Robert Bruce van Valkenburgh

He studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Bath, N.Y. He was a member of the NY State assembly in 1852 and again in 1857 and 1858. At the start of the War he was in command of the recruiting depot in Elmira, N.Y., and organized seventeen regiments for the Civil War. In 1861 he was elected Republican U.S. Congressman from New York.

He enrolled in the 107th New York at age 40 at Elmira and mustered in as Colonel, 13 August 1862.

He was Commanding Officer for the Regiment's first action, at Antietam.

He was discharged 9 October 1862, returning to his House seat, which he kept until 1865.

From 1866 - 69 he was US Minister to Japan, and from 1875 until his death, Associate Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.

Sources: US Congressional Biography; and 1903 New York State Adjutant-General Report, scanned, posted on the 107th NY site; and
The 1885 Pensacola City Directory, hosted online by RootsWeb.

The photograph here is from an original (c. 1861-65) in the Brady-Handy Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress.

9/4/1821; Prattsburg, NY

8/1/1888; Suwanee Springs, FL; burial in Old St. Nicholas Cemetery, near Jacksonville, FL