Bio: McCalvy, Robert (1827 - 1922)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: McCalvy, Rector, Reed, Bacon, Shutter

Robert & Anna Linda (Rector) McCalvy

Greenwood, Eaton, Clark Co., WI

Robert was born 29 Aug 1827 in County Tyrone, Ireland, the oldest son of Peter and Mary (Reed) McCalvy. He came to the USA as an infant with his parents who settled at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1842. A year later, they moved to their homestead near Milwaukee, WI. Robert joined the great gold-seekers’ movement to California and drove a yoke of oxen across the country from Milwaukee to the Coast, walking all the way. 

His marriage to Anna Linda, a daughter of John and Mary (Shutter) Rector, took place 14 Jan 1849 in Farmington, WI. She was born 4 Mar 1825 in Albany, NY. The McCalvys had 6 children: Adelia Elizabeth (m. Andrew Bullard whose story is also in this book), George E., Sophronia A., Margaret M., Thomas J., and Albert M.

During the Civil War, Robert was a corp. for Co. G, 14th Wis. Inf.  He had enlisted 12 Sep 1863.  Two brothers, Thomas and Albert J., were members of Company A, 7^th Wis. Inf. Both were injured at the battle of Gettysburg. Thomas died from his wound, and Albert recovered, returned to his command, and was killed in the battle of Petersburg. Robert's regiment captured a large cannon at Shiloh, and the General gave it to the regiment. It was taken to all the reunions, and is kept in Madison. Following the war, the McCalvys lived in Fond du Lac Co., but in 1868, left to homestead 160 acres on the 26 Road in sec. 25, Eaton Twp., Clark Co., WI.  Their property was so remote that for 2 yrs. the nearest neighbor was 2 mi. away. Robert said, "We used to have a deer once in a while then. Didn't have any turkeys. I spent a number of years in the woods.  There were not as many dances then as there are now. We had spelling schools instead, between the schools. 

New Year's Day 1864 was the coldest New Years we ever had.  In Greenwood they had to take the mercury up into a cupola in order to give it a chance to drop.  The old Christmases were a great deal better than they are now.  They could all be bundled into a wagon on a little straw and with a yoke of oxen could go about to a party. They were more sociable. The presents we used to get were useful.  There were no toys about them."

In 1881, he became a member of the Odd Fellows. In August 1889, he met many of his old war comrades at a reunion in Milwaukee. Robert was among the founding members of the John A. G.A.R. Post #213.  In 1897, he helped build the Rutger’s (Presbyterian) Chapel which stood in his section and generously gave both time and money to it.

Upon retirement, he and Ann moved to Neillsville where they lived 20 yrs. Robert became one of the charter members of the Charles G. Bacon Post G.A.R.  Even as an aged man, he was remarkably strong and rarely sick, but in his last 5 yrs., his health declined.  He was admitted to the WI Veterans' Home in Waupaca 13 Nov, 1917 when he was a 90 yr. old widower, but was discharged 20 Apr 1918, only to be readmitted 16 Oct 1922 and died there 5 days later.  He was buried in the Neillsville, WI City Cemetery next to his beloved Ann who had died 23 Sep 1905.

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1891 History of Clark & Jackson Counties Wisconsin

Robert McCalvy (1827)


Robert McCalvy, of section 25, Eaton Township, Clark County, was born in Ireland, August 29, 1827, the son of Patrick and Mary (Reed) McCalvy. The parents crossed the ocean when our subject was an infant, and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then in 1842 settled on Government land eight miles from Milwaukee, Waukesha County, where the father died in 1887, at the age of eighty-five years. The Parents had eight children, all of whom are deceased but our subject and a sister, Mary Mead, of Auburn, Fond du Lac County Wisconsin. The mother died in 1846. Two brothers, Thomas and Albert J., were members of Company A, Seventh Wisconsin Infantry both were injured at the battle of Gettysburg. Thomas died from his wound, and Albert recovered and was returned to his command, and was killed in the battle of Petersburg.

The subject of this sketch received his education principally by studying at home. Since his marriage he has been engaged more or less in the carpenter's trade, but farming is his principal industry. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company G, Fourteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort de Russy, Louisiana, Pleasant Hill Landing, Cloutierville, Cane River, Marksville, Yellow Bayou, Tupelo, Mississippi, Camargo Cross Roads, Old Town Creek, Augusta, Arkansas, Nashville, Tennessee, Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Fort Blakely. He never received a scratch, and was discharged a color guard. He endured many hardships, but remained to the close of the war. He kept a diary of events during his services.

After the war, he lived in Fond du Lac County until 1868, when he came to this county, settling on his present farm of 160 acres, which was then covered with heavy timber, mostly hardwood. He afterward cleared sufficient space to build a house and garden, where he was surrounded by Indians and wild animals. The former would camp near him and kill game, and always brought venison to his family. There were but five houses between him and Neillsville, a distance of fourteen miles, and there was but one house in Greenwood, and one in Loyal. Mr. McCalvy and his wife had six children when they first came to the county, where they lived in a log cabin with puncheon floor and shake roof. He still owns the original 160 acres, but has since cleared eighty acres, and now has fine barns and other improvements.

He was married January 14, 1849, to Anna L. Rector, a daughter of John and Mary (Shutter) Rector. Mrs. McCalvy was born in Albany, New York, March 4, 1825. They have six children, namely: Adelia E., George E., Sophronia A., Margaret M., Thomas J., and Albert M., all of whom are married and have children. Mr. McCalvy is a Republican politically, and a strong supporter of the little school-house , and believes in standing by it. He attended a reunion of his regiment in Milwaukee in August 1889, and met many of his old comrades, and received a photograph of the assembled veterans on that occasion, and also a record of their names and addresses, and an account of the proceedings. His regiment captured a large cannon at Shiloh, and the General gave it to the regiment. It is taken to all the reunions, and is kept in Madison. Socially Mr. McCalvy is a member of the G.A.R. Post, and also of the I.O.O.F. Mr. And Mrs. McCalvy are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Census Records

Research Notes

Old Soldiers' Home, Waupaca, Robert McCalvy--Our records show Robert McCalvy was admitted to the Wis. Veterans Home on Nov 13, 1917 from Neillsville, WI. He listed his age at the time as 90 and his date of birth as August 29, 1827 in Ireland. He listed his former occupation as farmer. Robert served as a Corporal in Co. G. of the 14th Wis. Infantry. He enlisted Sept 12, 1863 and was discharged Oct 9, 1865. He indicated he was a widower. Robert discharged from the Wis. Veterans Home on April 20, 1918. H was readmitted on July 7, 1918 and resided here until his death on Oct 16, 1922. Our records indicate he was buried in Neillsville. Gretchen Jungerbert, Admissions/Discharges

Military

Robert was a corporal for Co. G, 14th Wis. Inf. Two brothers, Thomas and Albert J., were members of Company A, 7^th Wis. Inf. Both were injured at the battle of Gettysburg. Thomas died from his wound, and Albert recovered, returned to his command, and was killed in the battle of Petersburg. His regiment captured a large cannon at Shiloh, and the General gave it to the regiment. It was taken to all the reunions, and is kept in Madison.

Related Links

Robert McCalvy is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

Contributors

Janet Schwarze, Susie & The Clark Co., WI History Buffs