Robey Family Reunion--1933

Note: This article appeared in a Freeport, Illinois newspaper in August of 1933. Some parts are missing or hard to read. If anyone has an original copy of this article, please send me the missing parts and I will add it to this document with an addition to this note giving you credit. Thanks. This article is courtesy of Kenneth Lamb. R. Campbell, Ed.

FAMILY REUNIONS

Robey Centennial reunion

Nearly one hundred and fifty descendants and friends of the pioneer Robey family held a centenary at the Lena Campgrounds. William Robey was born Nov. 15, 1777, near Hagerstown, Md. He was a son of William Robey, Sr., who was killed in Kentucky by Indians after having served in the Revolutionary war under Colonel George Rogers Clark. The pioneer came to Chicago in 1833, then returned to Portsmouth, Ohio, for his family and returned again the next spring via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Hennepin where they remained long enough to raise a crop of corn. Then they returned overland via Dixon and Kellogg's Grove to Brewster's ferry, in Jo Daviess county (now Stephenson county territory) locate between Winslow and McConnell.

Here Robey commandeered the ferry and crossed the Pecatonica to spend the night with a squatter named Sim Davis n Oneco township. The Robeys then went on to Monroe, Wis., but returned by ferry and rented the Brewster farm and conducted the ferry until they took up land near Cedarville. Before leaving Ohio, Robey had been a keel boatman on the Ohio river and when on one of his trips he purchased a pony and rode to visit his friend Daniel Boone.

William Robey and wife (nee Mary Collins, daughter of Judge Collins of Scioto county, Ohio), brought eight of their twelve children with them to Illinois, the other four having died in Ohio. In 1847 they left for Texas with their five children, Elizabeth, Mary, Asbury, Thomas and John and his family. Cynthia, a daughter, had married Hubbard Graves in Ohio and they had accompanied the Robeys to Illinois. They had a number of descendants. Mr. Graves was the first sheriff to be elected in Stephenson county and later was a representative from this district to the state legislature.

Levi, oldest son of William Robey, and wife Almira resided on the farm near the place where they had first crossed the Pecatonica.

He was the first to receive a grant of land in Stephenson county; his son, William, born Sept. 21, 1836, was one of the first, if not the first white child to be born in the county. Levi helped "Tutty" Baker to raise the first house built in Freeport and helped select the site for the Stephenson county poor farm. He married one of the first couples in Waddams township and was elected the first president of the Old Settlers' association at Cedarville.

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[SEVERAL WORDS AT THE BEGINNING ARE UNREADABLE] five surviving children of William and Almira Robey, three of whom had previously died. Levi Robey subscribed to the fund for the purchase of the Lena camp grounds, where his descendants and those of his friends, the Watts, Graves, Moores and Divelys annually held their reunion on the third Sunday in August. William and Almira Robey lived to the age of eighty-seven. William Robey, Sr., died in Texas at the age of 98.

William Waddle Robey, son of William Robey Sr., also remained in Illinois until his death. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Young, and they farmed near Dakota and Rock Run until he was elected sheriff and removed to Freeport. Later he was revenue collector and constable. Only six children of these pioneers are now living: Mrs. Fanny Heise, Winslow, Ill.; Mrs. Jennie Burns, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Mary Hartsough, Nora, Ill.; they were united with their texas cousin, Mrs. Annie Wykes, of Oakalla, Texas, last Sunday for the first time in fifty-five years, when Mrs. Wykes journeyed here from the south.

Other guests from a distance were Robey Burns, Jacksonville, Ill., and Miss Davis and Mrs. Brown of Texas. The program following the dinner was as follows:

• Song, "Little Brown Church In the Vale," requested by Mrs. Mary Hartsough.
• Reading, "Forgotten Lanes"-Written by Vada Beebe, read by Sadie Moore.
• Recitation, "The Cookie Jar"-Jeanne McIlheran.
• "My Little Dog"-Roberta Harrison.
• "Trees"-Donna Read.
• Robey historical sketch-Mrs. R. E. Wiley.
• Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
• President-Oliver Graves.
• Treasurer-Mrs. Aletha Liphart.
• Secretary-Mary C. Blair.

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sough, of Nora, sat as hostess throughout the entire day and welcomed visitors. Mrs. Wykes, Lampasas, Texas, represented the family of Asbury Robey, who left here to pioneer in Texas in an early day.

Mrs. Jennie Burns, Washington, D.C., represented the family of Wadsworth Robey, who lived and died in Freeport, Ill. He was a brother to Levi Robey. Her son, Robey Burns, Jacksonville, Ill., was also present. Mrs. Anne Marshall Wiley, Rockford, gave the principal address of the day. Several great-great-grandchildren gave recitations in honor of their ancestors.