Bio of Rollins, Irvin W. (b.1829) Wabasha Co., MN
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Rollins, Irvin W., eldest son of Laban C. and Nancy (Colby) Rollins, and
one of the pioneer settlers of Greenwood Prairie, was born January 18,
1829, in the town of Orange, Orange county, Vermont. His grandfather,
David Rollins, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was a soldier in
the war of 1812. Laban C. Rollins was born and reared as a farmer, in
Corinth, Vermont. He became a tanner and shoemaker, and when our subject
was eight years of age bought a farm in the town of Topsham, Orange
county, Vermont. It was here that Mr. Rollins spent his early days, and on
arriving at maturity was employed in teaching during the winter. On the
fourth of October, 1855, he landed at Minneiska, and proceeded to
Greenwood Prairie. His first claim was three miles east of the present
village of Plainview, but in the next March he left it and located on the
north-east quarter of section 27, Elgin. His present handsome residence
stands within fifty rods of the old claim shanty. Proceeding to Wisconsin,
he purchased three yokes of oxen with which to break up the prairie. For
two years himself and a brother "kept bach" together and farmed in common.
The first thing they planted was six quarts of apple seeds. Our subject
has been an active fruit-raiser, and took the first premium ever paid on
fruit at both state and county fairs. Is now extensively engaged in
bee-culture. He built the first stone, and also the first brick, chimney
on the prairie; and also the first cellar-wall. Mr. Rollins was one of the
first justices elected in the township; has also served as treasurer, and
for many years as town clerk. He has ever been a staunch temperance man,
both in word and deed. In 1859 our subject returned to his native state,
and was married at Montpelier, on the 4th of April, to Miss Ellen Keith,
daughter of Francis Keith, of Barre, Vermont, at which place Mrs. Rollins
was born, June 19, 1833. Their children were all born in Elgin, as
follows: Ida Almira (now Mrs. Alex. Scott), March 20, 1860; Flora Adeline,
February 8, 1862; Francis Laban, March 25, 1865; Mary Ellen, October 10,
1867.
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1920.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab3.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Rollins, Irvin W. (page 504), Minnesota pioneer, and for nearly 40 years a
resident of Elgin, who passed from this life on February 13, 1895, was a
man universally honored for his sterling character. He was born in East
Orange, Orange County, Vt., January 18, 1829, son of Laban and Nancy
Rollins. The family name was originally written Rowlings. The immediate
ancestors of the subject of this sketch, one of whom was the well known
Deacon Colby, were worthy and sturdy citizens of Orange County. Laban
Rollins, the father, was a shoemaker in East Orange, but in 1837, when
Irvin was eight years old, he moved to Topsham, Vt., where the family
resided on a farm. Irvin attended school in both East Orange and Topsham,
and also for a while the academy at Corinth. He was never a strong child,
and when a young man he was prostrated with typhoid fever, the effects of
which lingered with him during his whole life. He was of a lovable
disposition, quiet and fond of solitude. Still he was no recluse, but
could on suitable occasions indulge in fun and frolic. His sense of
justice and right were very exact, and these qualities, with his manly
conduct, won for him at school the name of "Judge." He applied himself
with marked and untiring diligence to his studies, and prepared himself
for the work of teaching. He continued this professional work through
eight or ten winters; the summers he spent on the farm. About this time he
went to Manchester, N. H., where he worked in the mills. In the autumn of
1855 Irvin Rollins and his brother Orvis came to Minnesota, taking claims
east of Plainview, Wabasha County, where they built a cabin in which, with
Ezra and Enoch Dickerman, they spent the winter. In the spring of 1856,
finding that they had located upon the Sioux reservation, and doubting the
legality of their title, they removed to Elgin. The Whitewater flowed
smoothly past their new cabin. The first summer brought them plenty of
garden vegetables, and also some famous water melons. The summer of 1857
was spent in erecting a part of the farm house now standing, and Laban and
Nancy Rollins, with their family, came to occupy the new home. Early in
1859 Irvin Rollins returned to Vermont, and was married April 4, to Ellen
Keith, whom he brought at once to Elgin. Though not strong in body, by
care and prudence Mr. Rollins made farming pay. His farm was always in
order. He was a pioneer in fruit culture, and for many years kept a good
nursery. He made a careful and thorough study of bees and every season
produced a large quantity of honey. Though never an office seeker, he was
closely connected with public affairs. He was the first justice of the
peace in Elgin, and deeds and mortgages were in the early days executed by
his hand. For many years he was clerk of the Town of Elgin, the
supervisors often meeting at his house. A man of strong religious
convictions, he served as trustee of the Methodist church, and was for
years superintendent of the Sunday school. At any early period he
identified himself with the prohibition party. One of his leading
characteristics was his sense of order and system. For 46 years he kept a
diary, in which he jotted down every item of interest or value. He was a
thoroughly furnished man, a careful reader with correct judgment and
patience. Mr. Rollins was a lover of home. It was his kingdom and he its
ruler. In his wife, Ellen Keith, he found a worthy helpmeet, a noble woman
with queenly gifts and Christian grace, whose good deeds have kept her
memory fresh. They carefully guarded their home and their lives gave it
the sacredness of a sanctuary. Their family consisted of four children,
Ida, Flora, Frank and Mary, all of whom still live, except Mary, who died
December 28, 1908. Mrs. Rollins, after 32 years of consecrated service to
her home, her husband and her family, passed triumphantly from earth to
heaven, on April 4, 1891, the same day of the month on which she was
married. Her death brought into Mr. Rollins' life a solitude from which he
never recovered. Mr. Rollins never forgot the home of his childhood, to
which he made several visits, on the first occasion taking all his
children with him, the last being made in the autumn before his death. He
often talked of the old friends and old places, the old orchard and the
old spring at the foot of the hill. He was a man of industrious habits and
prudent economy; in disposition retiring and humble, with a heart full of
sympathy and tenderness. His soul was full of music and he was for years a
member of the church choir. His last sickness continued about three weeks,
and on Sunday, February 13, 1895, he passed peacefully away on the
anniversary of his mother's birth. "A hoary head is a crown of glory when
it is found in the way of righteousness."