Dallas Co. TX - Obit for Eli Bradley Robbins - 1951

From: Ed Robbins <edrrobbins@hotmail.com>

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Following is the obit for my grandfather, Eli Bradley Robbins, from the
Dallas Morning News.
 

    Obituary

    The Dallas Morning News Monday, February 5, 1951

     

    Early-Day Contractor, Eli B. Robbins, Dies

     

    Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday for Eli Bradley
    Robbins, 95, former contractor and builder who built the first
    suspension bridge over the Trinity River.

    He died Saturday in a Dallas hospital. His home was at 4545 Gloster.

    The Rev. John Knox Bowling will conduct services at Northridge
    Presbyterian Church, 6920 Bob-o-Links. Burial will be in Grove Hill
    Cemetery.

    Robbins could vividly recall a Civil War incident when Union troops
    surrounded his father^Òs Alabama plantation. His father, a wounded
    Confederate soldier home on furlough at the time, walked out and
    introduced himself to the Union troop commander, using a Masonic
    fraternal handgrip when he shook the officer^Òs hand.

    Apparently a Mason himself, the Union officer ordered only the
    livestock and chickens confiscated, leaving the plantation relatively
    untouched.

    The next day, the Robbins place was the only one in a wide area to
    have meat and other foods and household supplies left. These were
    shared with people from neighboring plantations.

    Eli Robbins was born in Bellville, Ala. in 1856 and came to Texas
    when he was 18 years old and settled in the Ferris area. Long before
    moving to Dallas in 1913, he put up the first suspension bridge
    across the Trinity in Ellis County.

    He drilled Ellis County^Òs first artesian well, which supplied Ferris
    with water at that time. People from the surrounding territory hauled
    the water away from the well in barrels.

    Surviving Robbins are his wife, Mrs. Minnie E. Robbins, of
    Waxahachie, whom he married more than 64 years ago; daughter Mrs.
    Mary Robbins Shiels, four sons, W.B. Robbins, E.B. Robbins, Jr., Ed
    R. Robbins, all of Dallas, and T.C. Robbins, Larchmont, N.Y.; a
    sister, Miss Minnie Robbins of Beatrice, Alabama; eight grandchildren
    and five great-grandchildren.

    Pallbearers will be the Louis Blaylock, Lloyd Blaylock, George
    Blaylock, Leland Apperson, Emory Apperson, and George Spurgin.

    Arrangements George A. Brewer Funeral Chapel.

    Submitted by Ed R. Robbins, Jr., grandson.

If there are any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  Thanks
& regards.
Ed Robbins