Private, Company H, 25th Virginia Infantry, C.S.A.

Enlisted: 23 April 1861 at Brownsburg, VA

Captured: 13 July 1961 at Rich Mountain, VA

Exchanged: 30 Sep 1862

Private, Company I, 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry, C.S.A.

Enlisted: 1 February 1864 at Staunton, VA

Paroled: 20 May 1865 at Staunton, VA

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MR. ROBERT D. FIREBAUGH

DIED AT CEDAR GROVE

Mr. Robert Dunlap Firebaugh, a useful and highly respected citizen of the county, died at 12:30 o'clock Sunday morning at his home at Cedar Grove. He had passed three score and ten years of age and for some time his health had been failing. His death was not unexpected.

Mr. Firebaugh was born May 13, 1842, on the farm on which he died, and on which his entire life was spent. He was a son of John Firebaugh, a worthy citizen of Rockbridge, and Eleanor McCutcheon Dunlap, his wife. In the nineteenth year of his age he enlisted in the Rockbridge Guards, an infantry company organized in his vicinity, in view of the prospect of war, and was mustered into service with it as one of company H, Twenty-fifth Virginia infantry. In the first battle in which this company engaged, that of Rich Mountain, he was captured with a number of his comrades. He was later exchanged and then re-enlisted in company, Sixty-second Virginia infantry, with which he served throughout the war.

Mr. Firebaugh's after life was devoted to farming on the home place. He was a public spirited citizen, and an active member of Bethesda Presbyterian church, in which, first as a deacon and afterwards as an elder, he was an officer for forty-five years. He was deeply interested in the organization of the Rockbridge Mutual FIre Insurance company and soon after it was formed was made the director for Walkers Creek district, an office he held until he resigned it a year ago, by reason of bad health. He was a pronounced Democrat and influential in his party. For some time he was a member of the pension board of the county. For a generation he was one of the election judges at his precinct and was much of this time a commissioner of elections. He was a painstaking, careful, prudent man of fine character and kindly disposition, who commanded the confidence and best wishes of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Firebaugh was married Jan. 2, 1866, to Miss Sarah J. Clemmer, daughter of the late W.K. Clemmer of Middlebrook. Mrs. Firebaugh survives him with fours sons and two daughters: Emmett K. Firebaugh of Charlottesville, William C. Firebaugh of Lexington, Rev. Robert P. Firebaugh of Bennington, Okla., J. Greenlee Firebaugh of Cedar Grove, Mrs. Anna P. Hopkins, wife of Mr. Abner K. Hopkins, of Harrisonburg, and Miss Ella J. Firebaugh of Cedar Grove. Of his father's family there survive him James B. Firebaugh of Fallon, Nev., and Mrs. Matthew H. Bear of Burbank, Cal.

The burial took place in Bethesda cemetery Monday afternoon. The funeral service was held from the church at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Emmett W. McCorkle, the pastor, officiating. All of his children excepting the Rev. R.M. Firebaugh, were present at the funeral.

A friend from the Rockbridge Baths sends this tribute of Mr. Firebaugh's neighbors: "He was a good soldier, having served with gallantry in the Confederate army. He was a man of public spirit and lent his influence without stint to the welfare of the community. He was universally beloved, as was widely known. But nowhere was his service to any interest more conspicuously faithful than to Bethesda church, of which he had been a member for almost fifty years. First as a deacon, then as an elder and clerk of the session, he gave the church his life service as well as his heart's love. The loss felt in the home, where he was a loving husband and devoted father."

Rockbridge County News -- Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia -- March 20, 1913 -- Thursday -- Page #3.