Allen County, Indiana People

Colonel Robert Stoddart Robertson

Go to: his Newspaper obituries.

R. S. Robertson

Two photos of the tombstone for the Robert Stoddart Robertson Memorial are on Find A Grave in Section G- Lot 173 at Lindenwood Cemetery. Note the inscribed dates are April 16, 1839 August 25, 1906.

Roberts Stoddart Robertson was born on April 16, 1939 in North Argyle, New York to Nicholas and Martha Robertson. His father’s profession as Justice of the peace motivated him to choose the law as a profession and he was admitted to the New York bar in November 1860. In June 1865, he married Elizabeth Miller on July 19, 1965. He became a lawyer in Washington, D.C. then moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Robertson ran for office and was elected Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in 1886. Robertson received the Medal of Honor on July 26, 1897 from the Secretary of War under President McKinley. Robertson died in 1936 and is buried in Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Copied from ROBERT S. ROBERTSON (1839-1906) by James E. Fargo, FSA Scot at Clan Donnachaidh Society, Mid-Atlantic Branch.

NOTE: Photo of tombstone shows R. S. Robertson died August 25, 1906.

Notice the signature R. S. Robertson in the very first Fort Wayne City Directory Williams' Fort Wayne directory, city guide, and business mirror : volume 1, 1858-'59 by Williams, C. S. (Calvin S.) Publication date 1858 on Archive.org. [ See how this book was found on the Fort Wayne City Directories page ]

Colonel Robert S. Robertson, 1839-1906 : soldier, public officer, historian, social arbiter by Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, 1958, on Archive.org

Descended from Scotch ancestors, settled in Fort Wayne after the Civil War, during which he had won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service, nearly dying from wounds suffered in May 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania. Active in civic affairs, became lieutenant governor, and later, Fort Wayne's city attorney and state senator.

  1. Page 380 section titled: Antiquities of Allen and DeKalb Counties, Indiana by R. S. Robertson of the Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution by Smithsonian Institution. Board of Regents; United States National Museum. Report of the U.S. National Museum; Smithsonian Institution. Report of the Secretary , Publication Date 1846, on Archive.org.

    See the Antiquities of Allen and DeKalb Counties, Indiana on the Indian Burials page.

  2. Pre-Historic Remains by R. S. Robertson on page 45 of History of Allen County, Indiana. Publication date 1880 on Archive.org.

  3. Indiana rebellion of 1887 : the case of the Lieutenant-Governor by Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936 Publication date 1887 

    Untold Indiana The “Black Day” of the General Assembly by Justin Clark published February, 2017 Tweet February 24, 2017 on Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Programon Twitter.

  4. History of the Maumee River basin from the earliest account to its organization into counties Volume II. by Slocum, Charles Elihu, 1841-1915; Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936 Publication date 1905 on Archive.org.

  5. History of the Maumee River basin from the earliest account to its organization into counties Volume III. by Slocum, Charles Elihu, 1841-1915; Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936 Publication date 1905 on Archive.org.

  6. The Organization of Allen County by R.S. Robertson is page 371 of Pamphlets by Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County, Publication date 1954, on Archive.org.

  7. A sketch of early Fort Wayne by Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936; Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County Publication date 1959 on Archive.org

  8. Colonel Robert S. Robertson settled in Fort Wayne after the Civil War, during which he had won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service. He became a war hero after being shot off his horse and nearly dying from wounds suffered in May 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania. Read more at Colonel Robertson Civil War Diary on 200 @ 200 2016 Bicentennial items at The History Center.
  9. Personal recollections of the war. A record of service with the Ninety-third New York Vol. Infantry, and the First Brigade, First Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac by Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936, Publication date 1895 on Archive.org. Is also available as Personal recollections of the war. A record of service with the Ninety-third New York Vol. Infantry, and the First Brigade, First Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, at The Library of Congress.
  10. Robert Stoddart Robertson publications at Amazon.com
  11. Robertson, Robert Stoddart, 1839-1936s publications at Internet Archive.
  12. ROBERT S. ROBERTSON (1839-1906) by James E. Fargo, FSA Scot at Clan Donnachaidh Society, Mid-Atlantic Branch.
  13. Robert Stoddart Robertson publications at FamilySearch.org.
  14. Robert S. Robertson at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
  15. 24 works in 51 publications on WorldCat.

