Spouse: Almyra Arminta MARPLE
Birth: 25 Sep 1840 Lewis Co., WV3
Death: 14 Oct 1885 Laurel Lick Run, Lewis Co., WV [3,4]
Burial: McVaney Cemetery, Hodgesville, Upshur Co., WV
Father: John Weaver MARPLE (1805-1880)
Mother: Ruth REGER (1809-1892)
Other spouses: Eli RINEHART
Children
2 M: Omar Lamar ROBINSON
Birth: 6 Apr 1863 Upshur Co., WV [3]
Death: 5 Sep 1939 Buckhannon, WV
Spouse: ElectaMay B. BALSLEY
Marriage: 16 Sep 1885 Upshur Co.,WV [2]
3 F: Electa Catheryn ROBINSON
Birth: 14 Nov 1865 Upshur Co., WV
Death: 9 Mar 1938 Daytona Beach, FL
Spouse: ElectaAlfred Newton (Bub) KEE
Marriage: 11 Sep 1883 Upshur Co., WV [2]
From TATTERED UNIFORMS AND BRIGHT BAYONETS-WVA CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS by Jack L. Dickinson Elam C. Robinson was a SGT in Co. D., 20 VaC out of Lewis Co., VA. According to Noel Tenney at the UCHS, only one company mustered into the Confederate Army out of Upshur Co. Everyone else signed up with the Union Army. I have a copy of a journal that Elam wrote while he was a chaplain in the Confederate Army and a prisoner at Rock Island Prison in IL written during 1863-64. In the journal he writes of seeing his sister in Bryant, IL for the first time in 8 years. He stayed with her and preached in the area before going back to Buckhannon to get his family. He came back to Illinois in April, 1865 and died 6 months later probably from tuberculosis.
The journal is owned and in the possession of Thomas Omar Lawson, the great- grandson of Elam and my 1st cousin, once removed.
12 Jun 1996 John and I drove to Rock Island Arsenal and Museum to see the area where Elam had been held prisoner. The curator of the museum was very helpful and would like to have a copy of Elam's journal and his photo. There are NO pictures of any of the prisoners held there!
14 Jun 1996 I wrote to Marion Post several weeks ago and received a letter from her today. One of the men held captive with Elam was Stephen POST and when they were released, they traveled together to Bryant, IL. Stephen and his wife, Leah Brake Post, were listed in the 1860 Upshur Co., WV census, as were Elam and Almyra, and all of their parents. Stephen Post is in Marion's husbands line, although remotely. Stephens wife, Leah, was the granddaughter of my grx4 grandparents, Jacob Brake, Jr. and Mary Slaughter, through their daughter, Leah, sister of my grx3 grandmother, Mary Magdalene Brake. Mary married Isaac Reger.
Elam C., 2nd SGT. Co. D. 20th VA Cavalry. Enlisted Weston, WV 1 May 1863. Not stated if present at muster-in roll dated Aug 1863. Absent, PVT, 1 July 1863-1 Jan 1864, prisoner in Camp Chase. Captured Clarksburg, WV, 28 Sep 1863, deserter. Confined at Clarks- burg, WV. Description: age 22, 5'5", fair complexion, light hair and gray eyes. Occupation farmer, residing in Upshur Co., WV. Had taken the oath of allegiance before enlisting in the Southern Army; sent to Wheeling, WV. Confined at the Atheneum Prison, 9 Oct 1863. Description: age 22, 5'8", floid complexion, sandy hair, gray eyes. Transferred to Camp Chase 22 Oct 1863. Confined at Camp Chase, 23 Oct 1863, deserter, violated his parole. Absent 31 Dec 1863 to 31 Aug 1864 prisoner. Transferred to Rock Island, Illinois 22 Jan 1864. Confined at Rock Island Prison 24 Jan 1864. Desires to take the oath of allegiance and be loyal 18 Mar 1864. Took the oath of allegiance and was released 5 Aug 1864. Description: age 23, 5'7", fair complexion, light hair and gray eyes, a resident of Upshur Co., WV. Absent 1 Sep 1864-31 Oct 1864, POW. [5]
Notes for Almyra Arminta MARPLE
Almyra was a widow at the age of 25 yrs. and gave birth to her third child a month after her husband, Elam, died. She remarried on 6 Apr 1873 to Eli Rinehart in Upshur Co. One child from her 2nd marriage--Everett M. He died at age 15 yrs from thyphoid fever. Almyra died from inflammation.
Elam was a chaplain in the Confedrate Army during the Civil War. He was captured and released from Rock Island Prison in Rock Island, Illinois in apparently poor health. He traveled back to WV to bring his wife and family to Bryant, Illinois because he thought he had a better chance for success there. He died a few months later and Almyra returned to Buckhannon and had her 3rd child just 5 weeks after her husbands death.
Marjorie Conley Reed has a picture of Elam and Almyra when they were both probably in the early 20's.
When Almyra remarried, she left her 3 children in the home of her parents where they showed up in the census records for Upshur Co. Even tho she was only married to Elam for approximately 5 years, and her marriage to Eli Rinehart lasted almost 15 years, she was buried next to her parents with the surname ROBINSON. Eli is buried next to his 1st wife and their children.
Sources
1. Gravestone marker reading.
2. UPSHUR CO., WV MARRIAGES, pg. 13.
3. Copied from John Weaver Marple's family bible. Copy sent to me by Robert Marple, Buckhannon, WV
4. Lewis County, WV Deaths 1853-1886, Vol. 1, pg. 72.
5. 19th and 20th VIRGINIA CAVALRY, by Richard L. Armstrong, 1994, pg. 237.
Compiled and submitted by Melinda Larson.