Robert Starr was born to Joseph Neree and Caroline Wolcott Balestier 1838 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1842, he and his parents moved back to New York City where he attended school and graduated from Union College in 1857.
Two years later in 1859, he made a voyage around the world , going to San Francisco and China, and back to New York, arriving at that place in February, 1861, and April 14, 1861. Enlisted in Co. K. 79th N. Y. Volunteers,; was commissioned Second Lieutenant and mustered into the United States service May 20th 1861, under Captain Shillinglaw; resigned July 3rd 1861, and re-enlisted and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3d New York Independent Battery in September, 1861. Resigned again in February, 1862, enlisted in the Marine Corps, in March, 1862; and was discharged by special orders at Cairo, Illinois., Oct.14, 1863 and received a commission in the United States Navy, October 20, 1863.
Served in the Mississippi squadron on board the USS Linden thoughtout the siege of Vicksburg, under Foot, and with Banks' expedition. Remained in the Mississippi Squadron until June 8th, 1865, when he was discharged mustered out at New York. Received a sabre wound at Yorktown in 1862. After leaving the service he accepted a position as clerk, in the express and railroad business for 23 years- He resided in Unadilla since 1866, and was a charter member of C. C. Siver Post; was officer of the day during the year 1875; his administration as Commander during his first term, 1890, was noted for promptness in its dealing with the Department, and he was again elected for the second time, to serve during 1891. When he surrendered to Mr. R. G. Brown, his successor as Commander, the affairs of C. C. Siver Post, No. 124, were second to none as to rank and sociability. He served one year as aide-de camp on the Department Staff, and on the National Staff during the year 1889, as aide-de-camp, attached to General Alger's Staff.
After being discharged from the military he went to Unadilla, New York and met the Holmes family. After a while he married Amos and Phoebe Holmes daughter, Mary in 1866. After a year marriage Mary died of congestion of the lungs in January 15th, 1867. He married Mary's sister Fannie Marie Holmes in 1868. The story goes that Robert married Fannie because she was a good cook, at least that's how my grandmother told me. He worked as a Clerk for the D&H Railroad until he retired in 1894.
The Otsego Journal - 3 December 1903
Robert Starr Balestier, one of Unadilla's highly respected and well known citizens died on Friday, November 20th at noon.
***Interesting fact*** Robert Starr was in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 not realizing in 1861-1865 he was fighting against his own 1st cousin William A Balestier who was in the Confederate Army, enlisted with, Crescent Cadets, Militia AND Crescent Regiment, Infantry, A - Ca from Lousiana during this traumatic battle.
Two years later in 1859, he made a voyage around the world , going to San Francisco and China, and back to New York, arriving at that place in February, 1861, and April 14, 1861. Enlisted in Co. K. 79th N. Y. Volunteers,; was commissioned Second Lieutenant and mustered into the United States service May 20th 1861, under Captain Shillinglaw; resigned July 3rd 1861, and re-enlisted and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3d New York Independent Battery in September, 1861. Resigned again in February, 1862, enlisted in the Marine Corps, in March, 1862; and was discharged by special orders at Cairo, Illinois., Oct.14, 1863 and received a commission in the United States Navy, October 20, 1863.
Served in the Mississippi squadron on board the USS Linden thoughtout the siege of Vicksburg, under Foot, and with Banks' expedition. Remained in the Mississippi Squadron until June 8th, 1865, when he was discharged mustered out at New York. Received a sabre wound at Yorktown in 1862. After leaving the service he accepted a position as clerk, in the express and railroad business for 23 years- He resided in Unadilla since 1866, and was a charter member of C. C. Siver Post; was officer of the day during the year 1875; his administration as Commander during his first term, 1890, was noted for promptness in its dealing with the Department, and he was again elected for the second time, to serve during 1891. When he surrendered to Mr. R. G. Brown, his successor as Commander, the affairs of C. C. Siver Post, No. 124, were second to none as to rank and sociability. He served one year as aide-de camp on the Department Staff, and on the National Staff during the year 1889, as aide-de-camp, attached to General Alger's Staff.
After being discharged from the military he went to Unadilla, New York and met the Holmes family. After a while he married Amos and Phoebe Holmes daughter, Mary in 1866. After a year marriage Mary died of congestion of the lungs in January 15th, 1867. He married Mary's sister Fannie Marie Holmes in 1868. The story goes that Robert married Fannie because she was a good cook, at least that's how my grandmother told me. He worked as a Clerk for the D&H Railroad until he retired in 1894.
The Otsego Journal - 3 December 1903
Robert Starr Balestier, one of Unadilla's highly respected and well known citizens died on Friday, November 20th at noon.
***Interesting fact*** Robert Starr was in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 not realizing in 1861-1865 he was fighting against his own 1st cousin William A Balestier who was in the Confederate Army, enlisted with, Crescent Cadets, Militia AND Crescent Regiment, Infantry, A - Ca from Lousiana during this traumatic battle.
