Robert Wickes (abt 1848-1895) and two popular songs of 1895
While lacking mention of achievement, the below short news item is somewhat interesting for the mention of some tunes popular in Lansingburgh in the 19th century. On censuses the man's name has also been given as Robert C. Wicks, and Robert C. Weeks.On the 1850 US Census, he was living in the home of his father James A. Weeks, identified as a barber, potentially a significant fact particularly given Lansingburgh's location along the Hudson River:
In many upstate villages and towns, barbers served as ministers and as representatives of African American communities in black and white abolitionist networks. [...] Some routes followed water transportation routes up the Hudson River valley to Albany and Syracuse and through Watertown to Canada."African American Participation in the Underground Railroad." United States National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/wori/learn/historyculture/african-american-participation-in-the-underground-railroad.htm
On the 1870 US Census Robert C. Wickes/Wicks/Weeks was identified as a laborer living in the household of Frisby Way, who was one of Lansingburgh's prominent African-Americans as mentioned in “A Suffrage Meeting” (1846) and “Proceedings of the Colored Citizens of Lansingburgh” (1850).
Robert Wickes, a colored man well known about town, died in Troy Saturday night. For many years Wickes resided in Lansingburgh and he was well known for his incessant whistling. It is said he whistled "Sweet Marie" and "After the Ball" at least 300 times a day. An autopsy will be held to-day."Lansingburgh." Troy Daily Times. July 29, 1895: 2 col 3."Sweet Marie"https://archive.org/details/SweetMarieByWillF.Denny1893"After the Ball"[embed width="560" height="315"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIXGlQdTDKY[/embed][embed width="560" height="315"]https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fekEjAXc0Q[/embed]