Biographies C
Robert Cessna
Robert Cessna was born about 1775, probably in Franklin/Bedford Co., PA. There has been huge controversy within our family over the parentage of Robert. It is believed that he was the son either Col. Charles Cessna and his wife Elizabeth Culbertson or his brother, Lt. William Cessna and his wife Margaret Williamson. Some family members in Muhlenberg Co. have said it was William; others, including my grandfather and his nephew, Gilbert Cessna, were of the belief that he was a son of Col. Charles. Some research has been printed in the years past, indicating with a certainty that it was William. My research for the past 25 years, points to Col. Charles.
Robert arrived in Logan Co., KY, sometime in 1796, as he took his first land warrant in November, 1796, along with his father-in-law, Capt. John Culbertson. Robert was married to Elizabeth Culbertson sometime in 1795 or 1796, and this is based on the birthdate of their first child, Elizabeth Hester Cessna, whose headstone in Monroe Co., Missouri, listed her date of birth as November 5, 1796, which happens to be the dates of the land deeds taken by Robert and John Culbertson.
Robert had a 200 acre land grant on Nelson Creek near or next to John Culbertson's property and also 200 acres on Green River and it is believed that both Cessna and Culbertson lands were in the vicinity of where Nelson Creek meets the Green River. Nearby or next to Robert was the property of James Milligan who arrived from Greene Co., Georgia, in 1799-1801, along with a Charles Cessna and a William Cessna. James Milligan was married to an Elizabeth Cessna in Greene Co., Georgia on August 9, 1788.
Robert was a Justice of the Peace in Muhlenberg County and was a tobacco farmer as well. He helped in clearing and marking some of the roadways from South Carrollton/Kincheloe's Bluff/Central City to Greenville.
Robert died in the winter/spring of 1814, and in the Muhlenberg Court Records, the following entry is made:
Peter Jones came into court and acknowledges himself as security for Elizabeth Cessna, adminstratrix of Robert Cessna, deceased in the room and place of James Milligan who is hereby exonerated there from.
Written & contributed by Cheryl Cessna
Updated June 8, 2018