Andrew B. Robbins was born in Philips, Maine, April 27, 1845 – the son of Daniel and Mary Shaw Robbins. In 1855 his family came to Anoka, Minnesota where his father built the first steam saw mill. He went to school in Anoka, then two years to a private academy. At 17 he was volunteer soldier in the Civil War – serving with distinction for 3 years. After the war he worked for the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. the railroad was extended to Willmar, Minnesota in 1869 he married Adelaide Walker – they took the first train there to his new job as terminal agent. While in Willmar he became Mayor – also banker and represented that district in the State Senate. Leaving Willmar, he came to the Twin Cities to manage the Northwestern Elevator Company. Mr. Robbins was a man of wealth and vision – he was first impressed with the possibilities of what is now Robbinsdale when riding through on a Great Northern train in the mid-1880’s on a business trip to St. Cloud. 
In April 1887 he bought 90 acres from Parker, Malbon and Shumway. In June he bought a few more acres from Mr. Shumway on which he built his home. He was the Village of Robbinsdale’s first President of the Council — elected April 19, 1893. He served in the State Legislature from Hennepin County and was Surveyor General of Minnesota for 2 years. It is said that by the time the depression of 1893 hit, Robbins had already built a number of homes to rent or sell. Some of them stood empty and because of the hard times he rented them for whatever price he could get. This was sometimes as low as $1.50 a month. Mr. Robbins promoted the village every chance he could get and served it faithfully. He planted trees along Quail and Regent Avenues and West Broadway. He said that others left various monuments, but for him, leaving trees for the future generations was most worthwhile. Upon his death in 1910, the paper telling of his passing said, “Mr. Robbins lived in service to his God and fellow man. He felt throughout his life that he and his fellows were going the same way and had better go hand in hand.
-This material was gathered from the North Hennepin Post and the diaries of Ellen M. Bisbee, (sister of J. P. Shumway and Nathan F. Russ J. P. Shumway). It was compiled and edited by Evelyn and Esther Shumway for a Robbinsdale Historiocal Society slide show in 1980.
