Robert Barr Todd

From Find A Grave.

Born: 17 January 1826 in Lexington, Ky.

Died:  6 February 1901 in New York City

Buried:  Green-Wood Cemetery,  Brooklyn, NY.

Find a grave has him listed as a Confederate general but I am unable to find anything about that.

He moved to Missouri with his father David Todd, brother of Mary Todd Lincoln''s father, Robert Todd Smith.  Graduated in the first class at the University of Missouri  in 1843 and eventually ended up in Louisiana where he was  a member of both Louisiana houses as well as a Louisiana Supreme Court justice.

According to the Green-Wood Cemetery Civil War biographies, he also was a delegate to the Louisiana Secession  Convention and voted in favor of it.  (So, he was definitely a Confederate.)

Served as a justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1880 to 1888.

He last resided with his daughter  at 347 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.  This is why he was buried in New York.

--Old Secesh

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

About the First Commencement at the University of Missouri in 1843 Had Just Two Graduates, Both Cousins of Mary Todd Lincoln

The first commencement ceremony for the University of Missouri at Columbia was held in November 1843, and had just two graduates.  It lasted for three hours.

The two graduates were both cousins and also cousins of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Their names were Robert B.Todd and Robert L. Todd.

Robert Barr Todd, as salutatorian spoke at the beginning and end of the ceremony.  He gave the salutatorian oration in Latin.  He closed the ceremony with the speech "Political Experience of the Past, Important to the American Citizen."

There were  nine other speakers.

Of interest, Thomas J. Hardin gave a Disputation;  "The Dissolution of the Union."

But, THREE HOURS!!!  Come On.  --Old Secesh

Not All of Mary Todd Lincoln's Relatives Were Confederate: Edward Lewis Baker

From Find-A-Grave.

EDWARD LEWIS BAKER

Born:  3 June 1829

Died:  8 July 1897 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buried:  Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois

Lawyer, journalist, diplomat.  Married Julia Edwards, daughter of Ninian Wirt Edwards and Elizabeth Porter Todd Edwards.  She was the sister of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Attended Harvard Law School and admitted to the bar in Springfield, Illinois.    Owner and editor of the Illinois State Journal and played an important role in his friend Abraham Lincoln's presidential campaign in 1860.

Married Julia Cook Edwards, niece of Mary Todd Lincoln.

He was appointed to US Consul in Buenos Aires, Argentina and began serving on March 17, 1874, and served there until he died in a train accident.

--Old Secesh

Not All of Mary Todd Lincoln's Relatives Were Confederate: Charles Edwards

From Find-A-Grave.

CHARLES EDWARDS

Nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln.

Born: 1846

Died:  23 September 1912

Buried:  Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.

He was a student at Yale when the Civil War began and became an official with the commissary department  of the United States Army  a year after the war was declared.  Then, his headquarters was at Camp Douglas in Chicago.

He was the brother of Albert Stephenson Edwards from the last post.

--Old Secesh

Not All of Mary Todd Lincoln's Siblings Were Rebels: Nephew Albert Stevenson Edwards

I will get back to Mary Todd Lincoln's Confederate siblings later, but right now will write about some Unionists in her family.

One of them was the son of her sister Elizabeth Porter Todd Edwards, a nephew of Mary's.  He was Albert Stevenson Edwards.  Elizabeth was married to Ninian Wirt Edwards.

From Find-A-Grave

Born:    15 December 1839  Springfield, Illinois

Died:   20 December 1915  Springfield, Illinois

Buried:   Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois

Died at the Lincoln Home.  Lived practically his whole life in Springfield except during the Civil War.

During the Civil War he was a member of the commissary department and stationed at Camp Douglas in Chicago and Cairo.

After the war he returned to Springfield where he worked as a bookkeeper.  He was deeply interested in his history and gathered many Lincoln relics and when he was appointed custodian of the Lincoln home, he took them to that place where he had been the last 19 years of his life.

--Old Secesh

Mary Todd Lincoln's "Divided Family"-- Part 3

These were half-siblings of Mary Todd Lincoln who were Confederate.

