Calvin Augustus Robey

ROBEY, PORTER, KELLY, DUNN, REEVE

Posted By: Connie L. Ellis (email)
Date: 12/4/2010 at 20:23:26

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa Standard newspaper, June 14, 1924
Contributor: Connie L. Ellis (Relative - Robey Researcher)

PIONEER DIES

Rossville, Ia. June 14--Special: Calvin Augustus Robey was born in Monongahela County, Virginia,(now West Virginia), September 27, 1843, and passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ora B. Kelly in Waukon, Iowa, June 5, 1924 at the age of 80 years, 8 months, and 8 days. He was the son of Hezekiah and Caroline (Porter) Robey, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Virginia.

He came with his parents to Allamakee County, Iowa in 1855. While yet in school he enlisted at Rossville in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, and went south with his regiment soon after. With a creditable military record, he returned to Allamakee County after peace was declared.Some of his greatest pleasures were found in military matters, listening to the singing of the old war songs, to the playing of martial music, in attending some of the meetings of the G.A.R. of which he was a member. He had attended fifteen state encampments at Omaha, St.Paul, Chattanooga, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Columbus, Des Moines, Kansas City, Gettysburg, Denver, Washington, and twice at Atlantic City. He also attended the great reunion of the North and the South at Vicksburg.

He was very keen of observation and possessed remarkable ability of vivid description of places and people visited in his various travels about the country. Mr. Robey has kept a diary of every business transaction and a report of the weather for the past sixty years, or since the year in which he entered the army.

On May 13, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle May Dunn. She died December 21,1911. To this union were born eleven children of whom five are living: Mrs. Jess(Angie)Kelly, Monona, Iowa; Mrs. Ora B.(Edith) Kelly and Bert L. Robey of Waukon; Mrs. S.H.(Bertha) Reeve of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Ray C. Robey on the old home place. He leaves also seventeen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He also leaves one brother, Edward W. Robey of Lake Park, Iowa. Funeral services were held at the family residence Sunday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. Bodenham, of Riceville, Iowa, a former pastor of the Rossville Baptist Church and Rev. Van Nice of the Rossville Presbyterian Church. A large number of members of Ralph D. Waters Post of the American Legion of Waukon were in attendance. A quartet of whom sang, "Abide With Me", "Blest Be The Tie That Binds", and "Tenting Tonight". There were many beautiful flowers expressing the esteem in which Mr. Robey was held. The remains were laid away with military honors in Maple Hill Cemetery. A grandson, Noel Robey sounded taps.