Bio-Fuller, Emma-Robbins

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Emma (Fuller) Robbins
(1865-1957)

Emma (Fuller) Robbins was born on June 2, 1865 at Brownfield or Hopwood, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Presley and Nancy (Warman) Fuller. After her father died, Emma's mother married again to James Valentine Minerd. It's clear from the oral tradition of the family that the Minerds considered Emma one of their own.

On Oct. 26, 1888, at the age of 23, Emma married stone mason Stephen Robbins (1866-1917). He was a year younger than his bride, and was the son of Bishop and Mary (Richey) Robbins of Connellsville, Fayette County.

They had four children, of whom three are known -- Bartholomew "Beth" Robbins, John Robbins and Mary Robbins.

The Robbinses lived in the Dunbar area of Connellsville, Fayette County for many years. Once, while laboring as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Stephen lost an arm in an accident. The Connellsville depot of the Pennsy is seen here.

By 1910, the young family had moved to Dunbar, PA. They boarded with Emma's parents, and Stephen worked as a pumper at the Dunbar Furnace. He also worked as a carpenter.

On Nov. 16, 1917, tragedy struck when Stephen was killed in Connellsville. As he was walking along a busy sidewalk, a moving West Penn street car struck him and fractured his skull. Reported the Connellsville Daily Courier:

   ...Witnesses said he stepped from the curb a few feet above the Arcade Theatre, just as the car was passing. He was not touched by the wheels. The headlight of the car was broken, the man's head probably hitting against it. The fender kept him from going under the wheels, and his fractured skull was the only injury, aside from being bruised by the force of the fall.
   A Connellsville crew, Conductor E.S. Hebehtnal, and Motorman A.R. Pirl, were in charge of the car. The car was not running fast at the time, having slowed down for a switch, over which a car must not travel over four miles and hour, and it was quickly brought to a stop.
   Robbins was removed to the hospital, where his death occurred this morning. There were many witnesses to the accident, a crowd of persons standing in front of the waiting room for the car seeing the man struck.

Stephen was laid to rest at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Dunbar.

When the federal census was taken in 1920, the widowed Emma and her son Beth and daughter Mary lived with her parents in their Water Street home in Dunbar.

Little is known about the rest of Emma's long life. She survived her husband by 40 years. Near the end of her life, she resided in the home of her unmarried daughter Mary in Bryson Hill near Dunbar. In 1947, she suffered the death of 23-year-old granddaughter Bessie Mae Robbins, and again in 1953 endured the passing of her adult grandson, Paul Robbins.

At some point in time, the local Ladies Aid Society in Dunbar sold "name petals" for 10 cents each to the people of Dunbar in order to raise needed funds. Emma was one of the purchasers, among others including her son Beth and sister in law Minerva (Bodkin) Minerd. Each donor's name was stitched with red threads onto white fabric petals which eventually formed the shape of flowers superimposed on top of squares. The squares were sewn together into an attractive red and white banner, in the collection of resident Mae Hardy, who passed it down to her niece Doris (Porter) Rockwell. Years later, in September 2002, the banner was placed on display at the Dunbar-Fest Community event, and has continued to be shown at the annual "fests." Seen at left is the flower pattern as well as Emma's individual name petal at right. Click here to see the quilt at a larger size in our "Online Quilt Museum."

On June 2, 1955, Emma celebrated her 90th birthday. The Courier reported that "In honor of the occasion many of the neighbors and friends called at the home of Mrs. James Minerd, who resides next door, to extend felicitations and bring gifts to the honoree. Mrs. Arthur Dolan and Miss Mary Lou Cherry baked cakes for Mrs. Robbins. Both were decorated in keeping with the birthday traditions." At the time, her daughter Mary and son John resided in her home.

Emma died at age 92 in 1957, and was buried beside her husband. Her obituary was carried in a local newspaper, and is preserved today by the Dunbar Historical Society. At her death, she had five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.

Son Beth was named after a half-uncle, Bartholomew "Beth" Minerd. Beth Robbins resided in Dunbar circa 1957.

Little is known about daughter Mary Robbins (1907- ? ). In 1955, Mary lived in Dunbar with her mother. She had a daughter, Bessie Mae Robbins (1923-1947), who died at age 23 on Jan. 4, 1947 "following a lingering illness," said the Uniontown Morning Herald. Bessie Mae left behind her mother, grandmother and a young daughter, Nancy June Robbins.

Graves of John and Caroline Robbins at hilly Mt. Auburn

Son John B. Robbins (1887-1978) married Caroline P. Swearingen (1886-1917). They had at least one son, Paul Robbins. Sadly, Carrie died in 1917, of causes unknown, at the age of 31. As a widower, John resided in McKeesport, Allegheny County, perhaps as early as 1926. John outlived his wife by a staggering 61 years. He died in 1978, and was buried beside Carrie at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Dunbar.

Grandson Paul Robbins ( ? -1953), married Mary Brletic ( ? - ? ). They resided in McKeesport. Paul was employed as a packing supervisor at a warehouse of G.C. Murphy Company, and died in 1953. Paul is buried at Versailles Cemetery in McKeesport.