ALEXANDER LEWDEN ROBESON.— The great grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch was William Robeson, who emigrated from Ireland to America before the war of the Revolution, in which he participated, and held the rank of major. His son, Alexander, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Lewden, a gentleman of Welsh descent, and had among his children a son, John Lewden, the father of Alexander Lewden. He was married to Mary Janvier, daughter of Thomas and Mercy Janvier, of New Castle, Del. Their second son, Alexander Lewden, was born Feb. 5, 1834, in the village of Newport, Del., and at a very early age removed to Wilmington, in the same State, where he received a liberal education at private schools. During the year 1851 he removed to Bridgeton, N.J., and entered the counting-room of the Cumberland Nail and Iron Works as clerk. Later he engaged in the lumber and hardware business, having formed a copartnership with D.B. Whitaker and the late Isaac A. Sheppard, under the firm-name of Whitaker, Robeson & Co. Though a successful business was established, he soon embraced a more favorable opportunity for advancement, and severing his relation with this firm he formed a business connection with James L. Whitaker, of the same place, under the firm-name of Robeson & Whitaker, who together established a large wholesale and retail drug- and stationery-store on East Commerce Street. While on the threshold of commercial prosperity, the patriotic ardor of Mr. Robeson was thoroughly aroused by the appeal of the country for additional troops during the late civil war, and, severing both business and social ties, he resolved to tender his services for the conflict.
Early in 1861, having announced his intention of forming a company of volunteers, he associated with him James J. Reeves, Esq., his brother-in-law, whose office was opened for recruiting purposes. The rapid enrollment of this company, which was formed in thirty-six hours, and many of the members of which were from the iron-works and other manufacturing establishments of the city, was largely due to the great personal popularity of Lieut. Robeson. The military career of this gallant officer was of short duration. The Twenty-fourth New Jersey Regiment, to which his company belonged, was early called into the conflict, and being brigaded with several other regiments under the charge of Brig.-Gen. Kimball, French’s division, Second Corps, was the first to make the attack upon the batteries and rifle-pits of the enemy in the rear of Fredericksburg on the eventful 13th of December, 1862. The firing of the enemy ceased at nightfall, and not until then could assistance be afforded or any attempt made to ascertain the number of the dead. And even then, though the night was spent in diligent search for friends supposed to be among the wounded or slain, many remained from whom no tidings could be obtained, and of them it could only be said that they were "missing." Among those thus recorded was Lieut. Robeson. Having the charge of his company in the captain’s absence, he bravely led them forward never to return. Though a faithful and oft-repeated search was made for him no tidings were received, nor has any positive intelligence since been transmitted concerning him. The members of his company loved him as a brother, and his men were equally dear to him. He looked faithfully after their wants and sympathized with them unfailingly in all their sufferings. He was especially endeared to his fellow-officers, who esteemed him for his intelligence and excellent judgment, and loved him for his virtues and exemplary Christian character.
Mr. Robeson possessed, in a rare degree, the elements of popularity, and among the young business men of South Jersey few, if any, surpassed him in general intelligence and business sagacity. He was prompt, efficient, systematic, courteous, generous, faithful, and true. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his comrades in the army the members of the order known as the Grand Army of the Republic, having their organization in Bridgeton, named their post in honor of him,—the "A.L. Robeson Post, No. 42, G.A.R."
Lieut. Robeson was married, Sept. 26, 1854, to Miss Martha, daughter of Johnson Reeves, of Bridgeton, N.J. Three children were born to them, two of whom (a son Francis and a daughter Mary Elizabeth) died in the spring of 1871. One son, John Lewden Robeson, still lives, and is a member of the firm of Fithian & Robeson, florists and seedsmen, of Bridgeton, N.J.
