William August Kobbé

His father of the same name was a German emigrant to the United States, and for many years consul general of the duchy of Nassau in New York City.

His mother, Sarah Lord Sistare, was a native of the United States descended from a Spanish sea captain whose vessel was lost off New London in the early 1700s.

He studied mining engineering in Freiberg and Clausthal until 1862, when he enlisted in the 178th New York volunteers and served until the end of the Civil War, rising to rank of captain.

He was brevetted lieutenant colonel of volunteers and major U.S. Army for gallantry at Nashville and at the capture of Fort Blakeley, Alabama.

He was in command of joint army and naval expedition to open the hemp ports to commerce and was made military governor of Mindanao and Jolo.