BIO: William N. Cobb, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, page 169-170.
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  COBB, WILLIAM NEWELL, was born on July 15, 1818, in McLean, Tompkins 
County, N.Y., and died on August 3, 1878, in Harford, Susquehanna 
County, Pa., from enlargement of the liver.
  In infancy his family moved into the town of Dryden, N.Y.  He secured 
what education he could in the village school of Varna.  A decided 
taste for schooling being noticeable, his parents sent him to the 
Ithaca Academy.  While here he was boarded by Ezra Cornell, "whose name 
and generosity are identified with the university since founded in that 
place."  Such was his proficiency in school work that he was at once 
employed as a teacher in Ithaca.  His love for mathematics and skill in 
the same were such that at eighteen years of age he was a competent 
civil engineer.  He was employed some half dozen years as civil 
engineer on the Genesee Valley canals.
  The exact date of his commencing a religious life is not known, but 
that he was a class leader in 1840 is known, which settles the fact 
that certain experiences were prior to this.  He was soon after given a 
license as local preacher, and in 1842 joined the Genesee Conference.  
The death of his father demanded his attention to home interests.  He 
accordingly secured a transfer to Oneida Conference in 1843.  He became 
a member of Wyoming by the accession of Oneida territory in 1869.
  He was loved by all who knew him and honored by his brethren.  He was 
on the Oneida delegation to General Conference in 1868, and was made 
secretary of Wyoming Conference in 1875.  He also served Oneida several 
years in the same capacity.
  In 1844 he was married to Miss Harriet Goss.  Three children came to 
bless their home, a son and two daughters.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1842, Genesee Conference, 
Belfast; 1843, Oneida Conference, Cayuga; 1844, Mentz; 1845, Dryden; 
1846-47, Groton; 1848-49, Homer; 1850-51, Skaneateles; 1852-53, Asbury; 
1854-55, Newfield; 1856-57, Ledyard; 1858, Seneca Street, Ithaca; 1859-
60, Vernon; 1861-62, Clinton; 1863-64, Wall Street, Auburn; 1865-68, 
Presiding Elder of Chenango District; 1869-72, Presiding Elder of 
Otsego District; 1873-74, Union; 1875-77, Athens and Sayre; 1878, 
Gibson and Harford.