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MARTHA TODD WHITE

1833-1868

Accused of being a CSA spy and smuggler

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EMILIE TODD HELM

1836-1930

Married CSA General Benjamin Helm, KIA

***********************

ALEXANDER HUMPHREYS TODD

1839-1864

Lieut. 1st Kentucky Cavalry, KIA

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ELODIE TODD DAWSON

1840-1877

Married Captain Nathaniel Dawson 4th Alabama CSA

***********************

CATHERINE "KITTY" TODD

1841-1875

Married William Herr, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, CSA

***********************

--Old Secesh

Mary Todd Lincoln's "Family Divided"-- Part 2

One whole  page of the article was devoted to Mary Todd Lincoln's "Confederate" siblings and there were eight of them who either served in Confederate armies, were married to ones serving in Confederate armies or were sympathetic to the Confederate side.

Pictures accompanied the names.

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK TODD

(1825-1902)

Confederate Army surgeon

Was a full brother to Mary

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MARGARET TODD KELLOGG

(1828-1904)

Married a southern sympathizer from Ohio

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SAMUEL TODD

(1830-1862)

Private 24th Louisiana  KIA

This one was most likely Samuel Briggs Todd, but also might have been Samuel Brown Todd.  I've seen conflicting accounts of who is who.  All say Brown or Briggs was half brother to Mary.

Killed at Battle of Shiloh.

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DAVID HUMPHREYS TODD

(1832-1871)  Lieutenant, 21st Louisiana Artillery

*****************************

--Old Secesh

Mary Todd Lincoln's "Family Divided"-- Part 1

From the February 2018 Civil War Times "I Do Not Think of Peace:  Elodie Todd loved a Confederate officer, Her half-sister married Abraham Lincoln" by Susannah J. Ural.

This is the article that got me doing the Mary Todd Lincoln Confederate connection.

""Families divided" can be an overused Civil War expression.  In the case of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln, however, it is apt.

"Her father, Robert Smith Todd, had eight children by his second wife, Elizabeth Humphreys.  In addition to Elodie, all of Mary Todd's half siblings, and one full brother, George Rogers Clark Todd, expressed loyalty to the Confederacy  by service, marriage, or sympathy."

--Old Secesh

Mary Todd Lincoln's Confederate Connection

From Girl Power!  Mary Todd Lincoln site.

Mary Lincoln's brother, George Rogers Clark Todd and her half-brothers Alexander Todd, David Todd and  and Samuel Todd all fought for the Confederacy.

Alexander Todd was killed at the Battle of Baton Rouge.  Samuel Briggs Todd was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.  David Todd was wounded at Vicksburg.

Her half-sister Emilie Helm's husband was a Confederate brigadier general and was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga.

The husbands of half-sisters Martha White and Elodie Dawson were ardent supporters of the Confederacy as were they.

--Old Secesh

Samuel Briggs Todd of the Crescent Regiment-- Part 1: A Confusing Regiment in Mouton's Brigade

From the National Park Service Battle Unit Details and Civil War Louisiana sites.

The Crescent Regiment was organized by men from New Orleans and entered Confederate service in May 1861.

The unit fought at the Battle of Shiloh and reported 23 killed, 84 wounded and 20 missing.

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The Crescent regiment was also the 24th Louisiana Infantry Regiment.

They were part of the Alfred Mouton Brigade, later the Mouton-Gray Brigade.  Mouton's Brigade consisted of, off and on,  the 18th Louisiana, 24th Louisiana and the 28th Louisiana.  It gets somewhat confusing with units in the brigade also called  10th Louisiana Battalion (Yellow Jacket Battalion),  11th Louisiana Battalion, 12th Louisiana Battalion ( Confederate Guards Response Battalion) and 33rd Louisiana  Regiment.

Also you might come across the Consolidated 18th Louisiana Regiment and Yellow Jacket Battalion and the Consolidated Crescent Regiment.

Like the man said, very confusing.

--Old Secesh

(Probably) Not Samuel Brown Todd

Geni.com has him incorrectly listed under the name Samuel Brown Todd.  It should be Samuel Briggs Todd.

Samuel Briggs Todd's grandmother's name was Jane Briggs Todd.  So Briggs is a family name.

