Bio of ROBBINS, John H. (b.1840), Faribault Co., MN
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  John H. Robbins, a retired farmer living in Winnebago City, was long 
connected with the agricultural interests of Martin County and the 
industry and enterprise which characterized his business career well 
entitles him to the luxury of rest.
Mr. Robbins is a native of Upper Canada, born in Johnstown district, 
on the 22nd of December 1840.  His father, John Robbins, was born in 
Cornwall County, Canada East, of English descent, and married Emily 
Hastings, a native of Connecticut and a daughter of George W. Hastings, 
who was a soldier of the War of 1812 and removed to the British dominion 
when his daughter was a maiden of eight summers.  The parents of our 
subject remained in Canada until 1856, where, by way of the lakes and 
rail they went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and thence to Blue Earth County, 
locating on the Willow Creek.  The resided there until 1862, when, 
affrighted by the Indian massacre at New Ulm, they left their place 
of residence and removed to Clayton County, Iowa, where the lived 
until the death of the father, January 22, 1863; he was born November
28, 1802.  The mother, whose birth occurred September 10, 1810, 
departed this life on the 31st of March 1878, in California.  They 
were the parents of nine children, namely: Harriet, William, George, 
Emily J., Matilda, John H., Teresa, Eleazer and Robert h.  During the 
late war Eleazer responded to the President's call for troops, enlisting 
in a Minnesota regiment, and died during service.
  In the land of his birth Mr. John H. Robbins was reared until 
the age of sixteen years, and in its schools received his education.  
He then came to the United States, locating in Minnesota, and the 
following year, in1857, went overland to California, traveling with 
and ox team and a company composed of five men.  It took them seven 
months to complete the journey, during which they had several encounters 
with hostile Indians.  They passed through Denver, then a hamlet 
containing only a few log cabins.  On reaching the Golden State, Mr. 
Robbins located in Sonoma County, where he engaged in the livestock 
and meat business, also in mining, until 1866.  Returning east, he 
made the trip by way of the isthmus and New York City.  He then came 
to Minnesota. Locating first in Nashville Township, Martin County, 
upon a tract of wild land, on which a very little improvement has 
been made.  He became owner of 540 acres, which he put in a state 
of high cultivation, adding to it also many substantial improvements, 
as a dwelling good barns and outbuildings generally and fences, which 
latter divide the farm into fields of convenient size; also he planted 
a grove, and the beautiful trees are now a living monument to the 
progressive spirit of the owner.  In addition of general farming he
also carried on stock-raising, keeping on hand good grades of horses 
and cattle.
  On the 28th of March 1869, in Nashville township, Martin 
County, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Robbins and Miss Melissa 
'Grant, a lady of many excellent traits of character.  In 1857 the 
Grant family removed to Wisconsin from New Brunswick, and four years 
later they arrived in Minnesota, coming with ox teams and covered 
wagons.  They occupied a log cabin and underwent all the experiences 
of pioneer life on the frontier.
When the Grant family first settled on their farm eight miles west of 
Winnebago City, there was only one house between the city and their 
home.  Their nearest neighbor to the north was ten miles distant, and 
southward it was difficult to tell how distant the nearest neighbor 
resided.
  Their crops were destroyed by grasshoppers and they suffered 
somewhat from the Indians.  The parents, John and Hannah (Miller) 
Grant, both natives of New Brunswick, have now passed to the other 
world, the mother dying in Nicollet County, Minnesota, at the age of 
sixty-two years, and the father in Garden City, this State, seventy-
seven years of age.  Their children, seven in number, were Howard D., 
Maria, Willard, Leonard, Melissa, Bertha and Nelson.  The first named 
was a soldier in the late war, a member of the Second Wisconsin cavalry, 
and dies during service, of measles, at Camp John.  The father of these 
children strongly favored abolition principles, and when the Republican 
Party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, he joined 
its ranks and was one of its stalwart supporters.
  Mrs. Robbins is a native of New Brunswick, and is the mother 
of seven children, viz.: Sherman A., in California; Fred H., now a 
student in Parker College, Winnebago City; Frank H., attending the high 
school; Jesse N., who died at the age of seven month; Bert E.; Buy R.; 
and Arthur W.
  Mr. Robbins, our subject, holds to the principles of 
Republicanism, and has served in several local offices, among them 
that of School Treasurer.  His wife holds membership in the Free 
Methodist Church, and is and active Christian.  Mr. Robbins is a typical 
pioneer, a man of strong physique, and a worthy citizen of his adopted 
county.  In 1889 he removed his family to Winnebago City, where he has 
a good property, and is living retired there, enjoying the fruits of 
his former toil.