A. W. Robb was born January, 1840, in Vera County, Pennsylvania, the fourth son of William A. Robb, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Young Robb attended neighborhood schools until thirteen years of age, when he went to Washington College, Iowa, where he remained one year. Most of his time was spent upon a farm until he arrived at twenty years of age. In the fall of 1860 he went to Kansas, and in the following year entered the Federal service (militia force). Soon, however, he joined the regulars, and in July 1862, became a first lieutenant, Company F, Third Indiana Horse Guards. He thus served until 1865, when he was mustered out. Mr. Robb commenced filling government contracts in 1866, and finished in 1869. Then he entered mercantile business at Baxter Springs, and there remained until 1871, when he opened out in Muskogee under the title of Atkinson & Co. He continued the partnership with Mr. Atkinson until 1875, when he sold to Smith & Angier. Attaching himself to Mr. Patterson’s business for some time, he finally formed a partnership with that gentleman in 1876, and has been ever since his partner and business manager of that wealthy and prominent firm. The establishment carried a general stock of goods, worth about $40,000, when it was burned down in 1887. Then the present building, a fine two-story brick, was erected. This establishment carries as large a stock as the old house. In Wagoner, Creek Nation, Messrs. Patterson & Robb have a branch house stocked with goods to the amount of $25,000 in general merchandise, and commanding a large trade. Mr. Robb married Miss Martha Requa, January 23, 1864, daughter of George Requa and Mary Austin. Mr. Requa came to the Union Mission, Indian Territory, in 1825, where he remained until the Osages moved north. Mrs. Robb was born in Bates County, Missouri, in 1841. The issue of their marriage was four children, three of whom are living, Mollie (now Mrs. Sampson), born October 2, 1865; Kate, born September 29, 1870 (now Mrs. Evans, wife of Rev. A. G. Evans, Presbyterian minister in Pendleton, Oregon), and Jessie, born December 13, 1872. In height Mr. Robb is six feet two inches, and weighs 195 pounds. He is a man of fine physique, pleasant and affable in manner, with a great deal of personal magnetism, and possessed of business qualities far above the average. He is a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, and a charter member of the Masonic lodge of Muskogee, in which he is a Master Mason.
