Taylor County IA Archives Biographies.....Cobb, William 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 5:55 am Source: See below Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896) WILLIAM COBB, one of the most valued and influential residents of Taylor county, Iowa, now holding the responsible position of County Treasurer, was born in Parke county, Indiana, November 17, 1839. His father, Thomas Cobb, was born in Owen county, Kentucky, February 20, 1812, and the grandfather was a native of North Carolina. He emigrated to the "blue-grass region" of Kentucky at an early day, and in 1820 went with his family to Indiana, locating in Parke county. There Thomas Cobb grew to manhood, continuing his residence there until 1845, when he came to Keokuk county, thence to Delaware county, thence to Taylor, Iowa. In 1877 he went to Kansas, where he made his home until some six months prior to his death, when he returned to Taylor county. Here he passed away July 9, 1891, respected by all who knew him. He was a man of great energy and perseverance, devoted to his business interests, and with a resolute purpose accomplished anything which he undertook, winning success in the enterprise. For a number of years he served as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Taylor county, and labored earnestly for the development and upbuilding of this section of the State. From early boyhood he was religiously inclined and was long a consistent and faithful member of the Christian Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth M. Lambert, was born in Kentucky, and died in Taylor county, July 25, 1892. Their living children are: Sarah A., wife of John Brewer, of Andrew county, Missouri; Rev. William; Nancy, wife of J. J. Foreman, of Bedford, Iowa; A. L. Cobb, of Bedford; Helen, wife of J. W. Coon, also of Bedford; and Thomas B., of Taylor county, William Cobb acquired a meager education in the common schools, for his services were needed upon the home farm, and the schools in this locality at an early day were not of a superior quality, but through experience and observation he has become a well informed man. At the age of twenty he began farming in his own interest, but the pursuits of civil life were soon interrupted by his army service. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, on the 9th of August, 1862, he joined Company F of the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and was mustered in at Council Bluffs. The regiment was ordered to St. Louis, and immediately afterward to Columbus, Kentucky, across into Arkansas, then up the White river and back to Helena, where occurred a hotly contested engagement on the 4th of July. They next participated in the capture of Little Rock, and the following spring started on the Red river expedition, where after much skirmishing they were forced to retreat. On the 30th of April, 1864, they took part in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, thence returned to Little Rock, where they remained until February, 1865. At that date the troops embarked for New Orleans and formed a part of the expedition against Mobile, being engaged in the siege for thirteen days. They then went to the Government arsenal at Mount Vernon, some forty miles into the country, and three weeks later embarked at Mobile for Rio Grande, Texas, where they remained until the 1st of August, when the order came to return to New Orleans. The regiment was then discharged, and on reaching Davenport was mustered out of the service. Mr. Cobb had been at the front for just three years, and was one of the thirty-four men that came back to Bedford and disbanded on the same ground on which they first formed a company of one hundred and ten original members. In the service he never sought promotion to a higher rank, but was only desirous of discharging his duty faithfully as a defender of the Government and the flag. Since his return from the army, Mr. Cobb has been mostly engaged in farming, and is now the owner of a valuable and well improved tract of land of 120 acres, pleasantly located a mile from Bedford. He also owns a quarter section in Cloud county, Kansas, and a quarter section in Lawrence county, Missouri, and a fine residence in Bedford. He manages his interests on systematic business principles, and his close attention to details, enterprise and capable management has brought to him a good property. In addition to his other work he has also engaged in ministerial labor in the Christian Church, his efforts being largely confined to the field of southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri, although he has also been called to other States. From a biographical sketch of him we clip the following: "So zealous and earnest have been his ministerial labors that it has become proverbial of him that he will respond to more calls, go farther, work harder, endure more, receive less remuneration and do less complaining than any man in southwest Iowa." On the 5th of November, 1859, Mr. Cobb was united in marriage with Miss Malinda Agler, a daughter of Daniel Agler, formerly of Indiana. To them have been born four sons: Charles S., now thirty-three years of age, married Eva J. Florea, and is engaged in farming in Ringgold county, Iowa; Thomas E., twenty-five years of age, was married November 27, 1894, to Edna A. Perkins, and is Deputy County Treasurer; Floyd M., aged fourteen, and Leslie R., aged twelve, are still living with their parents. Mr. Cobb is quite prominent in the circles of the Odd Fellow Society, being connected with the subordinate and Rebekah lodges and the encampment. He is also Past Commander of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, having given his support to that party since its organization. In 1891 he was elected Treasurer of the county, over the man who was then holding the office, receiving a majority of 280 votes. So capably did he fill that position that in 1893 he was elected by more than 700 votes, and is now efficiently serving in that capacity. He has been identified with Iowa from Territorial days, has witnessed almost its entire development and has ever faithfully done his duty as a man and an official. He is as true to his duties in private life as he was on the field of battle when he followed the stars and stripes. His career is unshadowed by wrong, and the history of southwestern Iowa would be incomplete without the record of his life. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/taylor/bios/cobb235nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb