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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania published in 1905 by The Genealogical Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JESSE ROBBINS, owner and proprietor of the Robbins green-houses, located on Ridge street, in Carlisle, is one of the much esteemed and prosperous business citizens of that place. His connection with commercial floriculture dates from Jan. 15, 1895, when his location was on West Louther street, at the old Campbell green-house. In June, 1896, he removed to his present most desirable location. Prior to this he purchased the property and erected his present commodious greenhouses, beginning with three structures, two of them being 20x50 feet in dimensions and one 10x50 feet. Later he added another building 25x25, and still another, 20x50. One house is devoted to the culture of violets alone, other departments being given to roses, carnations and chrysanthemums. One space is devoted to palms, of which he shows a great variety. Mr. Robbins cultivates about three acres of outside plants, his patronage coming from the flower-loving residents of Carlisle. He occupies a fine modern home, which he erected, and all of his surroundings are first-class and substantial. He is one of the progressive and energetic young business men of the city, who has encompassed success on account of his industry and close attention to his own affairs.

Mr. Robbins was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, England, March 27, 1864, a son of William and Esther (Perry) Robbins, and is the only member of his family in this city or country. He is one of a family of eight children, all living, namely: Alfred, born Aug. 29, 1854: George, March 30, 1856; Mary, August 12, 1857; William; John, May 4, 1861; Jesse, March 27, 1864; Henry, April 6, 1867; and Sarah, Nov. 26, 1869.

Mr. Robbins was trained to be a gardener after leaving school, and learned all the practical parts of the business during a four-years apprenticeship at Sneed Park, near Bristol, England. He then went to the Veitchs Nursery, where he served an apprenticeship of eighteen months in the orchid department at Chelsea, London, and from there went to the Scilly Islands and was employed in the government gardens for Gov. Thomas Algernon Smith Dorrien Smith, and there had the opportunity of making special studies of the narcissus and allied bulbous plants. His next change was to the royal botanical gardens at Kew, and there he spent four years, perfecting his knowledge of water lilies and ferns, and becoming so well qualified in all these mysteries that he was given charge of the seed propagating house of the private plant department, a responsible office he capably filled for two years. Mr. Robbins had thus most unusual advantages afforded him for the correct study of the subject of gardening in every branch and his training was much superior to that of any collegiate course in advanced botany.

In April, 1889, Mr. Robbins came to America, landing in Boston on May 1st, and was engaged as private gardener to E. F. Bowditch, Esq., at South Framingham, Mass., and later at Brookline, Mass., with Prof. Sargent, the author of “The Sylva of North America” and other works. He then went to Falmouth and Cohassett, and in 1893 came to Carlisle, where he was employed for eighteen months as a private gardener to Frank C. Bosler, Esq. Realizing that there was a good opening in Carlisle for an experienced florist, he decided to permanently locate here, and his present flourishing business is the result.

On May 24, 1890, at the Y. W. C. A. in Boston, Mr. Robbins was married to Miss Emma Rosewell, a native of Bristol, England, a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Waite) Rosewell. The children of this marriage are: Harold Victor, born in June, 1891; Leopold Rosewell, January, 1894; Mildred Esther, April 1895; Francis Jesse, May, 1896; Emma Ella, June, 1897; and William Alfred, December, 1902. Although reared Baptists, Mr. and Mrs. Robbins now are valued members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, Dr. George Norcross, pastor. Mr. Robbins was naturalized Jan. 19, 1899. Fraternally, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., Lodge, No. 91, Carlisle; and Carlisle Encampment, No. 183, and both he and wife belong to Edith Rebekah Lodge, No. 113, I. O. O. F., of Pennsylvania. He also belongs to the Elk Fraternity, being a member of Carlisle Lodge, No. 578. B. P. O. E.

In June, 1903, Mr. Robbins had the extreme pleasure of paying a visit to his native land, after an absence of fourteen years. He sailed on Saturday, June 13th, from New York, on the Cunard liner “Lucania,” and landed in Liverpool the following Saturday, June 20th, quite early in the morning, arriving in London at 1:30 p. m., leaving Liverpool by special train at 9:30 a. m., thus covering the distance of 201 miles in four hours. After spending six delightful weeks in various parts of England he again embarked at Liverpool, on board the same ship, on Saturday, July 25th, and arrived safely in New York on the following Saturday morning, Aug. 1st, reaching his home in Carlisle, Pa., at 9 p. m., same day. In spite of the prolonged absence from his boyhood home Mr. Robbins found all his many relatives in good health and prospering; but in his own family he sustained a very severe loss a few short weeks after his return home, for on Sept. 4th the baby, William Alfred, passed away at 3 p. m., after an illness of two weeks’ duration.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania published in 1905 by The Genealogical Publishing Company. 

View additional Cumberland County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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