Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Bobb, Colonel Alexander March 28, 1823 - ???? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 18, 2024, 5:26 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley COL. ALEXANDER BOBB, son of Frederick F. Bobb, was born in Hanover township, York county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1823. His father was a dyer in Wurtemberg, Germany, and emigrated to America in 1818. He died somewhere about 1855. When Alexander was sixteen years old he learned the moulding trade. In February, 1847, he married Matilda C., daughter of Jacob Mattern, of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. They have had four children: William M., James S., George E., and Alexander. The two latter were twins, and died in infancy; the others are now living. Mr. Bobb worked as a journeyman at the moulding business for a number of years, at the Martinsburg foundry and many other places; had charge of the foundry at Hopewell, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, for some time as foreman. At the beginning of the late war there was a company of volunteers taken from Martinsburg to Harrisburg, and being dissatisfied with their captain, refused to be mustered in under him. They telegraphed twice to Mr. Bobb, asking him to take charge of them, and on his refusing, the company threatened to disband and return home. Reconsidering the matter, he consulted his wife, who consented out of pure patriotism, and he went and took charge of and mustered them in. They at once went into active service under Gen. Patterson, of Philadelphia, and at the end of three months were discharged. Captain Bobb returned home, began recruiting, and soon raised a company for the nine months' service. In a few weeks he started again to the front as captain; was with the company in the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. On December 13, 1862, he took command of the right wing of the 133d Pennsylvania. So terrific was that battle, the dead were piled up as a breastwork; they held their position until nightfall, when they were ordered by the division commander to fall back. He, with the regiment, was engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville in May, 1863. At the expiration of their term of enlistment he returned home. In a few weeks Captain Bobb raised another company. He was commissioned as major by Governor Curtin, and started into the army of the James under General Butler, and their engagements were as follows: Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865; on the 2d of April took the breastworks at Petersburg, Virginia, and for gallant conduct that day Major Bobb was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. The war over, Colonel Bobb returned to Hopewell, and went in partnership with C.W. Ashcome, in the foundry, where he remained a year, then bought a half interest in the foundry at Martinsburg. In three years he sold out and built the foundry at Roaring Spring. Two years afterwards it burned down, and in 1875 he rebuilt it. In the fall of 1873 Colonel Bobb was elected sheriff of Blair county, and served with great credit for three years. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty years, and has held all the positions except to preach. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Judy Banja jbanja@comcast.net This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb