Re: John Robe b. 1818 Ireland & Family of Albany, N.Y.
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In reply to:
John Robe b. 1818 Ireland & Family of Albany, N.Y.
9/07/01
This posting is in response to a posting by Cathy Robe about John Robe of Albany.While researching material on a 19th Century Albany, N.Y. resident named Chauncy Pratt Williams, I found Mr. Robe mentioned in a biography on Williams.It appears that Williams was to serve in the Civil War but solicited John Robe to serve in his stead:
This line is copied from a Biography on Chauncey P. Williams of Albany:
"The subject of our sketch was exempt by his age from the draft for military service during the war of the slaveholders' rebellion. His interest in the struggle would, however, have led him to volunteer in the service, had he not felt satisfied that he was accomplishing more toward its favorable issue, in the position he occupied of strengthening the financial power of the government, by inducing the people to furnish the " sinews of war," than he could do by active service in the field. At the invitation of the secretary of war, however, he did furnish a representative recruit to serve in his stead in the person of John W. Robe, the present gentlemanly and efficient agent of the Albany News Company, who did effective service as a soldier of the Union in the Shenandoah Valley and elsewhere."
Robe is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands. As part of Albany Rural's Civil War Day committee, we would love to have a photograph of Mr. Robe as the Military Museum at Saratoga does not have one. Kindly contact Kevin Franklin, Historian, Town of Colonie, N.Y. at the e-mail listed for this posting.Thanks.