Pvt Robert Toombs Franks
- Beth Stenstrom
- Apr 18, 2024
- 1 min read
Robert Toombs Franks is the Great Great Grandfather of Cherie Franks Harbison
Robert Toombs Franks was born 27 July 1846 in Washington County, Georgia, the 5th of at least 6 children of John and Lucy Franks. From an early age, he learned farming and did that for most of his life.
At age 16, he enlisted in Company I (Turner Guards) 59th Regiment Georgia Infantry. The unit saw action in both the eastern theater – Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold harbor, Petersburg - and the western theater – Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Knoxville. The Regiment suffered 69 casualties at Wilderness and Spotsylvania. In April 1865, they found themselves in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, an on 9 April 1865, 15 officers and 21 men of the Regiment surrendered. Thirty-seven of those were from Company I.
Robert returned to Washington County, Georgia, and in 1869, he married Mary Meeks. Together, they had at least 9 children. Robert continued farming until around 1918. He spent his last few years living with a daughter and her husband.
Robert remained semi-active until two weeks before his death on 5 March 1932. He was buried next to his wife in Poplar Springs Cemetery in Washington County, Georgia.