Robins, Harle Vickery (Birthday: 91)

The Independent this week takes great pleasure in extending the warmest solicitations and best wishes to a grand old man, who on April 3rd celebrates his 91st birthday... Harle Vickery Robins was born in the Telephone City of Brantford on April 3rd, 1855, and when he was two years of age, he moved to Montreal with his father, who had been appointed as principal of the McGill Normal School. His boyhood was spent in Montreal, and at 18 he came to Oshawa, where he "learned to farm, under the hand of his uncle". Having learned sufficient of the why's and wherefore's of agriculture, his father purchased what is now the McBride farm in Beamsville. His arrival here was in 1879, the same year Beamsville was incorporated as a Village. It wasn't long until this eligible bachelor took unto himself a wife, she being the neighbour's daughter, Elizabeth Ann Garbutt. Two children were born to the Robins family, a daughter, who is now Mrs. Leo Martin, and a son, William H. Robins, now of Winnipeg. In 1866 Mrs. Robins died of a heart attack, and a few years later Mr. Robins married Mary Roxalana Van Norman of Beamsville. The farm was sold, and they moved to Mitchell, where he was in the book and stationary business with his brother Samuel. When this business was sold in 1895 they moved back to Beamsville, where they were associated with Mrs. Robin's father Romaine Van Norman, in a stationary and fancy goods business, located where Sam Shore's business is now. Harry Davey who was operating the Beamsville Express in 1911, made a business deal with Mr. Robins, and they changed their occupations. Mr. Robins operated the Express for several years, and finally sold it back to Mr. Davey. Following a short stay in Toronto, where he dealt in pictures and picture framing, Mr. Robins retired and returned to Beamsville. His career was also dated with terms to public office. He was treasurer of Beamsville in 1908, and also was a Notary-public at one time. Always active in Church affairs, he was superintendent of the Methodist Church for a number of years. Since the death of his second wife in 1937, Mr. Robins has lived in a little grey cottage on West Avenue, but actually his neighbours live with him. For this grand old man is the pride and joy of the people on this street...