Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 691-693 [Graves]

     JOSEPHUS EWING ROBBINS, ex-judge of the circuit court of the
first judicial district, was born in Graves county, Kentucky, August
4, 1854, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth J. (Shelton) Robbins.  The
former, who was a son of John Robbins, was born in Humphreys county,
Tennessee, in 1811, and in 1830 came to Graves county, were he
learned the trade of iron moulding [sic] and blacksmithing.  His
death occurred in Calloway county, Kentucky, in 1873, where the
greater part of his life had been devoted to agricultural pursuit. 
In an early day he was a Whig in his political affiliations, but
later gave his support to the Democracy.  Mr. Robbins was twice
married, his second wife being Elizabeth J. Shelton, the mother of
our subject, and she, too, had been previously married.  She was
born in Warren county, Kentucky, and was a daughter of Jeremiah
Shelton, a primitive Baptist minister of Graves county.  He was also
a native of Warren county, but came to this county in 1820.  His
death occurred just across the county line in Tennessee in about
1850, and he was a man of sterling worth, both as a minister of the
gospel and as a farmer.  Mrs. Robbins was but six months old when
brought by her parents to this county, and her death occurred in
1900, when eighty years of age.
     Josephus Ewing Robbins spent the early years of his life on a
farm and also worked in his father's blacksmith shop and clerked in
a dry goods store.  His early educational training was received in
the public schools, and at Benton, New Concord and other places, and
when nineteen years of age he began teaching, following that
occupation for four terms, in the meantime beginning the study of
law.  By alternately attending and teaching school, he was thus able
to pay his own expenses.  In 1876 he began the study of law under
the preceptorship of W. M. Smith, of Mayfield, and on the 11th of
October, 1877, was admitted to the bar.  He entered upon the
practice of his chosen profession one year later, and Mayfield has
ever since continued to be his home.  In 1878 Mr. Robbins was
elected judge of Graves county, his incumbency therein covering four
years.  In 1895 he was nominated by acclamation by the Democratic
party and afterward elected to represent his district in the state
legislature, serving in the sessions of 1896-7.  In November, 1897,
Mr. Robbins was elected judge of the circuit court, first judicial
district, but resigned that office on the 1st of December, 1902, one
year before the expiration of his term of service, and is now
engaged in the practice of law with Gus Thomas, under the firm name
of Robbins & Thomas.  In 1891 the Graves County Banking & Trust
Company was organized, and Mr. Robbins was elected its first
president, which position he held until January 1, 1891, when he
resigned to go on the bench.
     On the 9th of October, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
Robbins and Miss Eva Chowning, she being a native of Owen county,
Kentucky, and they have had five children, two of whom are living, --
Robert Guy and Josephus Gayle.  In his fraternal affiliations Mr.
Robbins is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the order of Elks
while his religious views connect him with the Christian church. 

Robbins Shelton Smith Thomas Chowning
=
Humphreys-TN Calloway-KY Warren-KY Owen-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/graves/robbins.je2.txt