm Robbins, Graham and Chillingworth and in charge of the West Palm
Beach office. This firm bought, platted and placed on the market a large body
of land now included in North Miami.
	When this firm was dissolved Mr. Robbins resumed individual law
practice at Titusville. He was local counsel for the Florida East Coast Railway
until his death. He was a lawyer and citizen of real distinction in Florida,
possessed of versatile talents, and his death at Titusville, October 8, 1912,
was a loss to his community as well as to his family. He was a Mason, Shriner
and a member of the Eastern Star.
	GEORGE M. ROBBINS married Miss MARY PADDISON, who survives him and 
resides at Titusville. She is a daughter of the late Capt. R. P. PADDISON, 
whose career made him one of the most prominent men in the development of East 
Florida. He was born in North Carolina, was a Confederate soldier, beginning 
his service at the age of fifteen, subsequently was a steamboat captain and was 
a pioneer in the river and coast transportation of Florida. In 1886 he moved 
his family to Titusville, and was one of the first to operate steamboats on the 
Indian River. He was captain of the steamer that brought part of the material 
for the Royal Poinciana Hotel at Palm Beach, before the completion of the 
railroad. Captain Paddison retired in 1905, and both he and his wife died in
1917.
	A son of the late GEORGE M. ROBBINS is RUFUS M. ROBBINS, a prominent 
attorney, now engaged in practice at West Palm Beach. He was born at Titusville 
in 1889, and was liberally educated. He attended Rollins College at Winter 
Park, was a student of both law and academic courses at Stetson University at
DeLand
DeLand, and also attended the University of Florida at Gainesville. He 
graduated LL. B. in 1911, and was associated with his father in law practice 
for about a year before the latter’s death. He then continued law practice at
Titusville until 1916, when he came to West Palm Beach. An important official
service that makes him widely known over Palm Beach County was 2 ½ years as
county judge. Since leaving that office he has been associated in practice with
Hon. M. D. CARMICHAEL at West Palm Beach.
	The old law and real estate organization of Robbins & Graham is still 
in existence as a corporation. RUFUS M. ROBBINS is president of the company. 
The firm still owns considerable land and other property interests on the 
Florida East Coast between Titusville and Miami. RUFUS M. ROBBINS is a Royal 
Arch Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of 
Pythias and Elks, and is a past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He
married Miss MARY MARVEL SHECKLER of Bucyrus, Ohio.


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