Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Alexander and Martha Jane Gold Robertson
Alexander Robertson and Martha Jane Gold. Alexander Robertson was born December 29, 1830 according to his family Bible. He was born in Indiana. He married Martha Jane Gold in Martin Co., Indiana on 16 Mar 1851. His war records describe him as being six feet tall. On Oct 10, 1854 Alexander Robertson purchased 80 acres of land at $.12 1/2 per acre, or $10. It must have been poor land because original patent land went for two dollars an acre. He paid in full and signed his name attesting that the land was to be used for the purpose of "actual settlement and cultivation" under the Graduation Act of August 4, 1854. He began residing on this land on December 19 1854. There was a log dwelling house and a quarter acre was cleared and enclosed.
John Kilbourn, his brother in law, attested to the land record. There were five children born to Alexander and Martha Jane: Mary Elizabeth born 12 August 1851 and died 13 October 1852, Parthena (named for Martha's sister) born 13 Nov 1853 and died 28 February 1872 unmarried, James Richard born 3 September 1856 and died 1 December 1867, John William (our ancestor) born 3 Nov 1858 and died 17 September 1902, and Hariet A. born 17 October 1861.
Only Hariet and John lived to be married. Later records proving the legitimacy of these children include testaments of the women who attended Martha Jane Gold in childbirth. When giving birth to Theny in 1853 she was attended to by Mary Hendrickson, born 1786, of Martin County. At the birth of James Richard in 1856 she was attended to by Sarah Blair, born 1800, of Martin County. At the 1858 birth of John William, she was helped by Nancy Chandler Gold, born 1826, her sister-in-law (wife of brother James), and Sarah A. Alford, born 1811. During the birth of Harriet, her sister Theny Gold Edwards, born 1827, and Elizabeth Edwards Potts, born 1826, wife of James Potts.
Alexander Robertson was a farmer in Daviess Co., Indiana until the time he was mustered into Company E, 18th Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers in the Civil War. He entered the service of the Union on 16 Aug 1861 at Indianapolis, Indiana along with John Gold Jr. and William Gold. Records show he was given a bayonet, belt, musket and strap as his equipment.From Indiana Volunteers:The 18th Regiment was organized and mustered into service at Indianapolis on the 16th of August, 1861 with Thomas Pattison as Colonel and left the state for St. Louis on the 17th of August. From that place it proceeded into the interior of Missouri and participated in Fremont's March to Springfield, and in the return march to Otterville, under General Hunter, after which it moved with Pope's army to the Black Water and there took part in the capture of a large number of prisoners."Among the affidavits filed in the legal proceedings for the guardianship and pension of Alexander Robertson is testimony of Dr. Augustin W. Bingham, "a resident of Daviess County...who declares that he attended Alexander Robinson deceased, who was a private in Company E of the 18th Regiment during his last sickness. That said Robinson was taken sick at Warsaw in the State of Missouri of a disease commonly called Esysipleas and was convey to the Fourth Street Hospital on 4th Street in the city of Saint Louis in the State of Missouri....and that Alexander Robinson died at the hospital aforesaid on the 5th of December 1861 that the disease of said Robinson was contracted while in the line of duty in the service of the United States....that he attended upon him in the capacity of acting Hospital Stewart of the post a Warsaw in the State of Missouri and no surgeon being present at that time acted as acting assistant surgeon of the post and had him transferred to the aforenamed hospital by order of the Surgeon of the 18th regiment while the regiment was on the move to Springfield Missouri."A document entitled "War of 1861...Claim for Minors' Pension with Two Dollars per Month additional" was filed in behalf of Parthenia Robinson, James R. Robinson, John W. Robinson and Harriet A. Robinson, minor children of Alexander Robinson, Private.According to the report "Surgeon General reports deceased as having died Dec 5, 1861 of abscess. Dr. A. W. Bingham acting assistant surgeon at post at Warsaw, Missouri testifies that the disease was contracted in the line of duty and that deceased was taken sick of erysipelas and sent to hospital where he died." While there is more history of this regiment given, Alexander died 5 December 1861 at St. Louis of measles. He probably never saw his last daughter before he died.
Martha Jane Gold kept her family together until she died two years later. At that time, the custody of the children was undertaken by Henry and Thena Edwards. Thena was Martha Jane's sister. Later the children lived with John and Harriet Kilbourn in Martin Co. Harriet was another of Martha Jane's sisters
Contributed by: Michele