SOLOMON AND JNO. ROBBINS, OLD CITIZENS, Smith County, TX  

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Submitted by Debbie Brown - cottagehill@altavista.com  
16 May 2001  
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SOLOMON AND JNO. ROBBINS, OLD CITIZENS 
"Some Biographies of Old Settlers." 
Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I  
By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas  
Chapter LXXXVII. - Pages 349-352     

Solomon and John Robbins were of English descent and trace back their 
ancestors to many generations.  These two brothers were natives of  
Montgomery county, Ala.  Solomon was born April 9th, 1818, and John  
July 2, 1824.  They were models in point of citizenship and devout 
Methodists, living up to th tenets of that great organization; 
strictly honest, moral and religious.  They helped build churches 
and schools  that blazed the way to enlightenment and civilization.  
What Solomon and John Robbins said was marked down as the truth, 
because their integrity was beyond the least question.  I have not 
the full data of  the later generation, but will mention those I now 
remember.  

Solomon Robbins came to Texas in 1848, but returned to Alabama where 
he married Miss Amanda Funderburg.  Remaining there several years, he 
did not remove to Texas until 1859, where he died in October, 1878.  
He raised a family of six children; all lived to be grown.  Solomon  
Robbins served in the Florida Indian war before he was grown, and 
performed the duties of a soldier that characterized his life as a 
good citizen.  He was too old to enter the Confederate service, but 
did much service with the state troops, spending a large part of his 
time at  Camp Ford doing guard and other duty.  He was a Mason for 
many years, and a Methodist from boyhood up to his death.  He was one 
of those truly Southern men, loyal to his country, his God and his 
fellow-man. He never gave a mortgage in his life or asked a man to go 
his security.  His word was his bond and it stood at its face value.  

Hon. John W. Robbins, the present State Treasurer of Texas, is the son 
of Solomon Robbins.  He seems to be a "chip off the old block," as he 
is a leading Methodist and bears the name of "Honest John Robbins."  
He lived in Smith county thirty years and moved to Wilbarger county 
in 1889, where his citizenship now is.  He is a prominent man in 
Texas and  occupies a popular and prominent place in Texas politics.  
He  represented his district in the State Legislature in 1894; 
re-elected  in 1896, and elected State Treasurer in 1898, the position 
he now  holds.  He is a popular man and still has an inviting field 
before him, and the confidence of the people.  He married Miss Sarah 
Long, of this city, the attractive and intelligent daughter of Capt. 
R. B. Long,  mention made in another place.  

Archie Robbins, a younger brother, is the popular tax collector of  
Henderson county.  He is a very popular official and has the 
reputation  of an honest and Christian man.  Moral, upright and 
straight in his dealings, makes him a model official, a good citizen 
and a Christian gentleman.  

John W. Robbins, a brother of Solomon, was the same type of a 
Christian man, living up to that standard of manhood that made him so 
very  popular and a lovable Christian character.  He married Miss 
Francis Weaver, a noble, Christian woman, the daughter of Col. Wm. 
Weaver, a prominent farmer and old settler in this county, mentioned 
elsewhere. He made a good Confederate soldier, enlisting in the 
company commanded by W. S. Henderson, and died during the war at New 
Iberia, La., July 20th, 1863.  He died in the Christian faith he had 
practiced, satisfied as to his future in the redeeming grace of His 
Heavenly Father.  His  life was a Christian one, full of the zeal of 
the Redeemer.  He, with others, built the Bascom church, seven miles 
east of this city.  He  came to Texas in 1854, and settled in the 
Bascom neighborhood, where he and his good wife raised an interesting 
family.  They had ten children, all girls but one.  

Three younger brothers--Peyton, Tom and George--all gave up their 
lives in the Confederate cause.  

The Robbins brothers were fine specimens of manhood, all over six 
feet tall, noted for their Christian piety, integrity and patriotism.  

John Robbins' descendants are scattered over Texas and the same  
characteristic reaches the later generations, making them among the  
best people of their respective communities.