Early in 1861, having announced his intention of forming a company of volunteers, he associated with him James J. Reeves, Esq., his brother-in-law, whose office was opened for recruiting purposes. The rapid enrollment of this company, which was formed in thirty-six hours, and many of the members of which were from the iron-works and other manufacturing establishments of the city, was largely due to the great personal popularity of Lieut. Robeson. The military career of this gallant officer was of short duration. The Twenty-fourth New Jersey Regiment, to which his company belonged, was early called into the conflict, and being brigaded with several other regiments under the charge of Brig.-Gen. Kimball, French’s division, Second Corps, was the first to make the attack upon the batteries and rifle-pits of the enemy in the rear of Fredericksburg on the eventful 13th of December, 1862. The firing of the enemy ceased at nightfall, and not until then could assistance be afforded or any attempt made to ascertain the number of the dead. And even then, though the night was spent in diligent search for friends supposed to be among the wounded or slain, many remained from whom no tidings could be obtained, and of them it could only be said that they were "missing." Among those thus recorded was Lieut. Robeson. Having the charge of his company in the captain’s absence, he bravely led them forward never to return. Though a faithful and oft-repeated search was made for him no tidings were received, nor has any positive intelligence since been transmitted concerning him. The members of his company loved him as a brother, and his men were equally dear to him. He looked faithfully after their wants and sympathized with them unfailingly in all their sufferings. He was especially endeared to his fellow-officers, who esteemed him for his intelligence and excellent judgment, and loved him for his virtues and exemplary Christian character.
Mr. Robeson possessed, in a rare degree, the elements of popularity, and among the young business men of South Jersey few, if any, surpassed him in general intelligence and business sagacity. He was prompt, efficient, systematic, courteous, generous, faithful, and true. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his comrades in the army the members of the order known as the Grand Army of the Republic, having their organization in Bridgeton, named their post in honor of him,—the "A.L. Robeson Post, No. 42, G.A.R."
Lieut. Robeson was married, Sept. 26, 1854, to Miss Martha, daughter of Johnson Reeves, of Bridgeton, N.J. Three children were born to them, two of whom (a son Francis and a daughter Mary Elizabeth) died in the spring of 1871. One son, John Lewden Robeson, still lives, and is a member of the firm of Fithian & Robeson, florists and seedsmen, of Bridgeton, N.J.
ALEXANDER LEWDEN ROBESON.— The great grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch was William Robeson, who emigrated from Ireland to America before the war of the Revolution, in which he participated, and held the rank of major. His son, Alexander, married Elizabeth, daughter of John Lewden, a gentleman of Welsh descent, and had among his children a son, John Lewden, the father of Alexander Lewden. He was married to Mary Janvier, daughter of Thomas and Mercy Janvier, of New Castle, Del. Their second son, Alexander Lewden, was born Feb. 5, 1834, in the village of Newport, Del., and at a very early age removed to Wilmington, in the same State, where he received a liberal education at private schools. During the year 1851 he removed to Bridgeton, N.J., and entered the counting-room of the Cumberland Nail and Iron Works as clerk. Later he engaged in the lumber and hardware business, having formed a copartnership with D.B. Whitaker and the late Isaac A. Sheppard, under the firm-name of Whitaker, Robeson & Co. Though a successful business was established, he soon embraced a more favorable opportunity for advancement, and severing his relation with this firm he formed a business connection with James L. Whitaker, of the same place, under the firm-name of Robeson & Whitaker, who together established a large wholesale and retail drug- and stationery-store on East Commerce Street. While on the threshold of commercial prosperity, the patriotic ardor of Mr. Robeson was thoroughly aroused by the appeal of the country for additional troops during the late civil war, and, severing both business and social ties, he resolved to tender his services for the conflict.
