JOHN P. ROBENS                         GRAVESTONE PHOTO    

Buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Bourbon Co., KS.                  

William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas

BOURBON COUNTY, Part 14

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES (RADELL - SHINN).

J. P. ROBENS, proprietor of the West End Grocery and China Emporium, Fort Scott, Kan., he was a native of Northumberland, Saratoga Co., N.Y., born in February, 1840. In 1862 he enlisted in the Seventy-seventh "Bemis Heights" regiment New York Volunteers as a private, was transferred and promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers, better known as the "Ironsides" regiment; was with Banks in the "Gulf Department," was captured at Brashear City in June, 1863, taken to Tyler, Texas, was exchanged July, 1864. Was married in 1866 Miss Labor of Lockport, N.Y., moved to Missouri in 1868, and to Fort Scott in 1870, embarking in the grocery business. By diligence and enterprise his business has grown into large proportions. He carries a stock of $10,000 to $12,000, and has a yearly trade of over $30,000. Mr. Robens has been in the city council for a number of years, and is at the present time Treasurer of the Board of Education for the city. It was largely through his efforts that the compromising of the city indebtedness was secured on a basis at once honorable to the city and to her creditors. In all matters relating to public enterprise he is liberal and enthusiastic.