Home > United States of America > Iowa > Mahaska County > Stewart Cemetery > William Riley Robertson

William Riley Robertson

Birth	:	2 Jan 1822 Claiborne County, Tennessee, USA
Death	:	31 Oct 1908 Taintor, Mahaska County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Stewart Cemetery, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.5046997, -92.6996994
Description	:	In 1856 William Riley Robertson, his wife and three children left Brown county, Indiana for Iowa. About three days into Iowa, after crossing the Mississippi River on a ferry, their horse and dog left during the night. They went all the way back to the ferry to look for the animals. The ferryman had their horse but said the dog had gone onto the ferry and slipped off the other side. The Robertsons collected their horse and went on to their new home in southern Poweshiek county. Later their Indiana relatives wrote that their dog... Read More	In 1856 William Riley Robertson, his wife and three children left Brown county, Indiana for Iowa. About three days into Iowa, after crossing the Mississippi River on a ferry, their horse and dog left during the night. They went all the way back to the ferry to look for the animals. The ferryman had their horse but said the dog had gone onto the ferry and slipped off the other side. The Robertsons collected their horse and went on to their new home in southern Poweshiek county. Later their Indiana relatives wrote that their dog had returned to its old home. William Riley, eldest of nine children born to Lazarus and Jane Leeper Robertson, was born 2 January 1822 in Claiborn county, Tennessee. He went to Indiana with his parents in 1826, settling first in Washington county and later in Brown county. He married Gabriella Stephens (1821-1848) 19 April 1845 and to them was born Francis Marion who married Margaret Reid. William Riley married second Elizabeth Jane Bailey (1827-1892) in Monroe county, Indiana. To them were born William Parker (1850-1930) who married Sarah E. Knox (1854-1922), and James Monroe (1851-1934). [Note: Some researchers have confused the above Francis Marion Robertson with one who died February 26, 1932 in Washington County, Indiana. This latter Francis married Nancy S. Davis August 29, 1872 in Washington County, Indiana at the same time the Iowa Francis Marion was married and having children in Iowa. Whatever happened to the Iowa Francis Marion, son of William Riley, is unknown at this time.] In 1856 William Riley sold their land in Brown county and moved to Sugar Creek Township in Poweshiek county, near Taintor, Iowa. They located near his brother Moses and uncle Joseph who preceded him to Iowa. His mother Jane also moved to Iowa and lived with her son Moses, first in Iowa, then in Missouri near another son, and then back to Iowa. On 10 June 1846 Lazarus and his brother Joseph enlisted as privates at New Albany, Indiana in Company E, 3rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry for service in the Mexican War. Their regiment went to New Orleans, and then to Santiago. The regiment participated in the fierce battle of Buena Vista on 23 February 1847. In General Zachary Taylor's report of the engagement to the Secretary of War he states, "The Third Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, and a fragment of the Second, under Colonel Bowles, were associated with the Mississippi regiment during the greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves creditably in repulsing the attempts of the enemy to break that portion of our line." American forces, 4,757 strong, soundly defeated 14,000 Mexican troops with an American loss of 740 killed, wounded and missing. Joseph received a shot under the left arm from a spent-ball, which fortunately did not have force enough to penetrate. Lazarus, now a sergeant, died 2 March 1847 at American Army Headquarters at Agua Nueva. His widow, Jane, was left with five minor children and a pension of $6.50 per month from Lazarus' service. There is no clear indication that Lazarus was killed. According to "Indiana in the Mexican War"; R Jones, D Reynolds, James K Polk, W S Marcy, et al; Indianapolis: W. B. Burford, 1908: Page 147 listed 3rd Indiana volunteer regiment killed and wounded at Buena Vista, but Lazarus in not among those listed as killed OR wounded; Page 405 does show Lazarus as a sergeant and that he died while in service. Likely he died of disease rather than wounds of war, which is what caused most deaths in this war.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William Riley Robertson's memorial?
William Riley Robertson's memorial is located at: Stewart Cemetery, Mahaska County, USA.
When did William Riley Robertson death?
William Riley Robertson death on 31 Oct 1908 in Taintor, Mahaska County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William Riley Robertson's memorial?
Latitude: 41.5046997
Longitude: -92.6996994

Family Members:

Parent

Jane Leeper Robertson

(1800 - 1886)

Spouse

Elizabeth Jane Bailey Robertson

(1826 - 1892)

Siblings

Children

William Parker Robertson

(1850 - 1930)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Stewart Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5046997, -92.6996994

2. Mill Grove Cemetery
Searsboro, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5271988, -92.6564026

3. Highland Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4768982, -92.6492004

4. Weatherwax Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4516380, -92.7116580

5. New Sharon Friends Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4625015, -92.6502991

6. Jackson Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4441230, -92.6989610

7. Baldwin Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4831009, -92.7761002

8. New Salem Cemetery
Lynnville, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5466995, -92.7752991

9. Forest Home Cemetery
Forest Home, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5378100, -92.6144700

10. Searsboro Cemetery
Searsboro, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5824000, -92.7019000

11. West Liberty Cemetery
Montezuma, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5744438, -92.6435242

12. Appel Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4474983, -92.7861023

13. Peoria Cemetery
Peoria, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4620018, -92.8040009

14. Mayfield Cemetery
Lynnville, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5646740, -92.7892740

15. Little Mount Baptist Cemetery
Montezuma, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5719000, -92.6193000

16. Friends Cemetery
Lynnville, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5821991, -92.7724991

17. Sheley Cemetery
Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5127500, -92.5719300

18. Beason Pioneer Cemetery
Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5374985, -92.5783005

19. Woodland Cemetery
Lynnville, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5744019, -92.7925034

20. Campbell Cemetery
Lynnville, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5768210, -92.7975000

21. Gorsuch-Dalby Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4981480, -92.5606930

22. McDonald Burying Ground
Searsboro, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5891929, -92.6166368

23. Chester Cemetery
Sully, Jasper County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5368996, -92.8336029

24. Bone-McCoy Cemetery
Montezuma, Poweshiek County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5668082, -92.5746947