Samuel L. Robb, Orphan Train Rider

Samuel L. Robb (1867 - 1939) was sent to China, Lee County, Illinois some time before 1878 and wrote a letter to the Asylum in 1878 reporting on his status. He was living with the Pankhurst family on their farm. In 1920 Samuel was working as a tool and die maker in Detroit. He married there but died in Ottawa, IL, leaving no children. His death certificate states that his parents were John Robb and Frances Vincent, and that his wife was "Olive."

The story of the Pankhursts is an interesting one and demonstrates the way destitute children could be the crutch of the elderly in an age with few "old age homes." The Pankhursts were immigrants from England and apparently had a habit of taking in young people. In the 1880 census Samuel was the only child living with them, and was noted to be their "adopted son." In 1900 the Pankhursts claimed one natural daughter and two adopted sons, both of whom were born in Illinois. James and Leslie Lawrence were the nephews of Mrs. Pankhurst and were legally adopted in 1898, after the death of their mother. Most puzzling was the appearance of a Williamana Lawrence a 59 year old "house servant." Mrs. Pankhurst's maiden name was Lawrence.

In 1915 the Pankhursts mounted a campaign to find a young woman who would care for them in their old age. They promised to pay the woman $10,000 if she would come live with them until their deaths. The contest was widely advertised and was administered by a Chicago newspaper. A series of young women came and went, but it was Mary Brackus, an immigrant from Croatia or Serbia, (the 1920 census is unclear) who spent nearly ten years looking after the Pankhursts (and Anna Lawrence, Mrs. Pankhurst's mother). But Mr. Pankhurst was cheated of his lifetime care when Mary Brackus fell ill and died 8 months after Mrs. Pankhurst died. He lived another 5 years with two servants in the home.

After Mr. Pankhurst's death in 1930 a woman from Minnesota brought a suit against his estate, alleging that she had worked in the Pankhurst home and that Mr. Pankhurst had subjected her to unwanted sexual attentions and had promised her $10,000 in his will. This poor woman should have collected before his death!