This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Washburn Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WZVBAIB/3017.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Noting your queries, I wonder if you have come across a St. Louis music teacher/musician and composer R.E. Washburn (full name: Robert Edward Lee Washburn, born 1865 in Carthage, MO, died 1908, buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lucas-Hunt Rd., St. Louis). The family lived at 5030 Claxton, St. Louis. His wife Mary sang professionally, and at a Catholic church, tho she was not Catholic. Mary continued to live at 5030 Claxton until her death in 1963. Robert and Mary were my great-grandparents. Children were Robert, Mary and John. Their son Robert (R. E. Washburn, Jr) was my grandfather, born 1897 in St. Louis, died 1967 in Arkansas. The whole Washburn family played various instruments and also had a family band. The father, R.E. Washburn composed waltzes, schottisches, marches, ragtime, typical love songs of the era, etc.--and he published his own music. I have many lead plates in excellent condition. He billed himself as a contemporary of Sousa and also billed himself as "King of Marches." Maybe this was true at least in part, maybe not, but it's interesting. I have a list of his compositions (a cover page) and I and my siblings have a few pieces of sheet music. (Some are Golden Fleece (march); "Honey Dew (march); the Advocate (march); The Dictator; Love is Imortal (waltz); Love's Carnival (concert waltz); Queen of the Meadow (Schottische); Zylophone Dance (caprice); Sweetheart Polka; Fun on the Levee (negro dance); Love's Sad Reverie (pathetic ballad); I Will Go and Tell My Mamma (child's song)---and more-- Published by Robert E. Washburn, St. Louis Mo. for Orchestra, Band and Two Mandolins & Guitar. My mother, who heard years ago that at least one or two of his pieces are still played in St. Louis, has also heard that another musician had attempted to "steal" some compositions, adding an "e" to Washburn, but we have no proof of this. Actually one of the lead plates that R.E. had made accidentally had an "e" on his name and he had made an attempt to correct the mistake. I would appreciate hearing from you if you come across any references to his music or history relating to the period from about 1900 to 1908 when he published his music. My guess is that he was among musician competitors attempting to gain fame via the St. Louis World's Fair. And I am trying to discover the parents of R.E. Washburn and Mary Stillman (I think that was her maiden name). Another name in the family is Cavanagh, tho I am unsure of the spelling. Thank you! Audrey Williams Stanaland