Also, the site The Confederate Half Brothers and Brothers-In-Law, of Mary Todd Lincoln has him listed as Samuel Brown Todd.

--Old Secesh

Samuel B. Todd Killed at Shiloh While in the Confederate Army. Half Brother of Mary Todd Lincoln

From the Find-A-Grave site from an obituary at the time of his death.

SAMUEL BRIGGS TODD

Birth:  20 March 30 1830   Lexington, Ky.

Death:  5 April 1862  aged 32 at the Battle of Shiloh, Hardin County, Tn.

Buried:  Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Ky.

Company F, Crescent Regt. CSA.

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OBITUARY

"MRS. LINCOLN'S BROTHER KILLED

"Mr. Samuel B. Todd, brother of Mrs. Lincoln,  died on the battle-field of Shiloh, of wounds received in the action of the 7th of  April.

"The New Orleans Delta says he was a gallant private in the Crescent regiment, and died in defense  of his country against  the hireling  invaders  whom the husband of his sister, Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, sent to desolate  our country and dishonor our people.

"It must be a pleasant reflection to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, amid her vulgar attempts to ape royal  fashions, with her  balls and soirees at the federal capital, that a gallant brother should have thus fallen  by the hands of her husband's mercenaries."

Evidently, the Newspaper Was Not Too Impressed With Mary Todd Lincoln.  --Old Secesh

The Tale of a Divided Kentucky Family Named Todd-- Part 2

Children from Robert Smith Todd's second marriage.  He was the father of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln.  These would be her half-siblings.

ROBERT HUMPHREYS TODD  (1827-1827)  Infant son.  Buried Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Ky.

MARGARET TODD KELLOGG  (1828-1908) Buried at Lexington Cemetery.    Married Charles Henry Kellogg   Buried Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati   Would spend months as visitor with sister in the White House.  **

SAMUEL BRIGGS TODD  (1830-1862)  Killed April 5, 1862 at Battle of Shiloh.  Member of Co. F. Crescent Regt. CSA.  Buried Lexington Cemetery.  **More on him in an upcoming entry.

DAVID HUMPHREYS TODD  (1832-1871)   Captain Co. A, 21st Louisiana Infantry, CSA.  Buried Maple Hill Cemetery, Huntsville, Alabama.

MARTHA TODD WHITE  (1833-1868)   Buried Lexington Cemetery

EMILIE PARIET TODD HELM  (1836-1930)  Buried Lexington Cemetery.  Married  Benjamin Hardin Helm, West Point graduate and brigadier general in Confederate Army.  Killed at Battle of Chickamauga on 20 September 1863.  Buried at Helm Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Ky.

ALEXANDER HUMPHREYS TODD   (1839-1862)   Served 1st Kentucky Cavalry as captain.  Killed in action at the Battle of Baton Rouge.  Buried Lexington Cemetery.

ELODIE BRECK TODD DAWSON  (1840-1877)  She was the third wife of Nathaniel Dawson who served in a Confederate regiment from Alabama.  Both buried at Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Alabama.  She was the one I was writing about last month from her letters with fiancee Nathaniel Dawson.

CATHERINE BODLEY TODD HERR   (1841-1875)  Married William Wallace Herr, 1st Kentucky Cavalry, CSA.    Buried Lexington Cemetery.  He is buried at Hite Cemetery, Louisville, Ky.

--Old Secesh

The Tale of a Divided Kentucky Family Named Todd-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave.

ROBERT SMITH TODD

Born 25 February 1791  Lexington, Kentucky

Died 17 July 1849 (age 58)  Liberty Heights, Kentucky

Buried   Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky

War of 1812 veteran.  His father was an American Revolution veteran.

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SPOUSES

ELIZABETH ANN PARKER TODD   1794-1825  Married November 13, 1812.

ELIZABETH L. HUMPHREYS TODD  1800-1874  Married November 1, 1826.

Married twice.

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CHILDREN WITH FIRST WIFE:

ELIZABETH TODD  (1813-1888)  Married Ninian Edwards Jr., son of Illinois' first governor.  Buried Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield Illinois.  Did a lot to encourage Abraham Lincoln in politics and a member of the Long Nine with Lincoln which had the state capital moved to Springfield.

