| Notes |
- Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume II.
There is probably no man better known in grain and milling circles in Utah than David Robbins, of Salt Lake C ity, the president of the Utah-Idaho Grain Exchange. He was born February 13, 1872, in the city which is still his home, his parents being James and Ann (Adamson) Robbins, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Scotland. They emigrated to America in early life and were numbered among the pioneer settlers of Utah, taking up their abode in Salt Lake. The father was one of the early contractors of the city and attained prominence in this connection. He was awarded a contract in connection with the
building of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad to Salt Lake and the terminus at Ogden. He afterward entered mercantile circles in Salt Lake and his last days were spent in Denver, Colorado, where he passed away in 1886. His widow survived for an extended period, her death occuring in Los Angeles, California, in 1912.
Their family numbered six children, namely: Henry, Alfred J., Samuel E., Mrs. J. H. McChrystal, Mrs. J. W. McAllister and David.
Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume II.
The last named was the youngest son of the family and in his youthful days he attended the public schools of Salt Lake to the age of thirteen years, when he started out in the business world and has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He first became connected with the implement business and eventually with the grain trade. Working his way steadily upward step by step while in the employ of others he was at length able to establish business on his own account as the resuit of his broad experience and the capital which he had acquired through hard labor and economy. He organized the Farmers Grain & Milling Company, Inc., in 1910, and became its general manager. This company has continuously extended its business until its trade is now one of mammoth proportions. It has built grain elevators and mills throughout Utah and Idaho and few firms are in closer touch with the grain trade of the west. Prospering in this undertaking, Mr. Robbins has also extended his efforts into various other fields. He is a director of several ranches in the Cache valley and Tooele county devoted to dry farming, and wheat is raised extensively. For the purpose of handling these interests a company was incorporated under the name of the G. L. Farrell Corporation, of which Mr. Robbins is a director. They have a nineteen hundred acre grain ranch. Mr. Robbins is also the president of the Dry Farm Stock Company of Tooele county, having forty-five hundred acres, and is the president of the Utah-Idaho Grain Exchange. There is perhaps no man better informed concerning the possibilities of grain raising in the west. He has closely studied the opportunities for dry farming and has employed the most scientific methods in the development of hitherto arid lands. He not only uses the wheat production of the ranches of which he is owner or part owner but also much other wheat produced in this section of the country. The company of which he is general manager has a line of mills and elevators throughout Utah and Idaho, and the business is one of most gratifying proportions.
On the 1st of August, 1895, Mr. Robbins was married to Miss Selma Farrell, of Logan, Utah, a daughter of G. L. Farrell, of that place. They now have two children: J. Wesley, who was born in Logan in 1896, attended the high school and is now in business with his father; and Willia, who was born in Logan in 1897 and attended the University of Utah.
Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume II.
In politics Mr. Robbins maintains an independent course, and fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect uniformly accorded to David Robbins, for throughout his connection with the business history and development of the west his has been an unblemished character. With him success in life has been reached by the employment of high principles. He has never deviated from what his judgment would indicate to be right and honorable between his fellowmen and himself. He possesses, however, marked industry, perseverence and initiative and has utilized advantages which many others have passed heedlessly by. He has employed constructive measures in the development of his business, has looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities of the future, and his labors have not only been a source of individual wealth but also have been of vital significance to his fellow men in the upbuilding and development of the west
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1872 - 
, d. Jan 17, 1886 (Age 63 years) 