Cowlitz County WA Archives Biographies.....Robb, Joseph Smith  February 17, 1866 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 28, 2009, 5:54 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 152-153
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     The prosperous and attractive city of Kelso, Washington, is largely 
indebted to such men as Joseph S. Robb for its growth and development into one 
of the most advanced communities in Cowlitz county, for during almost four 
decades in which he has resided here he has earnestly and effectively worked 
for the advancement of the public interests. Mr. Robb, who conducts a 
successful hardware and agricultural implement business at Kelso, was born at 
Villisca, Montgomery county, Iowa, February 17, 1866, and is a son of John C. 
and Catherine (Russell) Robb. His father, who was born in Baraboo, Wisconsin, 
was of Scotch descent, the town of Robb Roy, Scotland, having been named after 
his father, J. S. Robb, a native of that section of Scotland. One of his 
brothers, Captain J. S. Robb, who also was born at Baraboo, Wisconsin, 
organized a cavalry company at Fayetteville, Arkansas, which served in the 
Union Army, and he died of wounds received in the service. Catherine (Russell) 
Robb was born near Zanesville, Ohio, and was of German and Scottish ancestry. 
Two of her brothers, William and Thomas Russell, served in the Union Army 
during the Civil war as members of the Fourth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry.

     Joseph Smith Robb received his educational training in the district 
schools of Iowa, and in 1891, when about twenty-five years of age, came west, 
arriving at Kelso, Washington, March 10th, at which time the town had a 
population of about two hundred. Here he established a grocery store, which he 
ran successfully for seventeen years and then turned his whole attention to 
the real estate business, in which he engaged for three years. Since that time 
he has been the owner of a hardware store, carrying a large and well selected 
stock of shelf and heavy hardware, tools, implements and various auxiliary 
lines, and through his uniform courtesy, prompt services and fair dealing, has 
built a splendid business. He has prospered in business affairs and is now 
vice president and a director of the Cowlitz Valley State Bank, which has 
belonged to the federal reserve banking system since 1923. He was also vice 
president of the Wallace Land Company, which sold six hundred and nine acres 
of the Kelso townsite in 1910, and was a member of the group of Kelso men who 
built the first drawbridge across Cowlitz river, at a cost of thirty thousand 
dollars. It was a toll bridge for a number of years, or until the county 
bought it and made it a free bridge. In many other ways Mr. Robb has evinced a 
public-spirited interest in things pertaining to the promotion of the town's 
welfare and has always been regarded as a representative and influential man.

     In October, 1912, in Kelso, Mr. Robb was united in marriage to Miss Grace 
J. LaFleur, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and comes of French and English 
ancestry. She is a daughter of J. J. and Adeline (Wells) La Fleur, of whom the 
former was born in New York city, came to Oregon in 1885, and later to Kelso, 
where he was in the employ of Mr. Robb for six years. His death occurred in 
1926. His wife was born in Chicago and accompanied her family on their 
migration to Hood River, Oregon, in 1884. She now resides in Kelso. Mr. and 
Mrs. Robb have two children, Joyce, born in October, 1915, and Josephine, in 
January, 1917. Mr. Robb is a democrat in his political views and has always 
been greatly interested in public affairs, though he has never been a seeker 
after public office. He is a member of Kelso Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M.; Lloyd 
Huntington Lodge, No. 192, K. P., and the Woodmen of the World. He gave 
material assistance in the building of the Masonic temple and was one of the 
organizers of the first volunteer fire department here. He belongs to the 
Rotary Club and is a charter member of the Kelso Club. He has been true and 
loyal in every relation of life and is well worthy the high esteem in which he 
is held by his fellowmen throughout this community.

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