Glasgow, Hon. Robert

GLASGOW, MC NEIL, FINLEY

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/30/2021 at 14:37:16

Hon. Robert Glasgow, an ex-member of the House of Representatives of the State of Iowa, is a native of Ohio, born in Adams County, April 12, 1820, and the son of James and Mary (McNeil) Glasgow, who were also natives of the same county. His grandfather, Robert Glasgow, was a native of Ireland, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was among the earliest settlers of Adams County, Ohio, and there died. James Glasgow remained on the old homestead in Ohio till 1856, when he moved to Wayne County, Iowa, where he died. They were members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

The subject of this sketch was reared on his father’s farm, and received but a limited education in the old log school-houses of his native county, but being naturally of a studious turn of mind he became a great reader of the best authors, and thus acquired a knowledge of men and events that many a college graduate would be pleased to possess. He was married, in 1840, to Miss Mary R. Finley, a daughter of William Finley, a prominent farmer of Adams County. He followed farming in Ohio till 1854, when he came to Washington Township, where he followed the same business for several years. Of their children five lived to be adults. James D. was graduated from Washington College, but at the breaking out of the Rebellion enlisted in Co. C, 8th Iowa Vol. Inf., was taken prisoner at Shiloh, subsequently exchanged, rejoined his regiment, and died from disease contracted in the service at Pocahontas, Tenn., Dec. 11, 1863; William F. is now at Ft. Madison, Iowa; Lorenzo G. is a clerk in a drug-store in Washington; Mary M. is at home; Sarah Alma is the widow of Rev. J. D.. White, and now resides in Washington. Mr. White received his literary education at Washington and Jefferson Colleges, and graduated from the Western Theological Seminary. In 1879 he was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of Washington, and filled the pulpit till June, 1884. He died in January, 1887. Mrs. White in the last few years as developed artistic talent to a high degree, and exhibits some very fine specimens of oil paintings from her brush. What is very remarkable is the fact that she never received any instruction in that line. Mrs. Glasgow died May 5, 1884, mourned alike by husband, children, and friends. She was a woman of many Christian graces, and loved by all.

In 1860 Mr. Glasgow was nominated, and by his party was elected, a member of the Lower House of the General Assembly of the State, and served with credit to himself and his constituents. He was present during the special session in the spring of 1861, called for the purpose of making provisions for the enlisting and providing men to help put down the Rebellion. In March, 1864, notwithstanding he had given one son to the cause of his country, he enlisted as a private in Co. H, 2nd Iowa Vet. Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He joined the regiment in front of Atlanta, was with it in its march to the sea, through the Carolinas to Washington, and was one in the grand review in that city at the close of the war. He was mustered out with the regiment in the summer of 1865.

Returning home in the fall of 1865 he was nominated and elected County Treasurer, and was re-elected three times, serving in all eight years. He has at all time enjoyed the respect and esteem of the community in which he resided.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Hon. Robert Glasgow, pages 189-190.