The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-08


Charlcston, February 49, 1885, when nanked by Sher
man He rcmaincd for some time IN command OF tn,
dccnces Of tina. ety. and was then re'oved On account
where he died Yesterday 80. WA
John Rpbins, Merchant, Of New YorN.
Announcement ia madc At the demise Of Mr.. John
Robins, of the Fourth ward and accompanying the
o,ice Is the statement that he tho oldest resident
al the ward sIr Robins was a menbs.t Of New York
city for sixty six years. and eighty years Of ago
when nc died Only the very oldest residents car
iy remember when iHa7os john lessips erected tai
rs. sign al No 400 Pearl sree. and thst read inthAt
sylo abbrcwa.,oa occasionally prscsed by oconomt
cal nogcnants st this day. ~. Robus7 Andvcsy few
cvcn Of the old merchants win remember the circum
stances under which John Robins camo 10 establish his
lry foods business II was In this wise In 1907 he haa
returned from voyage 10 Port Royal Martinique Whore
no hed en- and mentally c;rsed Benedet Arnold, tncn
his English Maics.ys Commissary General at Port Roya
and was wandering In Pearl street, near Chatham, sd-
lnriug the hadsome ~ stores and the tssiy aud tempt
ing manner i'm which tho dry goods wore dis.
played In the windows ana also admIing bachelor
though no then and always was--tho fashionable
ds,s OF society years ago who frequcncd Pearl In tho
region Of Chatham, thcy frequent Broadway In
tho region OF Tenth Grand Streets when he suddenly
stopped OF tho md asked n they did not
want clcrk He met with III SUCCESS until ne applied
a. No go Pear ST. Of whore he accosted the celebrated
Henry iaverty with tho same ipqury--"Do you want
clork" what TO DOR asked Mr.. IAvcrty. III want 70
learn 40 dry goods business" "what wages do you
poet" None. only wish 70 learn Tho business"
'Comc IN" said Mr.. Lavcrty. an try you" And
John Robins Immediately began his apprenticeship Ho
our 10 windows with dry goods shuI /, up al might. ana
mate himself generally useful After eighteen months
he announced M IAverty that hc was about 70 leave
hn The promise Of agood salary the subsequent proer
esms share the business failed 10 keep John Robins
'I'vc learned the business" ne sad "and am going
into It myself and no oroncd tho store II No 4O6
n III, n
small at rst but which increased until Robins became
wed known 70 the dry goods trade mot only ss mer-
uy coined money He and old ssIawrcnce Sales" who
whs Then al 1880 Water street. made ventures together
y merchant In those days. but soldier TOO Perhaps
Henry Raymond "Brgad'8 General Of the Veterans Of
1872" can remember whom John Robins. and Philip
&C the Chamber oCommerce, belonged TO the ssme art
icry rcgmcnt and how they were stationed what
Garden Philip Houc was corporal Of the company; John
Robins and Pelcah peril were only, pri.ates Philip
SS snd % nsS only s
hundred and sixty each 70 dhplay They for
tnAley had wounds y show for their service = hs
their old oonradc Isaac Phyfc now Adjusans'of inc
John Robins was lucsy sold Or and lucky merchant
On tho day bcforche announcement In Now York OF the
unsupported peace Of December -, IsiS-thc lannon's
treaty OF Ghcnhc .endeavorcd In vain 70 make large
purchases at auction o. dry socdA and wss ostbd u
home much Disconnected and annoyed. Tho next day
IL sunday-he mot friend In Pearl street who told
him tho good news vcsse had reached Sandy Hook
the night previous bringing Intelligence Of the treaty Of
0hent visit 10 the Office OF the Mercantile Agency,
No 100 Pearl street. confirmed tho story On the next
day Henry Lavrty, Robins old employer, who had
purchased extensively ~ auction on The Saturday pro
ccdns sent word 70 the Aactoncsr sell hs goods
this time Robins and Laversy endcrsed for each oth.r
but neither troubled himself 70 keep memorandum
q che VI v W.; %u on,Y e. s
10 the rulcs Of trade and banking Mr. Robins was for
many years director OF the Pbcnr Bank. which 1919
from loss OF csp,ta BY dofsuItcrs and otherwise.
He had his prciudices He had . great dislike for
Of lhc Phenir Bank Whom Mr. DeIadcId was elected
President Mr. Robins determined 70 withdraw, and
nounced the ncxt election Of directors hA he would
not serve He was however, 10 elected, and Moses n
0rnncII told him that he must serve He refused but
pvomised CrinnelI finally hsths would sleep and not
that twenty four hours he sold ali bis Phenir stock
brought l3O-snd announced ~ ono, and tho same Tune
that be wa mother director nor stockho'der II -
aad-our memory does not servo that state posi-
uycly--that tho stock fell immed aeiy from i3o 10 TO-
Like man Of tho old Knickerbockcrs Mr. Robins had
great aversion 10 changes and Is sad he
in railroad car OF on . stesmboat IN his life He did
without rotor water for many years. and WAS content
with che old fashioned pump water which he used 70 say
would have allowed croton 70 DO brought into hs yard
had the spirit Of innovation removed the old pump
.tron has oorner-Pear and Madison strcetswhere he
lived ror the ast thirty yeArs and has died perfect
bachelor retirement He had no fancy fov The rstngs
e. hs Early r sian and sFss pea, Of tho
his hands aud face daily In the shilling basin for sixty
odd years previous 70 his dsmss and sways 10 the opcs
made ba oas S Sss oS With ssk.w p S.ys
and mover could be tempted 70 speculate IN reel sats
e sv:ys pd.s S,%sSs on h. snS.SSss q broad
pair Of gloves exoeps woolsn misas o. 70 hAvs nss
AshovsH % lssc heading ssdsn.sry I'M. in his early
years he Wa one Of Ne most sosive buncss In ths
6y Many Of the Old politicians Of the Fourth ward