Newspaper Obituaries

  1. 1906 - Col. Robertson Critically Ill - Well Known Lawyer and Civil War Veteran in Danger

    Article from Aug 23, 1906 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - Col. Robertson Critically Ill - Well Known Lawyer and Civil War Veteran in Danger Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, August 23, 1906, Page 1

  2. 1906 - Col. Robertson Very Near Death - Well Known Attorney Sinking Rapidly - End May Come Any Hour

    Article from Aug 23, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - Col. Robertson Very Near Death - Well Known Attorney Sinking Rapidly - End May Come Any Hour The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, August 23, 1906, Page 1

  3. 1906 - Patient Growing Steadily Weaker - Col. Robertson Lapses Into Comatose State

    Article from Aug 24, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - Patient Growing Steadily Weaker - Col. Robertson Lapses Into Comatose State The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, August 24, 1906, Page 1

  4. 1906 - Death Terminates Distinguished Career of Col. R. S. Robertson - Illness Many Months

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Death Terminates Distinguished Career of Col. R. S. Robertson - Illness Many Months The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 1

    1906 - Death Ends Distinguished Career (continued)

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Death Ends Distinguished Career (continued) The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 4

  5. 1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle - Col. R. S. Robertson's Long Eminent Career is Ended

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle - Col. R. S. Robertson's Long Eminent Career is Ended The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 1

    Lighter version: 1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle - Col. R. S. Robertson's Long Eminent Career is Ended The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 1

    1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle (continued)

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle (continued) The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 2. Similar 1906 - Death Conquers in Last Battle (continued).

    1906 - Col. R. S. Robertson

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Col. R. S. Robertson The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 4

    1906 - Col. Robert S. Robertson

    Article from Aug 25, 1906 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Col. Robert S. Robertson Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 1

    Similar story:

    1906 - Death Claims Col. Robertson - Distinguished Citizen Passed Away Last Night Near Midnight Sketch of His Life Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 1

    1906 - Death Claims Col. Roberston (continued)  Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, August 25, 1906, Page 10

  6. 1906 - The Obsequies To-morrow - Arrangements Funeral Col. R. S. Robertson - Scottish Rite Masons

    Article from Aug 26, 1906 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - The Obsequies To-morrow - Arrangements Funeral Col. R. S. Robertson - Scottish Rite Masons The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, August 26, 1906, Page 1

  7. 1906 - A Tribute to Col. Roberston - Judge O'Rourke's Eulogy of His Late Opponent

    Article from Aug 27, 1906 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - A Tribute to Col. Roberston - Judge O'Rourke's Eulogy of His Late Opponent The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 27, 1906, Page 4

  8. 1906 - Remains Rest in Earth's Embrace - Impressive Funeral Services Held for Col. R. S. Robertson

    Article from Aug 27, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Remains Rest in Earth's Embrace - Impressive Funeral Services Held for Col. R. S. Robertson The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 27, 1906, Page 1

    1906 - Remains Rest in Earth's Embrace (continued)

    Article from Aug 27, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - Remains Rest in Earth's Embrace (continued) The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, August 27, 1906, Page 2

  9. 1906 - The Local Courts - Col. Robertson Left No Will

    Article from Aug 31, 1906 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - The Local Courts - Col. Robertson Left No Will Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, August 31, 1906, Page 12.

    The Local Courts

    Col Robertson Left No Will

    The late Col B S Robertson left no will and his estate will be settled amicably next week. Attorney N. A. Robertson, of Eureka Utah who received the news of his fathers death too late to reach here in time for the funeral wlll be here next week. On Wednesday or Thursday the estate will be settled up satisfactorily to the widow and children. The preliminaries have all been arranged by Robert S Robertson, jr.

