Uncrowned Community Builders

My Great Grandfather Robert Augustus Busby was born a slave in 1822 in Kanahawa County, West Virginia which at the time was western Virginia.
He was the son of Matthew (1799) and Milly (1804-3/7/1873), and brother of Stephen, Matthew, Converse,William who were also born in slavery.
The other siblings, James, Anna Oliver and Samuel were born in Athens County, Ohio after 1836. It is not known if the Busby family was set free or ran away to Ohio. However, Robert was still in slavery at the time the Civil War broke out.


At the time of his death, the notice in the Benton Harbor newspaper dated 3/27/1914 gave this account; "Robert was born a slave on a plantation in West Virginia. His parents were the chattels of a wealthy tobacco planter. When the war broke out, his master went into the rebel service and took Robert along as his servant. After a short time with the "Johnnies," Busby managed to escape. He
made his way North to Nashville where he joined up with the 16th Tenessee U.S. Colored Troops." He was actually mustered into the service at the age of 44 on February 16. 1865 at Marietta, Ohio although he saw two or more years of hard service in the Union ranks in and around Nashville. His brother Stephen while living in Benton Harbor, Michigan served in the Civil War with the 102nd, Company A, U.S. Colored Troops (Colored Men of Michigan).


Robert had 21 children by three (3) wives. The 1870 Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio census list him at the age of 48 living with wife Harriet 33, children
Delilah 15, Joseph 11, Corinthia 9, James A. 6, Mary 6, Flora J. 4 and Rebecca 1.


He had five (5)children by Harriet and possibly his first wife that were living with him and his third wife Frances in the 1880 Benton Harbor, Mich. census.
He married Frances Wiley, daughter of Woody Wiley on April 17th 1873 in Athens County, Ohio. When one of those five (5) children, Anna, died in the early 1880's her mothers name on her death certificate was Anna, born in West Virginia.


Robert and Frances had 8 children. A daughter Melissa, born in Nelsonville, Ohio on February 25, 1876 was my paternal grandmother.


The Robert Busby family moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan sometime between 1873 and 1880. They appear on the 1880 Berrien, County. Michigan
census. Robert worked as a laborer and lived in Benton Harbor until he died on 3/27/1914 at the age of 92 of chronic nephritis. In Benton Harbor he was
known as uncle Bob. He was one of the organizers of the Second Baptist Church on 8th Street where he served for many years as a Deacon and
Trustee. He was known for his singing the song "Amazing Grace" as he walked up and down the aisles of the Church.


At the time of his death, the total value of his property was $600. The property consisted of 2 cook stoves, 1 heating stove, 10 chairs, 1 dresser, 1 wash tub, and 15 chickens. His son James was the executor.


Melissa Busby married Rev. Moses Easley in Benton Harbor on May 5, 1905. They moved to Chicago where my father Robert W. Easley was born. They later returned to Benton Harbor, Mich. Robert Easley left Michigan and settled in Olean, New York.


Sources of information was obtained from: Census records 1840-1910, military records, birth, marriage, death certificates, city directories, will of Robert Busby and personal family interviews.


Submitted by: Madeline O. Scott