The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-09-09
James Robb...A Short Autobiography.


at his residence. near Cincinnati. left
the following brief memoir, written BY
himself few years ago:
JANUARY 2, 1S77.-This day fifty
years ago, in my thirteenth year, I left
the home of a noble mother my father
died in 1919 . to perform a journey Of
twenty-five miles on foot, through deer
and drifting SHOWS. to begin my career
OF life, and from that day to this my
fortune has been pushed singly and
alone, without the aid of penny from
any one, living or dead.
In my twenty-tirst year l was ap.
pointed Cashier of the Branch Bank oil
Morgantown, Va, at a salary of $500
per annum. 1 resigned this position in
my twenty-fourth year, owing to my re.
moval to New Orleans, where l resided
twenty-one years, having during this
period made six visits to Europe and
fifteen to the Island of Cuba. was
principal in establishing, from 1888 to
1857, eight banking and commercial
firms and agencies-viz: New Orleans,
Philadelphia, New York, San francisco
and Liverpool, England, four of which
were in existence in 1857. Under the
"Free Banking Law of louisiana" es-
tablished the ''Bank of James Robb''
Resigned in 1867, with paid up cap
ital OF 100000, of which l was sole pro.
prietor, except $4,000. This bank
did not suspend in 1857, and now exists
as the Merchants Bank of New Or
leans.
In 1912 was elected President of the
New Orleans Gas Light and Banking
Company, with paid up capital OF
S1.SO0,O0O. Its affairs were in disorder
and its shares deprecated to 81 per
share for $50 paid. The company in
1S43 resumed its dividends, which have
not since been suspended, and its shares
at one time commanded over eighty per
cent. premium.
In 1874 the Spanish Gas Light Com
pany was organized for lighting the
city of Havana, its privileges being con-
firmed by ''Royal Order The orig
inal capital was fixed at 100000. all of
which subscribed. and was made per-
petual president of the company.
Subsequently its capital was increased
to $1,000. 90. which was equally divided
with the Queen Mother OF Spain, Maria
Christiana and myself.
In 1854, when this valuable property
began to yield large profits, my neces-
sites, owing to engagements for South
ern railways, obliged me to sell my in
terest, which in the sequel proved a
sacrifice OF more than $500. 900.
In 1851 was made President of the
Railway Convention at New Orleans,
and from this time may be dated the
first successful attempt of Louisiana to
construct railways, and the beginning
of my m;sfortuneS. In November of
this year ] visited Nashville, Tenn. to
solicit the cooperation of that State in
aiding works of internal Improvement,
and addressed the Legislature in respect
to the same, in pursuance of a message
from its Governor, William B. Camp
bell. In this year was elected men,
Der of the Senate of Louisiana for four
years-but only served one session.
In 1852 was elected President of the
New Orleans, Jackson l. Great North
ern Railway; member of the City
Council of New Orleans-and its Presi-
dent; and had 1 yielded to the solicita-
ton of friends. would have been select
ed as the representative OF Louisiana in
the Senate of the United States for six
years, instead of ). ?. Benjamin, whose
election l both favored and promoted.
In 1857, of the firms established since
1888, there existed James Robb & Co.,
of New Orleans: Robb, Hallctt & Co.,
Of New York; II. Wilson. Hallett 4 Co.,
of Liverpool, and Tallant 4 Wilde, of
San Francisco: the money panic in the
autumn of this year caused suspen-
sion of the three former. and on the LIST
of January, 1853. their unliquidated liza
bilities amounted to =, $50, 525. all of
which I assumed, completing the final
payments, principal and interest, in
1866; about 100000 of the foregoing
was satisfied in securities. accepted by
creditors, in preference to granting an
extension of two, three or four years,
with six per cent. interest.
In 1859 nv residence was changed
from New Orleans TO Chicago, where
was appointed by the Hon. Thomas
Drummond (Judge Of the United States
District Court) Receiver of the St.
Louis, Alton Il Chicago Railway Compa-
ny. Upon the organization of new
company in 1862, | was elected its
President, which was resigned in 1864.
followed bya change of residence to the
city of New York.
In 1864 the Presidency of the Allan
tic Il Great Western Railway was ten
dered and accepted at salary of $780,
900 per annum. but resigned within
three months upon the discovery of the
fraudulent purposes OF its projectors.
In 1865 the Presidency of the Du-
buque Il Sioux City Railway Company
was accepted, and resigned the follow
ing year. In the autumn of this year
returned to New Orleans to establish
the Louisiana National Bank, which
went into operation in January, 1866,
with a paid up capital of S1.0OO,0O0; 1
was selected as its first President. which
Office surrendered in the beginning of
1869.
In 1871 l retired from business with
diminished fortune; and in 1873 changed
my residence to "Hampden Place."
near Cincinnati, where l now reside,
having purchased it in 1914 as home
for my mother. whose roof had left
fifty years ago. endowed with her ex-
ample, her courage and lessons to guide
me, as they. have THROUGH the maZeS of