Alexander Robb History

Alexander Robb

ALEXANDER ROBB  (History on file with Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  Reproduced with editing of spelling/typing errors only)
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Born:     January 21, 1853
Where:  Sidney Australia
Parents: William Robb - Ellen Bell
Arrived in Utah 1857 - Pioneer to Paragonah
Died:      January 15, 1926
               Paragonah, Iron County, Utah

History facts - Alice Robb Robinson - 1949
Sent in by Nora Lund - 1959
Betsy Topham Camp - D.U.P.
Paragonah, Iron County, Utah

History of Alexander Robb

Facts supplied by a daughter - Alice R. Robinson

Arranged by Nora Lund

Alexander Robb was born Jan. 21, 1853 at Sidney Australia, son of William Robb and Ellen Bell Robb.  they were both natives of Scotland and had come to Australia to make their home about 1839 or 40.

They went into the mercantile business and were very successful in this venture.  They were also of a religious turn of mind, and when humble missionaries from Utah preached the gospel of Mormonism to them they believed and were baptized.  From then on they were very active in the Church.

A large group of Saints in Sidney were desirous of coming to "Zion", so when Alex was 4 years old his family had disposed of their property and were ready to set sail for Utah.  A family history is told that William and Ellen brought either one or two trunks of gold pieces with them to Utah, and that Ellen wore a wide belt around her waist that had a complete inner-lining of gold pieces.

On June 27, 1857, the shop "Lucas" on which little Alex and his family were aboard, set sail from Sidney with Captain J.C. Daggett in command, bound for America and Utah.  William M. Wall was President of the Mormon group.  The voyage was quite perilous at times, but Alex, at his tender age wouldn't sense the danger and inconveniences that his parents and older members of the family did.

On Oct. 12, 1857, the 'Lucas' anchored in San Pedro Bay, California.  The trip over land to Utah is given more detail in other family sketches.  After landing, Alex's people, with the rest, made their way over the Southern route, intending to join the main body of the Church in Utah.  They stayed awhile in Cedar City, when they finally reached there, and then came on to the new town of Paragonah, 25 miles north where people were being invited to settle.

Alex's childhood was much the same as other pioneer youths' of this locality.  His duties were to herd cows, and do other farm chores, of course they had to be ever on the alert for Indians who were bad in those days.

Alex's education was limited.  In his later life he did lots of reading from news papers and other things, but he was never known to do much writings.  However, was well educated in the 'school of experience'.

When he was old enough to find him a wife, he and his brother Tom courted the ladies of their choice in Parowan.  Alex keeping company with Ellen Benson and Thomas Alice Tattersal, a cousin whose mother was a Benson.  Eventually both girls were brought to Paragonah as wives of these Robb boys.

Alex and Ellen were married July 9, 1877 in Paragonah ? (or perhaps Parowan) and later sealed in the St. George Temple May 25, 1925.  Alice standing proxy for her Mother.  they lived awhile at his father's home then he bought the lot now owned by a grandson, Revere Robinson, from Samuel P. Horsley.  On this lot was a little log house which the couple lived in first.  One or two of their older children were born there.  As soon as possible the large spacious adobe house was built and the rest of their children, numbering, altogether, 5-one boy and 4 girls, were born.

Alex turned his hand at many things as a means of making a livelihood for his family.  He secured farming land here in the Valley where he raised hay, grain and different things.  He had livestock of different kinds.  With the other men of this locality, he freighted to the mining camps at Delemar, and Pioche in Nevada, and Silver Reef in Utah.  By this method they could receive cash for the surplus grain, butter, cheese, eggs and the like, that they produced.

Alex was ever on the look out to better his condition, so he and his brother Tom saw the possibilities of a fine cattle ranch up in Horse Valley, some 18 miles south east of Paragonah.  so they used their Homestead right to secure this land.  Later Alex lost his because he let it be known that he hadn't lived on it the required time.  Bro. Mayhew Dalley, the assessor, of Cedar City told him there was such a thing as being too honest, and telling more than he need to have done.  However, that could be mentioned in this sketch as one of Alex's strong points of character.  All his life he was scrupulously honest in his dealings with his fellow men.

After losing his homestead right he bought land from the State and ranched Horse Valley many years.   They carried on a dairy business in the summer.  Alex loved cattle and it was a source of joy and satisfaction to see his fine cattle feeding on the lush meadow grass in the valley and roaming over the near-by hills.  However, he had no patience with sheep, often they were a menace to his ranch lands, grubbing the grass too close, etc.  He was rather disgusted when 3 of his daughters married sheep men.

Alex Robb will always be remembered for the fine systematic way in which he kept his corrals and out-buildings.  Every pole of his fence was in line and kept well repaired.  The locks on his granary and gates were intact.  He was very particular with his tools and machinery, he was a great hand to have a place for everything and everything in its place.  His animals were well fed and sheltered.  He took special pride in driving a well groomed team of horses.

He was very ambitious, he never had time or cared to loaf.  Even in his declining years when he wasn't able to do active work, he always kept busy puttering at some small chore that needed doing.  He loved to dance and enjoyed that entertainment along with theaters.

One little incident which was rather humorous might be related here.  His false teeth didn't fit very good and was a source of annoyance to him.  He would unconsciously take them out of his mouth and forget where he put them.  One day he was shocking grain in the field, and his mouth hurt him so he took his teeth out and laid them on the top of a shock of grain and went on about his work.  When the job was completed and he was ready to leave for home he remembered his teeth.  You can imagine what a sad time he had trying to find his teeth when every shock of grain looked the same.  Fortunately a friend came along with some kids who aided in the search and the lost was found.

Alex was cared for by his daughters for the 4 years that he lived after the death of his wife, Feb. 20, 1922.  The immediate cause of his death was Cancer which occurred Jan. 15, 1926.

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Source: DUP History sent to me by Judy Cripps.