MOSES ROBBINS, farmer, Methodist, born October 29, 1804, in Randolph Co., North Carolina. He was the son of Moses and Alice (Harlan) Robbins. In 1816, he removed with his parents to Wayne County, Indiana, settling on lands near the town of Centerville. Moses was married on November 18, 1824, in Union County, Indiana, to Sarah Elizabeth Long. Moses died on November 29, 1879, in Wayne County, and was buried at Locust Grove Cemetery. In 1851 there was a scarlet fever epidemic which killed 5 of his children. In 1862 two more children died within a month of each other. Only 5 of his 12 children lived to adulthood.

MELANCHOLY FATALITY
We deeply regret to learn that our friend Moses Robbins, residing near Abington in this county, has lost four of his children, during the past week, of scarlet fever. Three of them, we are informed, were buried in one day, and sleep in one grave. The fourth was buried by their side on the succeeding day. The public deeply sympathize with the parents in their sorrowful bereavements. (The fifth child, Zachary, died the day this article went to press)

Locust Grove Cemetery

There are six Robbins' Children buried in the family plot at Locust Grove. ALL Children died in 1851, and the dates on their headstones indicate the deaths occurred in April of 1851. There are at least FIVE — children of Moses Robbins (II) that died as a result of contracting Scarlet Fever. Another Robbins child, Sophia, died at age 12… in April, 1851. She was the daughter of Harlan Parker Robbins, a brother of Moses Robbins (II).

* Scarlet Fever Deaths in the Moses Robbins (II) Family:

1) Sarah E. Robbins- died April 15, 1851- 9 yrs- 9 mo- 7 days old.
2) Mary E. Robbins- died April 16, 1851- 2 yrs- 5 mo- 11 days old.
3) Nancy J. Robbins- died April 17, 1851-13 yrs- 10 mo- 7 days old.
4) Henry G. Robbins- died April 17, 1851- 4 yrs- 9 mo- 19 days old.
5) Zachary T. Robbins- died April 23, 1851- 2 yrs- 10 mo- 22 days old.

*note–There may be a Robbins child (listed above) that died at the same time with Scarlet Fever—who was NOT a son or daughter of Moses Robbins (II).The below named individuals were relatives…but not his children, however, they were buried with his children—most likely, they died from the same disease, during the same period.

His Brother's Daughters- (Daughters of Harlan Parker Robbins)
6) Sophia Robbins- died April-1851- 12yrs old.
7) Marium Robbins- died April 5, 1851- 20 years old.

Marium Robbins Jarrett (wife of Jonathon Jarrett) lost an infant daughter
February 11, 1851. Jonathon remarried to Lydia Fender in 1854 and removed to New Paris Ohio, where he lived until he died. Marium and her infant daughter may have died during the birth of this child, or this mother & daughter could have also been the victims of Scarlet Fever as well. If the latter is the case, the Robbins family lost 8 of their children during this unfortunate time. It's almost unimaginable to consider the incredible amount of grief this family endured…158 years ago.