The Portland daily press., 1871-01-16
Topnau Rohie.

AAous 4Oppdu boDle was DOfn III CauIla, N.
H.. Jan. 81, 1882, and died at his residence in
Gorham Jan. IA, 1871. The immediate cause
of his death was Inflammation of the bladder
and kidneys, brought on by a slight cold.
Mr.. Robe was the fourth child of Edward
and Sarah (Smith) Robie His grandfather was
Samuel, son of Ichaboi, son of John Robe,
who came to this country from some part of
Great Britain and settled in the town of At
kinson, N. H., about the year 1860 Mr.. Ro-
bie's mother was the daughter Of John Smith
and Sarah Toppan, of Hampton, N. H.
Hence, through his maternal grandmother
came his somewhat peculiar Christian name
His parents removed from Chester, N. H., to
Gambia in 1880, and when he was about four
years old they returned to Chester, where
they lived the remainder of their days. His
father died at the age of 90, his mother at SO.
he had three brothers and two sisters, of
whom he was the sole survivor. His early
opportunities for acquiring even comomn
school education were limited. When eight
or nine years old he went to live with his
grandmother Smith-then Webster, by her
SSSShN Au"AAiooS, WHIP q 6AOog ioNOAAtC WILL
her, partly no doubt on account of his chris
tan name. He remained the greater part of
the time until he was fourteen with her and
her son Edmund Webster, who was perhaps
the most active and influential merchant in
the town. He attended the town school when
there was one, and was occasionally sent by
his uncle to private school, where he was
taught only reading, writing and arithmetic.
But it was during these years that his fu-
ture course was shaped. Being favorite in
the family and familiar with his uncle he spent
great deal of time in his store, where his
natural inclination to mercantile pursuits was
developed and fostered. At the age of four
teen he went to Haverhill, Mass, and was
there employed in store by Capt. Cotton B.
Brooks, afterwards successful merchant of
Portland, where he died in 1884.
In March, 1899, when II years of age he
came to Gorham, friend in Haverhill having
procured a situation for him as clerk in the
store OF the late John Horton. He remained
with Mr.. Horton but few months, and then
went into the employ of the late DanI Cressey,
who was at that time the principal trader in
Gorham, and with whom he continued until
September, 1902, when before he was twenty
one years of age, in company with the late
Sewall Lancaster, he commenced business for
himself. During these years of clerkship his
compensation was from $50 to $216 per year
and board. Yet from this, by strict economy
and careful outstanding of his earnings be
had laid by very respectable amount, which
he had as his own to use in commencing bust
ness
But the habits which he had acquired, his
aptness and competency for business, his idel.
ity to his employers, and above all the value
which he had established for his ,v0rd formed
capital worth far more through life than an
lnneflted fortune could have been. Mr.. Cres-
sey mad perfect confidence in him, trusted his
business with him to very considerable extent
and often sent him, young as he was. to Bos.
ton to make his stated purchases for him.
This at time when the purchase money #
thousands of dollars was carried on the per.
son, and the journey was made on horseback
the goods to be purchased a general assort-
ment, for great variety Of customers, requiring
no ordinary skill and Judgment in selection,
shrewdness in buying, was an exceedingly deli
cate and responsible commission; yet it was ex-
ecuted by young ROBBIE in manner which not
only gave satisfaction to his employer, but es-