Betty’s Column

LOCAL HISTORY Packet of old photos leads to special treasures

BY BETTY OBENDORF Curator, Polo Historical Society

Recently Loren Gatz dropped off a packet of old pictures that had been saved by Neva in the Gatz family.

Joyce said they came very close to ending up in the trash pile but instead they gave me a call. Of course I wanted them.

They were in an old Tri-County Press mailing envelope labeled “Sarah Coffman Roby Album” with the word “Save” written across the top. After we visited with Loren I settled myself on the davenport and opened the package.

I love going through old pictures. The pictures of the children and how they are dressed interest me and the wedding pictures. The wedding clothing always is so different from what we select today. I enjoy seeing families together.

The first thing I noticed was every picture was labeled with a name. That is not usually the way it goes. I have even managed to put families together with very few names. In this case I did not have to guess at all.

It did not take me long to come across a Civil War picture of Daniel Roby with all the information written on the back.

It was stated clearly, “Killed in the Battle of Pittsburg Tenn. April 6, 1862. War record Ogle Co. Ill. Son of Sally Coffman Roby.”

Another picture of him that was perhaps a graduation picture also had the words, “Dan Roby, Son of James and Sarah Coffman Roby, Killed in Civil War Battle of Pittsburg Tenn. Apr. 6 – 1862. War record Ogle Co. Ill.”

I still remember the day many years ago when I pulled out the envelope from the Civil War file. I was at Aplington House and it was time to go through this bulging Civil War file that needed attention. I was not a

This is a Civil War picture of Daniel Roby who was killed in Civil War Battle of Pittsburg, Tennessee on April 6, 1862. Photos supplied

The inscription on the back of this photo reads: “Dan Roby, Son of James and Sarah Coffman Roby, Killed in Civil War Battle of Pittsburg Tenn. Apr. 6 – 1862. War record Ogle Co. Ill.”

war person but this file needed to be put in order.

I came upon an old envelope that stated, “Casualty List 15 th Illinois by Hometown.”

As I pulled all the lists out of the envelope, I could see they were from 10 towns in Northern Illinois listing those killed, wounded and telling of their injuries.

I called my sister Ruby Jean to see what on earth I had in my hands. She said, “Well, you have an Adjunct General’s Report from a battle. What battle is it?”

I looked back at the envelope and told her it said, “The Battle of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. April 6 & 7, 1862.” That was the Battle of Shiloh she responded.

I looked at Polo’s list and the names killed were, Andrew Typer, Daniel Roby, and Charles Fox. I quickly looked at the Civil War display on the wall before me and found only Andrew Typer listed.

I knew I had work to do and I called Pat McPherson of the American Legion.

As we put our records in order we listed not only those who had been killed, but those who died from their injuries, those having died from diseases, and in prisons.

The more I worked with the 15 th Regiment and those who went from Polo during the Civil War, the more interested I became. They were so afraid their story would never be fully told. I was hooked and the book on the 15 th Regiment began to unfold as Kathy Pasch and I worked together on it.

Now we have the pictures of Daniel Roby to add to our information as we reorder more books. What a find tucked away in Sarah Coffman Roby’s album almost tossed away.

An eye exam is a good idea, especially if things are starting to look a little fuzzy around the edges.

Dr. Kurt K. Nelson Optometrist

629 N. Galena Avenue, Dixon, Illinois • 815-284-6866 Member of the American Optometric Association. Therapeutic Licensed. Thank you to all my loving family andfriends for the beautiful cards andgoodwishes Ireceivedin honor of my 90th Birthday. The cards kept coming long after my birthday, which Ireally enjoyed! Leona Groenhagan