George L. Robb

George L. Robb, a member of the firm of Robb Brothers, dealers in groceries in Albia, Iowa, and one of the Supervisors of Monroe county, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of Pittsburg, April 7, 1843, being the youngest in a family of eight children, --four sons and four daughters. His parents, Josiah and Rachel (McMillan) Robb, were also natives of the Keystone State, and the father carried on agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. In 1855 he removed to Iowa with his family, locating in Poweshiek county. He after went to Mahaska county and purchased a tract of land, on which he carried on general farming and stock-raising. His death there occurred in 1865, but his wife, surviving him many years, lived until 1890, and departed this life in Albia, Iowa. On both the paternal and maternal sides our subject is of Scotch descent, and his grandfather, Joseph Robb, was a native of Pennsylvania.

The gentleman whose name introduces this review came with his parents to Iowa when a lad of eleven years, and the following year went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he began clerking for a dealer in hats, caps and men's furnishing goods. For five years he remained in that store and thoroughly mastered the business, becoming a proficient salesman. He then returned to Mahaska county where he remained until 1863, when he responded to the country's call for troops, joining the service as a member of Company E, Thirty-third Iowa Infantry, the regiment being commanded by Colonel Samuel A. Rice, of Mahaska county. It was assigned to duty with the western army, and was sent to Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Mr. Robb participated in a number of important engagements, including the battle of Helena, Arkansas, July 4, 1863; the battle of Little Rock, that of Jenkins' Ferry, the capture of Mobile and others. He enlisted as a private, was made Orderly Sergeant, promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1864, and served in that capacity until August, 1865, when the war having ended he was honorably discharged, in August, 1865. For three years he served as a valiant defender of the starry banner which now waves so proudly over the united nation.

Mr. Robb at once returned to his home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and there remained until 1866, when he came to Albia, where he has since resided. Not long after he entered into partnership with his brother, Joseph Robb, in the grocery trade, under the firm style of Robb Brothers. They are both wide-awake, practical and progressive business men, widely and favorably known and well established in business. They carry a large and complete line of staple and fancy groceries, flour and queensware, and their honorable dealing and courteous treatment of their patrons has secured for them a liberal trade which they well deserve.

In December, 1866, Mr. Robb was united in marriage to Miss Mary Campbell, of Albia, daughter of John Campbell. She was born in Indiana, and was brought to this State by her parents during her early girlhood. Three children grace this union: Ella, now the wife of W. M. Glenny, an employee of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company; Madge, at home; and George L., Jr.

Mr. Robb takes quite an active interest in political affairs, and is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He has frequently been called to positions of public trust, having served for fourteen years as Clerk of Troy township, while in 1893 he was elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors for a term of three years, and is the present chairman. He has served for twelve years as a member of the Board of Education of Albia, and the public-school system finds in him a stalwart champion. Socially he is a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 81, I.O.O.F., and of Orman Post, No. 337, G.A.R. He discharges his duties of citizenship with the same loyalty and fidelity that marked his career when on Southern battle-fields he followed the stars and stripes to victory and thus aided in the perpetuation of the Republic.