M M Romby

southernsoulspodca
Apr 2
2 min read

In a city of the dead, one of approximately 40, 000 graves, lays one small marble headstone at the foot of a Confederate monument.

The stone remembers him as a Confederate veteran. The newspapers and records remembered him as a champion fiddler and a dancing master.

The Grave

Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a veritable city of the dead. The final resting place of M M Romby, also known as M M Rambin, is marked by one small block of marble among a sea 40,000. Courtesy of Tarah Thomas. — Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a veritable city of the dead. The final resting place of M M Romby, also known as M M Rambin, is marked by one small block of marble among a sea 40,000. *Courtesy of Tarah Thomas.*

The Soldier

The oath of allegiance signed by M M Rambin upon his parole after the Battle of Vicksburg. Courtesy of Fold3.com and the National Archives. — The oath of allegiance signed by M M Rambin upon his parole after the Battle of Vicksburg. *Courtesy of Fold3.com and the National Archives.*

The Dancing Master

In 1869, a city still recovering from war, saw advertisements for a dancing school. Courtesy of Newspapers.com and The South-Western.. — In 1869, a city still recovering from war, saw advertisements for a dancing school. *Courtesy of Newspapers.com and The South-Western..*

The 1870 census lists Romby as a "Dancing Master" not once, but twice. Above is a selection from the 1870 census in Caddo Parish where he appeared. Courtesy of Ancestry.com and the National Archives. — The 1870 census lists Romby as a "Dancing Master" not once, but twice. Above is a selection from the 1870 census in Caddo Parish where he appeared. *Courtesy of Ancestry.com and the National Archives.*

The Man at Home

The 1900 census demonstrates how M M Romby and Caroline Harris built a life together despite the law telling them that they could not. Courtesy of Ancestry.com and the National Archives. — The 1900 census demonstrates how M M Romby and Caroline Harris built a life together despite the law telling them that they could not. *Courtesy of Ancestry.com and the National Archives.*

The Fiddler

One of many brief newspaper mentions that preserve what time almost forgot: Romby's fiddle once set the rhythm for community gatherings. Courtesy of Newspapers.com and The Shreveport Journal. — One of many brief newspaper mentions that preserve what time almost forgot: Romby's fiddle once set the rhythm for community gatherings. *Courtesy of Newspapers.com and The Shreveport Journal.*

While the music faded and Romby's life is now marked only by a small block of marble, his story did not end there. One of his sons lived more than a century, carrying forward a life that began with a fiddler and dancing master.