ROBERT SMITH TODD, JR.  (1814-1814)  Died in infancy.  Buried in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Ky.

LEVI OLDHAM TODD  (1816-1864)  Married Louise Searle and remained in Lexington until his death.  Buried Lexington Cemetery.

FRANCES JANE TODD WALLACE  (1817-1899)  Married Dr. William Smith Wallace. Buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery.   Lincoln family doctor.  Accompanied the Lincolns to Washington, D.C., in 1861, and was appointed paymaster in the Army.  Served in Missouri and later Mississippi.  Contracted dysentery from which he never fully recovered.

MARY ANN TODD (1818-1882)  Married Abraham Lincoln.  Buried Oak Ridge Cemetery.

ANNA MARIA TODD SMITH  (1820-1891) Buried Oak Ridge Cemetery.   Married Clark Moulton Smith, a successful merchant.

ROBERT PARKER TODD  (1821-1822)  Died in infancy.  Buried inLexington Cemetery.

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK TODD (1825-1900)  Confederate surgeon who served in a Confederate hospital in South Carolina.  Buried in Quaker Cemetery, Camden, South Carolina.

--Old Secesh

Nathaniel Dawson describes First Manassas Battlefield-- Part 3: "Fierce Looking Fellows. They Fought Well"

July 25

"I went over the field yesterday.  The scene was awful.  The dead Yankees were still lying unburied in many places.  I saw as many as one hundred in a space of an acre.

"They belong to Ellsworth's Zouaves who were reduced from 1,100 to 200 men.  God seems specially to have marked them for  vengeance.  They wore blue pants and red shirts and are fierce looking fellows.  They fought well."

--Old Secesh

Nathaniel Dawson Describes the Manassas Battlefield-- Part 2: "Dead Presented An Awful Appearance"

"I walked over the battlefield the next day after the fight.  The scene presented was horrible.  I counted in one small spot -- where Sherman's battery was taken -- thirty-seven horses that were dead and near one hundred dead Yankees, besides the wounded who had been removed.

"Near this place is a house, an old lady 90 years of age was killed by a cannon ball.  Her daughter told me  herself at the house.

"The dead presented an awful appearance, and I thought perchance that the fortunes of man might place me in a similar position.  I have learned it seems, however, to think philosophically  of these things and am inclined the opinion that I am hard-hearted."

--Old Secesh

Nathaniel Dawson at First Manassas-- Part 1

Nathaniel Dawson was, at this time, the fiancee of Elodie Todd.

Manassas, Virginia, July 24, 1861

"We, the 4th Ala., with the 2nd Miss. And the 6th N.C. Rg., under Ben. Bee commenced the fight by attacking the advancing column of Yankees.  Our reg. was supposed to attack 5,000 men and after keeping them in check for one hour, retreated, fell back upon the reserve.   (Charles Fisher commanded the 6th North Carolina at Manassas and was killed in the battle.  Fort Fisher was named after him.)

"I was injured by a sprain in the ankle and missed the Reg. which was in advance and was not further engaged.  About 200 of the reg. was collected but took no further active part in the battle.  We have but about 200 killed and wounded.  Among the former is Lieut. Simpson, whom you saw last winter in Montgomery.  He was to be married to Miss Collier...."

--Old Secesh

Elodie's Fiancee At the Battle of Manassas and Knocked Down

Elodie Todd's fiancee, Captain Nathaniel Dawson was at the Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) , July 21, 1861, with the Alabama troops.  He wrote her

"We have had a terrible battle today, my dear Elodie, but have achieved a glorious victory.  Our brigade was in the hottest of the engagement, and the 4th Ala. Reg. has been cut to pieces.  I have had from twenty to thirty killed or wounded in the Cadets, but thanks to a merciful Creator and your prayers, I escaped unscathed.

"A cannon ball struck a fence which I was crossing and knocked me down, but the only harm done me was a dislocation of my ankle which I do not think will give me much pain...."

He "Saw the Elephant."   --Old Secesh