Orlando Robbins (1836 - 1908)

Born 31 Aug 1836 in Phillips, Franklin County, Maine, USA

Ancestors

Died 1 May 1908 at age 71 in Boise, Ada County, Idaho, USA

Biography

"The man most responsible for bringing law and order to the Idaho Territory." 25 years as Deputy US Marshall, Boise chief of police, and sheriff of Ada County. Warden of Idaho State Penitentiary, traveling guard, and work foreman.

"The ex-scout was shot at hundreds of times, and nine times bullets put holes through his clothes and even his hat, but, barring a scratch on his thumb, he was never hurt."

Orlando Robbins (39115093)

"Born in Phillips, Maine, August 30, 1836. The story has it that 17-year-old Rube came home one day to find that the oxen he used to make money with had been sold by his father, and young Rube had had enough. In January 1854 he headed to California.

Rube mined in northern California from 1854 until the summer of 1861 when he left Yreka and headed for Elk City in northern Idaho. In 1862 he was on the move, this time to the new town of Florence where again he tried his hand at mining.

It was in Florence that a couple of rough characters called Cherokee Bob, and Bill Willoughby went gunning for Rube and Jakey Williams. They found them. As Bob Lay dying he said stated that both Rube and Jakey were brave men, with one difference. When Jakey shot his pistol he would jump to the side to clear the smoke for another shot, whereas Rube would jump through the smoke, so every time he shot he would be getting closer.

In August of 1863, Rube headed south to the Boise Basin, to Idaho City to try his hand at mining once again. In 1864, with the 4th of July approaching, the southern sympathizers in town let it be known that they wouldn’t put up with any silly singing of the National Anthem. Rube strolled into the saloon that was their hangout, jumped up on a pool table, drew his pistols, and in what was described as a beautiful baritone, belted out the National Anthem. When he finished and looked around the room no one made a peep. He jumped down from the table and strolled out the door. A few days later he was sworn in as sheriff Sumner Pinkham’s deputy.

A little over a year later a new sheriff was voted in. That summer while visiting the warm springs resort outside of Idaho City Pinkham was gunned down by Ferd Patterson. Ferd hi-tailed it for Boise, but Rube caught up with him at the halfway house and arrested him before the posse showed up.

Rube continued his work as a deputy, but this time deputy marshal under U.S. marshal Alvord. Several times Rube would try to give up law enforcement, but always returned. In 1873 and 1874 Rube was Ada County sheriff. He was also a member of the lower house of the eighth territorial legislature in 1874 and 1875, and a member of the legislative council in 1882-3.

Rube spent the three major Indian wars in Idaho as chief of Scouts, first for General O.O. Howard in 1877 during the Nez Perce War, and again in 1878 during the Bannock war. Rube’s exploits during these campaigns were the stuff of legend even in his time and would fill a book. The last campaign he spent as chief of scouts was the Sheep Eater war of 1879, under Col. Bernard, who was in charge of the campaign.

In the 1880s and ’90s Rube served as Boise’s Chief of Police 1885-87, Warden of the Idaho State Penitentiary, and still worked as a U.S. deputy marshal. In the early 1900’s he worked as a foreman at the prison and as a traveling guard, transporting prisoners, a job he held until winter of 1907-08 when he became too sick to continue. He died at 72 years old, May 1, 1908. Orlando “Rube” Robbins always got his man. He never returned a warrant without the bad guy in tow."

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39115093/orlando-robbins