Thomas M. Robbins
History of Montana, 1894
US Genweb Montana Archives

Thomas M. Robbins, a prominent stockman residing near 
Melrose, Beaver Head County Montana was born in Sullivan 
County Indiana, April 25, 1834.His father, Thomas M. Robbins, 
Sr. was a veteran of the War of 1812 and a pensioner of that 
war; was twice married and by his second wife, nee Elizabeth 
Hinkle had three sons and four daughters of whom our subject 
was the fourth born.  The father died in 1861, in the 
seventieth year of his age, and the mother died in 1854.  
In the early part of their lives they were Methodists but 
later united with the Universalist Church.Thomas M. Robbins 
Jr. was reared in his native State and May 9, 1855, enlisted 
in the regular army as a private and served five years.  In 1
856 he was sent to British America to guard an exploring 
expedition, after which he was located successively at Ft. 
Snelling, Ft. Leavenworth and Salt Lake,  in 1859 he was on 
detachment service on the Snake River and while there buried 
a number of emigrants who had been killed by the Indians.  
He remained at Camp Floyd until his time expired, when he 
was honorably discharged.  Then he went to Denver Colorado 
and remained in that part of the country for about a year.  
In the fall of 1861 he started back east intending to enlist 
in the Union Army but when he reached Council Bluffs he 
changed his plans, returned to Ft. Bridger and was employed 
by Benjamin Hadley on the overland stage route, acting as 
local agent and stock driver about one year.  In the 
spring of 1863 he heard of the gold discoveries at 
Bannack and directed his course to this point arriving 
June 14.  He became associated with the California Company, 
with whom he mined successfully until 1865, but like many 
other miners, he made investments in claims whereby he lost 
his hard earnings.  The winter of 1865-66 he spent on Rock 
Creek in the Big Hole Valley, farremote from civilization, 
as at that time his nearest neighbor was ten miles away.  
In the spring he went to Moose Creek in Deer Lodge County 
where he was for two years engaged in the stock business 
and was successful.  In 1868 he removed to Rocker and 
began selling goods and keeping a boarding house and here 
too he made money.  The following year, he went to 
Rochester where he met with financial loss and soon 
found himself broke again.  Then he went to Silver 
Bow and engaged in the hotel business and was there 
off an on until 1875.  In 1876 he came to his present 
location and took claim to a tract of Government land, 
120 acres on which in 1879 he built a comfortable 
residence.  Here he has since resided engaged in 
stock raising.  Aside from his ranch he has various 
other interests.  He owns a store at Rochester, has 
two houses in Melrose and has invested in cooper, 
lead and silver mines.Mr. Robbins was married March 
14, 1864 to Miss Ester Whitney, a native of Jackson 
County Michigan and a daughter of Price Whitney.  
Their only sons, William L. Robbins is the proprietor 
of the Central hotel at Melrose.

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