Early in 1861, having announced his intention of forming a company of volunteers, he associated with him James J. Reeves, Esq., his brother-in-law, whose office was opened for recruiting purposes. The rapid enrollment of this company, which was formed in thirty-six hours, and many of the members of which were from the iron-works and other manufacturing establishments of the city, was largely due to the great personal popularity of Lieut. Robeson. The military career of this gallant officer was of short duration. The Twenty-fourth New Jersey Regiment, to which his company belonged, was early called into the conflict, and being brigaded with several other regiments under the charge of Brig.-Gen. Kimball, French’s division, Second Corps, was the first to make the attack upon the batteries and rifle-pits of the enemy in the rear of Fredericksburg on the eventful 13th of December, 1862. The firing of the enemy ceased at nightfall, and not until then could assistance be afforded or any attempt made to ascertain the number of the dead. And even then, though the night was spent in diligent search for friends supposed to be among the wounded or slain, many remained from whom no tidings could be obtained, and of them it could only be said that they were "missing." Among those thus recorded was Lieut. Robeson. Having the charge of his company in the captain’s absence, he bravely led them forward never to return. Though a faithful and oft-repeated search was made for him no tidings were received, nor has any positive intelligence since been transmitted concerning him. The members of his company loved him as a brother, and his men were equally dear to him. He looked faithfully after their wants and sympathized with them unfailingly in all their sufferings. He was especially endeared to his fellow-officers, who esteemed him for his intelligence and excellent judgment, and loved him for his virtues and exemplary Christian character.
Mr. Robeson possessed, in a rare degree, the elements of popularity, and among the young business men of South Jersey few, if any, surpassed him in general intelligence and business sagacity. He was prompt, efficient, systematic, courteous, generous, faithful, and true. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his comrades in the army the members of the order known as the Grand Army of the Republic, having their organization in Bridgeton, named their post in honor of him,—the "A.L. Robeson Post, No. 42, G.A.R."
Lieut. Robeson was married, Sept. 26, 1854, to Miss Martha, daughter of Johnson Reeves, of Bridgeton, N.J. Three children were born to them, two of whom (a son Francis and a daughter Mary Elizabeth) died in the spring of 1871. One son, John Lewden Robeson, still lives, and is a member of the firm of Fithian & Robeson, florists and seedsmen, of Bridgeton, N.J.
Early in 1861, having announced his intention of forming a company of volunteers, he associated with him James J. Reeves, Esq., his brother-in-law, whose office was opened for recruiting purposes. The rapid enrollment of this company, which was formed in thirty-six hours, and many of the members of which were from the iron-works and other manufacturing establishments of the city, was largely due to the great personal popularity of Lieut. Robeson. The military career of this gallant officer was of short duration. The Twenty-fourth New Jersey Regiment, to which his company belonged, was early called into the conflict, and being brigaded with several other regiments under the charge of Brig.-Gen. Kimball, French’s division, Second Corps, was the first to make the attack upon the batteries and rifle-pits of the enemy in the rear of Fredericksburg on the eventful 13th of December, 1862. The firing of the enemy ceased at nightfall, and not until then could assistance be afforded or any attempt made to ascertain the number of the dead. And even then, though the night was spent in diligent search for friends supposed to be among the wounded or slain, many remained from whom no tidings could be obtained, and of them it could only be said that they were "missing." Among those thus recorded was Lieut. Robeson. Having the charge of his company in the captain’s absence, he bravely led them forward never to return. Though a faithful and oft-repeated search was made for him no tidings were received, nor has any positive intelligence since been transmitted concerning him. The members of his company loved him as a brother, and his men were equally dear to him. He looked faithfully after their wants and sympathized with them unfailingly in all their sufferings. He was especially endeared to his fellow-officers, who esteemed him for his intelligence and excellent judgment, and loved him for his virtues and exemplary Christian character.
Mr. Robeson possessed, in a rare degree, the elements of popularity, and among the young business men of South Jersey few, if any, surpassed him in general intelligence and business sagacity. He was prompt, efficient, systematic, courteous, generous, faithful, and true. As an evidence of the esteem in which he was held by his comrades in the army the members of the order known as the Grand Army of the Republic, having their organization in Bridgeton, named their post in honor of him,—the "A.L. Robeson Post, No. 42, G.A.R."
Lieut. Robeson was married, Sept. 26, 1854, to Miss Martha, daughter of Johnson Reeves, of Bridgeton, N.J. Three children were born to them, two of whom (a son Francis and a daughter Mary Elizabeth) died in the spring of 1871. One son, John Lewden Robeson, still lives, and is a member of the firm of Fithian & Robeson, florists and seedsmen, of Bridgeton, N.J.
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