As it turns out, his story ended tragically, so it's not a happy one --- but that's all part of the great unfairness of life.
George was the second child of James H. and Delilah (Retherford) Robbins, born during 1865 in Indiana but brought to Lucas County immediately after the Civil War with his older sister, Florence, who was Edna Rosa's and Bill Bells' mother. The Robbins became the parents of four more children after moving west --- James H. Jr., Ludlow, Margaret and Electa Jane.
George grew up on farms in Lucas County, but moved into Chariton as a young man and became one of the community's best known citizens because of the various jobs he held, most in the public sector. He joined the Chariton Volunteer Fire Department and remained a lifelong member, frequently in charge of the teams that hauled Old Betsy (the department's Silsby Steamer) from the station south of the square to the scenes of fires.
He served as deputy city marshal and coal hauler and as engineer of the city light plant, located on the current site of Yocom Park. As engineer, he was responsible for installing the first electrical wiring in many Chariton homes and public buildings, including the new Methodist Episcopal Church.
He also served Lucas County as deputy sheriff during the terms of Charles F. Gartin and G. J. Gittinger and boarded with the Gartins at their home on East Court Avenue. Following Sheriff Gartin's 1906 death, he continued to board in the Gartin home but slept much of the time at First National Bank, where he also served as night watchman.
He had commenced a new job on March 1, 1909 --- as clerk in A.J. Woodman's Implement and Buggy House, then located in the Dewey Block on the southeast corner of the square. And it was while working there that despair overcame him.
George's death occurred on the evening of June 13, 1910, at the Gartin home. Mrs. Gartin and her son, Keith (remembered by many of us as proprietor of Gartin SuperValue) were away from home at the time, visiting relatives in Oklahoma.
The death was reported at length in both Chariton newspapers. Here's the report from The Leader, published on Thursday, June 16, under the headline, "George H. Robbins Suicides."
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G. H. Robbins took his own life by shooting with a revolver at about 8:30 o'clock Monday evening. Briefly the facts are: For several years he had been sleeping in the Chariton National Bank as a night watch and was seen going there at about 8 o'clock in the evening, as it developed afterwards, for the revolver.
From there he went to the Gartin residence, where he had made his home. Soon after this, Mrs. W.W. Bulman heard two shots fired, but thinking someone had shot at some dogs thought no more of it for the time. Mrs. J.F. Thomas noticed a flickering light upstairs in the Gartin house and told her husband that something must be wrong over there and they went over, finding the door ajar. He notified the night watch and together they entered the house, Mrs. Gartin being away from home.
They found him where he had fallen with two bullet holes in head, the first one seeming not to have been effective, but the second had penetrated the brain and passed through into the wall, leaving its ghastly trace of blood. He had taken the lamp and placed it in a band box and it was flickering without a flue, the box commencing to burn, and had he not been found soon the house would surely have been fired and perhaps his fate would have never been known.
No cause is known other than that he had been drinking heavily of late and was despondent. On the forenoon of that day, Manager Roberts, of the Woodman firm, in whose employ he was, told him to go home and rest as he was not feeling well. He never returned. His brother had talked to him, telling him that if he would go and take the liquor cure that they (his brothers and sisters) would pay all his bills and expenses. But it seems that he had become absolutely discouraged.
The funeral was held from the Gartin home yesterday at 1:30 p.m. and interment was made in the Chariton cemetery.
His parents reside near Woodburn and he had several brothers and sisters, all feeling keenly the effects of the tragedy. His relationship with them was friendly and mutual and his regard for his parents was often shown.
George H. Robbins was born in Indiana on April 6, 1865, coming to Iowa with his parents, residing in Chariton for many years past. He was kind and sympathetic in his nature, perfectly trustworthy when himself and would make sacrifices to accommodate others.
He was tactful in business and skilled in his line of work and for several months had been in the employ of the A.J. Woodman Vehicle and Implement House. He served under Chas. Gartin as deputy sheriff and then for two year as deputy sheriff to G.J. Gittinger. He was never married.
Thus the curtain falls on his career and the mantle of charity covers all. His faults are buried with him; his many virtues survive, and those who knew him well and are best able to judge forget all but the manhood blighted by a human weakness.
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The Herald Patriot in its obituary, also published on June 16, characterized him this way:
"He was a young man who was quiet in his demeanor, and who was steady and industrious. He was very kind hearted and was ever performing thoughtful and kindly deeds. Those who knew him can hardly believe that he was sane when he took his own life.
"He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias, Eagles and Redmen orders. He was highly esteemed and had a large circle of friends who mourn his death and will extend heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing relatives in their great grief.
"His is survived by his parents and by three sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Cyrus Bell, of near Lucas; Mrs. J. H. Jamison, of Osceola; Miss Electa Robbins, of Burlington; J. H. Robbins, of this city; and Ludlow Robbins, of Des Moines, all of whom were present yesterday at the last sad rites."
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