Читать книгу A Cyclopædia of Canadian Biography - Various - Страница 169

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Robb, Alexander, Iron Founder, Amherst, Nova Scotia, was born at Leicester, Cumberland county, Nova Scotia, on the 4th of March, 1827. His parents, Alexander Robb and Annie Brown, were natives of Bangor, Ireland, and settled in Nova Scotia a great many years ago. Alexander was only about eight years of age when he came to Amherst, and received his education in the public schools of the place. After leaving school he acquired a knowledge of the tin and sheet metal business. In 1848 he commenced business on his own account, and was among the first to introduce cast-iron stoves into the country. In 1866 he built a foundry and machine shops, and his business has grown steadily ever since, until his works, including salesroom and offices, now cover a space of about two acres. In outside industries, Mr. Robb has taken a great interest, having assisted in the development of the Boot and Shoe Tanning Company, which is now the most extensive manufactory of its kind in the province; and previous to his health breaking down in 1872, he was an active promoter of the Spring Hill collieries. Mr. Robb has always been a strong advocate of total abstinence, and has the honour of being one of the original members of the Amherst Division of the Sons of Temperance, the pioneer temperance organization in Nova Scotia. He took an active interest in the passage of the Free School Act for Nova Scotia, and was also an advocate of the confederation of the provinces. He had strong faith in the benefits to be derived from these measures for some years previous to their enactment, arising from a conversation he had had with the late Hon. Joseph Howe. Mr. Robb is a Presbyterian, and for the past twenty-five years has been a consistent member of that church. In 1855 he married Emeline Logan, daughter of David D. Logan, of Amherst Point, whose father, Hugh Logan, originally came from the North of Ireland, and was one of the first settlers of the county. His surviving children are:—David W. and Frederick B., who have managed the business of the firm of A. Robb & Sons since the failure of their father’s health in 1872; Walter R., who is associated with his father in farming and other private business; Maggie A. and Aubrey G., who are both at home, the latter still pursuing his studies. Mr. Robb has won for himself the character of being a man of perseverance and strict integrity, and is greatly respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.