Robert Starr was born to Joseph Neree and Caroline Wolcott Balestier 1838 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1842, he and his parents moved back to New York City where he attended school and graduated from Union College in 1857.
Two years later in 1859, he made a voyage around the world , going to San Francisco and China, and back to New York, arriving at that place in February, 1861, and April 14, 1861. Enlisted in Co. K. 79th N. Y. Volunteers,; was commissioned Second Lieutenant and mustered into the United States service May 20th 1861, under Captain Shillinglaw; resigned July 3rd 1861, and re-enlisted and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3d New York Independent Battery in September, 1861. Resigned again in February, 1862, enlisted in the Marine Corps, in March, 1862; and was discharged by special orders at Cairo, Illinois., Oct.14, 1863 and received a commission in the United States Navy, October 20, 1863.
Served in the Mississippi squadron on board the USS Linden thoughtout the siege of Vicksburg, under Foot, and with Banks' expedition. Remained in the Mississippi Squadron until June 8th, 1865, when he was discharged mustered out at New York. Received a sabre wound at Yorktown in 1862. After leaving the service he accepted a position as clerk, in the express and railroad business for 23 years- He resided in Unadilla since 1866, and was a charter member of C. C. Siver Post; was officer of the day during the year 1875; his administration as Commander during his first term, 1890, was noted for promptness in its dealing with the Department, and he was again elected for the second time, to serve during 1891. When he surrendered to Mr. R. G. Brown, his successor as Commander, the affairs of C. C. Siver Post, No. 124, were second to none as to rank and sociability. He served one year as aide-de camp on the Department Staff, and on the National Staff during the year 1889, as aide-de-camp, attached to General Alger's Staff.
After being discharged from the military he went to Unadilla, New York and met the Holmes family. After a while he married Amos and Phoebe Holmes daughter, Mary in 1866. After a year marriage Mary died of congestion of the lungs in January 15th, 1867. He married Mary's sister Fannie Marie Holmes in 1868. The story goes that Robert married Fannie because she was a good cook, at least that's how my grandmother told me. He worked as a Clerk for the D&H Railroad until he retired in 1894.
The Otsego Journal - 3 December 1903
Robert Starr Balestier, one of Unadilla's highly respected and well known citizens died on Friday, November 20th at noon.
***Interesting fact*** Robert Starr was in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 not realizing in 1861-1865 he was fighting against his own 1st cousin William A Balestier who was in the Confederate Army, enlisted with, Crescent Cadets, Militia AND Crescent Regiment, Infantry, A - Ca from Lousiana during this traumatic battle.
Two years later in 1859, he made a voyage around the world , going to San Francisco and China, and back to New York, arriving at that place in February, 1861, and April 14, 1861. Enlisted in Co. K. 79th N. Y. Volunteers,; was commissioned Second Lieutenant and mustered into the United States service May 20th 1861, under Captain Shillinglaw; resigned July 3rd 1861, and re-enlisted and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3d New York Independent Battery in September, 1861. Resigned again in February, 1862, enlisted in the Marine Corps, in March, 1862; and was discharged by special orders at Cairo, Illinois., Oct.14, 1863 and received a commission in the United States Navy, October 20, 1863.
Served in the Mississippi squadron on board the USS Linden thoughtout the siege of Vicksburg, under Foot, and with Banks' expedition. Remained in the Mississippi Squadron until June 8th, 1865, when he was discharged mustered out at New York. Received a sabre wound at Yorktown in 1862. After leaving the service he accepted a position as clerk, in the express and railroad business for 23 years- He resided in Unadilla since 1866, and was a charter member of C. C. Siver Post; was officer of the day during the year 1875; his administration as Commander during his first term, 1890, was noted for promptness in its dealing with the Department, and he was again elected for the second time, to serve during 1891. When he surrendered to Mr. R. G. Brown, his successor as Commander, the affairs of C. C. Siver Post, No. 124, were second to none as to rank and sociability. He served one year as aide-de camp on the Department Staff, and on the National Staff during the year 1889, as aide-de-camp, attached to General Alger's Staff.
After being discharged from the military he went to Unadilla, New York and met the Holmes family. After a while he married Amos and Phoebe Holmes daughter, Mary in 1866. After a year marriage Mary died of congestion of the lungs in January 15th, 1867. He married Mary's sister Fannie Marie Holmes in 1868. The story goes that Robert married Fannie because she was a good cook, at least that's how my grandmother told me. He worked as a Clerk for the D&H Railroad until he retired in 1894.
The Otsego Journal - 3 December 1903
Robert Starr Balestier, one of Unadilla's highly respected and well known citizens died on Friday, November 20th at noon.
***Interesting fact*** Robert Starr was in the Union Army from 1861 to 1865 not realizing in 1861-1865 he was fighting against his own 1st cousin William A Balestier who was in the Confederate Army, enlisted with, Crescent Cadets, Militia AND Crescent Regiment, Infantry, A - Ca from Lousiana during this traumatic battle.