  10. 1906 - Toronto Editor A Visitor - Hon. I. Ross Robertson - to complete history of Robertson Clan

    Article from Sep 24, 1906 The Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson, Robertson clan
    1906 - Toronto Editor A Visitor - Hon. I. Ross Robertson - to complete history of Robertson Clan The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, September 24, 1906, Page 1

  11. 1906 - Monument for Col. Robertson - a large boulder

    Article from Dec 14, 1906 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson

    1906 - Monument for Col. Robertson - a large boulder Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, December 14, 1906, Page 2.

    Mounument For Col. Robertson

    A large boulder, which has for years lain beside the sidewalk in front of the Kelly house in Kendallville, was today shipped to Fort Wayne and will be placed over the grave of the late Col. R. S. Robertson. The story of the stone is an interesting one. Some seven years ago when Benjamin Strieffling was a detective on the local police force, he and the colonel went to Goshen take a deposition. On their way back they stopped over at Kendallville between trains, and went up to the Kelly house. to pass the time. While there they fell into conversation with the proprietor, John B. Kelly. The talk turned upon the boulder by the sidewalk.

    "Ben," said Col. Robertson, "if I die before you do, I want you to have that stone placed on my grave."

    I'll see to it, Colonel," replied Mr. Striefling, "but I hope that your life will be no shorter than mine." Mr. Kelly promised that the boulder should be kept for its mission, and the company parted.

    After the death of Col. Robertson, several months ago, Mr. Striefling recalled the agreement made long before. But within a week after the colonel's death Mr. Kelly also passed the great beyond. After his widow had somewhat recovered from the shock of her husband's death, Mr. Striefling sent a friend to Kendallville to ask Mrs. Kelly for the stone. The request was granted arrangements were made for the shipping. The stone will be placed on Cel Robertson's grave tomorrow after noon. Mr. Striefling will consult with Mrs. Robertson, concerning the epitaph and Striefling's last office to his departed friend will have been performed.

  12. 1906 - To Serve as Monument for Col. R. S. Robertson - Large Boulder from Kendallville

    Article from Dec 15, 1906 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1906, Col. r. s. robertson
    1906 - To Serve as Monument for Col. R. S. Robertson - Large Boulder from Kendallville The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, December 15, 1906, Page 11
  13. West Berry St. at Broadway

    West Berry St. at Broadway Description: Photo taken from the roof of St. Joseph Hospital looking east towards downtown Fort Wayne. Congressional Medal of Honor winner and historian Col. Robert S. Robertson's Italianate home is in the foreground. It was razed by its neighbor Trinity Episcopal Church in 2011. In the Daniel Baker Collection in the Allen County Public Library Digital Collections at the Allen County Public Library.

    Was discussed June 11, 2023 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

    Comments: The Robertson house had already been mostly demolished many years before in the 1960s. Only the front half of it remained, and that had been gutted and remodeled for offices. Very little of what Robertson had known survived. Still, it probably should have been moved, but the church got a bum rap about the demolition.

    I agree that it should have been moved. Developers were given the chance but weren't able to raise the funds in time. They should have been given more time, but with the demolition equipment on site, the leadership made the decision to demolish when the deadline expired. It could have been handled better. However, what the public didn't understand was that Trinity's classroom/office building needed a lot of renovation, and we needed the exterior space to do it. Built in the 1950s, it was not ADA compliant, making it difficult for the disabled and infirm to access with many interior stairs. It needed to build a new entrance for better access. After the demolition, the church was punished in a public way that I felt was unfair. It was removed from the city's West Central architectural brochure, even though it is on the National Historic Register, is significant architecturally, and has always supported the neighborhood by being on tour. It had a record of being a good neighbor. By contrast, Trinity English Lutheran suffered no such backlash when it tore down St. Paul's Catholic Church for the space it needed. There was a double standard here, I think, in the way these churches were judged. By the 2000s, all the other downtown churches in the area (Plymouth, Trinity English, First Pres), had or got new entrances that addressed ADA issues. The whole thing should have had a better outcome for all parties involved, and I, as a member, wish it could be done over. I believe the area now is well landscaped with a labyrinth that is publicly accessible. Trinity still wants to be a good neighbor. 

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