The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 709 

WILLIAM V. E. ROBBINS.

The life record of William V. E. Robbins is an interesting story of a man who
has carefully formulated and given shape to his own character and career.
Actuated by a spirit of progress, he has faced hardships and difficulties, has
overcome obstacles and step by step, has advanced to a desired goal. He is now
one of the highly respected ranchers living in the vicinity of Zillah. He was
born in Birmingham, England, September 26, 1863, a son of Dr. John and
Elizabeth (Benton) Robbins. The father's birth occurred in Birmingham, May 21,
1834, and his death occurred on the 22d of February, 1907, while his wife passed
away on the 2d of December, 1902. The paternal grandparents were John and
Elizabeth (Burton) Robbins, both natives of England. The former, who was born in
England in 1810, died when seventy years of age and the latter. whose birth
occurred in 1812, passed away in 18.50. They were married in 1833. Their son,
Dr. John Robbins, acquired his education in a Church of England school and at
the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to a noted engraver, for whom he
worked for seven years. He then entered business on his own account with a
partner and his work received prizes at the World's Exposition in London in the
early '50s. He afterward took up the study of medicine tinder Dr. Hasting, R.
C. S., and Dr. Lawrence, S. M. B., but his health failed, and resorting to
outdoor life, he engaged in farming until 1872, when he came to the United
States, taking up his abode in Lincoln, Nebraska. He secured a homestead near
Hastings. Nebraska, but afterward returned to Lincoln and later went to Omaha,
where he remained for three years, and while there he engraved the first map of
Nebraska for the Omaha Bee. Subsequently he removed to San Francisco in 1875 and
went to Portland, Oregon, in the same year. In 1878 he removed to the Kittitas
valley with his wife and fourteen children and settled on what is now known as
the Springfield farm, there remaining until his death. He was the first
physician in the Kittitas valley and practiced for three years but gave up
professional work when other physicians came who could take care of the needs of
the population in that vicinity. In the year 1854 Dr. Robbins was married to
Mary Ann Garrett, of England, who passed away March 18, 1859, and later he
wedded Elizabeth Benton, who was born at Leamington, England, March 7, 1839, and
passed away December 3, 1902, at the age of sixty-three years. She was the only
child of William Benton, who was valet to an English nobleman in early life and
later engaged in general merchandising. He and his wife died in England. Dr.
Robbins had seventeen children, two of whom were born of his first marriage and
fifteen of the second. The family became a prominent and well known one in
Washington. In the fall of 1878, during the Indian outbreak in Kittitas county,
their home was used as a fort by the few families living in that locality. The
life of Dr. Robbins was one of great usefulness. He attained a high degree of
efficiency in various lines and not only was he an able medical practitioner
but he also studied veterinary surgery and was the first representative of the
profession in Kittitas county. Both he and his wife were members of the Church
of England and they possessed many admirable traits of character which won them
the confidence, high regard and love of those with whom they came in contact. In
many ways Dr. Robbins left the impress of his ability and individuality upon the
history of the community in which he lived and no record of pioneer development
in this section of the state would be complete without a tribute to the worth of
his work in connection with the early settlement and upbuilding of the state.
William V. E. Robbins of this review acquired a public school education in
Omaha, San Francisco and Portland, as his parents followed the tide of western
emigration and established the family home in these various cities. When his
textbooks were put aside he assisted his father in the development of the home
farm until he had attained his majority, when he and his brother, Charles O.,
rented the home place of the father and later purchased the farm, which they
have since cultivated together. The ranch is located on Reeser creek, in
Kittitas county, and comprises six hundred and forty acres of farm land and an
equal amount of ranch land. Upon this place they raise grain, hay and stock, and
Mr. Robbins of this review was busily engaged in the further cultivation and
development of that property until 1912, when he and his brother sold the land
and the two entered the hardware business in Ellensburg, Washington. They
conducted their store until 1915, when they disposed of their stock of hardware
and removed to Yakima county. Here they purchased one hundred and forty-two
acres of land four miles north of Toppenish, constituting one of the improved
ranches of the district, whereon they have since engaged in the raising of hay
and corn. They also handle cattle and are conducting a dairy business.

On the 12th of May, 1914, Mr. Robbins of this review was married to Wilhelmina
Agnes Finley, who was born in Washington, D. C., a daughter of B. L, and Mande
(Thompson) Finley, who were also natives of the national capital and came to
Washington in 1909, in which year they settled in Ellensburg. There the father
entered the real estate business, in which he has since been engaged. To Mr. and
Mrs. Robbins have been born two children: Wilhelmina Katherine, now three years
of age; and Esther Blanche.

Mrs. Robbins is a member of the Christian Science church. Mr. Robbins is an
independent democrat in politics and has never been an office seeker. He is a
successful pioneer rancher and one whose record in the development of his
business interests denotes close application, honorable purpose and successful
accomplishment.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.