Confederate Cousins of Mary Todd Lincoln, Robert Barr Todd and Robert Levi Todd

From Spirits  of Mizzou  Robert L. Todd and Robert Barr Todd

Both men were first cousins of Mary Todd Lincoln.

These two men constituted the whole first graduating class of what today is known as the University of Missouri.  "Little Bob Todd" as Robert Levi Todd was known, was class valedictorian; Robert B. Todd ("Big Bob Todd") was salutatorian.

Robert B. Todd moved to Louisiana  and eventually became a justice on the state supreme court

Robert L. remained in Boone County, (where the university is located) becoming the university's first Tutor,  and serving fifteen years as Curator and 25 years as Secretary of the Board of Curators (they are the ones who run the university).

An often-repeated story claims that Robert Levi Todd saved the university from burning during the Civil War, using his connections with President Lincoln to prevent Union Colonel Lewis Merrill from putting the whole town of Columbia to flames.

An early voice for the university's alumni, Todd was instrumental in creating the Alumni Association and served as its first president in 1885-1886.

Robert L. Todd continued to be one of the University of Missouri's strongest supporters until he died in Columbia in 1898.

Actually, it is possible that Robert Levi Todd wasn't a Confederate.

--Old Secesh

Robert Barr Todd and Robert Levi Todd

Robert Barr Todd was the son of David Todd, Mary Todd Lincoln's uncle and brother of her father Robert Smith Todd.  After graduating from the University of Missouri, he eventually got to Louisiana

Robert Levi Todd was the son of Roger North Todd, another brother of Robert Smith Todd. He remained in Columbia for his whole life.

Robert Barr Todd's mother, Elizabeth "Eliza" Barr Todd, married David Todd.  One of his sisters, Rebekah Todd Samuel,  married George Warren Samuel.

--Old Secesh

A History of the University of Missouri-- Part 2: The Fighting "Tigers" and Occupation

From Wikipedia.

The coming of the Civil War forced the university to close for much of 1862.  Residents of Columbia formed a Union "home guard" militia that was known as the "Fighting Tigers of Columbia."    They were given that name because of their readiness to fight for and protect the city and university.

In 1890, the universities newly formed football team took the name "Tigers" after the Civil War militia unit.

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From Archives of Univ. of Missouri  "The Military and Mizzou:  1861-1946."

The role of the University of Missouri-Columbia, in the military began during the Civil War in 1862.  Missouri was a border state so there were those in Columbia who favored the Confederacy, so the town fell under the watchful eye of the federal government.

On January 2, 1862, a group of Missouri volunteers known as Merrill's Horse" arrived in Columbia.  They pitched tents on campus and garrisoned  the school.  Academic Hall , the former administrative building  that burned down in 1892, was used to house soldiers.

These troops also interned Confederate prisoners  in the main library's third floor.

--Old Secesh