BIO: Daniel R. CORBUS, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 422-424. _________________________________________________________________ DANIEL R. CORBUS, postmaster and tax-collector of New Brighton, Pa., ranks among the most prominent and popular citizens of Beaver county. He was born in Beaver, September 29, 1839, and attended public schools until he attained the age of twelve years, when he was forced to work out as chore-boy on a farm, for several years. He afterwards entered the Lownsend Wire Mills and learned wire-drawing, which he followed for forty-two years, with the exception of the time spent in actual service during the Civil War. In 1870, Mr. Corbus was elected coroner of Beaver county, and held that office until 1876. He was also elected tax-collector in 1894, and has been re-elected every year since; he is now serving his sixth year in that capacity. October 1, 1898, Mr. Corbus was appointed postmaster of New Brighton, - succeeding William Wallace. The office ranks in the second class, and its earliest record is the appointment of B. B. Chamberlain, as postmaster, March 12, 1849. He was succeeded by O. Waters, December 23, 1852; he was succeeded by C. H. Higby, July 7, 1853; he was succeeded by John Glass, April 16, 1857; he was succeeded by Isaac Covert, July 12, 1859; he was succeeded by John C. Boyle, March 13, 1861; he was succeeded by Mrs. E. B. Cuthbertson, January 24, 1869; she was succeeded by Walter S. Branden, March 1, 1886; he was succeeded in March, 1892, by A. J. Bingham, who was in turn succeeded by William Wallace. Daniel R. Corbus was united in marriage with Cornelia Fairman, a daughter of Captain William Fairman, of Pittsburg. They have one son and one daughter, namely: William, and Thankful. William is a brakeman on the railroad, and makes his home in Perry, Iowa. He married Margaret Brown, and new has two children, Chester and Lucian. Thankful is her father's able assistant in the postoffice. The subject of this sketch is a son of John S. and Eliza (Reeves) Corbus, and a BEAVER COUNTY 423 grandson of John and Betsey (Skillinger) Corbus. The original name of the family was Corbustria, and they descended from the early French Huguenots. John Corbus spent his early life in the state of Maryland, south of Baltimore. Later in life, he went west to Ohio, with Messrs. McIntyre and Zane, and assisted those gentlemen to survey and lay out the town of Zanesville, Ohio, - where he finally settled. He conducted a hotel there for many years, and the building which he occupied is still standing. Tradition says his hotel was famous for its clean floors and its good meals. In those days beds were almost unknown in country inns or hotels, - it being customary for each traveler to carry his own blanket and, wrapped therein, to sleep on the floor near the old fireplace. Mr. Corbus died when about the age of forty-two years. His wife was Betsey Skillinger, of George's Run, near Cumberland, Maryland. She bore him the following children: John S., Rosa, Tina, and Eliza. Some time after the death of Mr. Corbus, the widow contracted a second marriage. She became the wife of Mr. World, by whom she had several children. John S. Corbus was born at Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, and, while still a young man, went to Fallston, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. In 1824, he began learning the art of making scythes, under the instructions of a Mr. Blanchard. They were then made by hand, but several years afterwards machinery took the place of the hand-work, and then Mr. Corbus withdrew from the business, and learned the trade of wire-drawing in the factory of Robert Lownsend, at Fallston. He followed the latter business during all of his active days. In 1836, or 1837, he purchased a lot on what is now the corner of Fourth avenue and Thirteenth street, and upon this site he built a substantial brick dwelling in which he spent the closing years of his life, - dying at the advanced age of eighty-five years. His remains lie buried in the Grove cemetery. His beloved wife, who was Eliza Reeves before her marriage, also attained a good old age, passing to the life beyond tile grave, at the age of eighty-three years, and being buried by the side of her husband. Seven children were born to them; Mary J., wife of Hugh Irwin; John, of Beaver Falls; Thankful, wife of Dr. Louis Jack; Elizabeth, who came to her death by drowning in childhood; Margaret, wife of Richard Irwin; Daniel R., the subject of this sketch; and Jesse M., who resides at New Brighton. April 17, 1861, Daniel R. Corbus enlisted in the New Brighton Rifle Company for a short time, but later re-enlisted as a private in the Ninth Pa. (Pittsburg) Rifles, and served in the battle of Dranesville, the Seven Days' Battle before Richmond, and the second Battle of Bull Run. Then sickness compelled him to enter the hospital; after recovering his usual health, he participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and was honorably discharged, May 4, 1864. He re-enlisted in the 17th Reg., Pa. Vol. Cavalry, and served until the successful termination of the war. Mr. Corbus is a member of the Union Veteran Legion, No. 1. He is a member and past 424 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES grand, of I. O. O. F. lodge, and is past royal patriarch of the encampment, having also represented that body in the grand lodge of the state; he is also a member, and past commander, of the Knights of Pythias. He has taken a fitting and active interest in his borough, serving in the council for several years, and having charge of the fire department. In 1894, he was elected tax collector for a term of three years. The subject of this memoir inherited a part of his father's lot on Fourth avenue, and erected a handsome brick residence upon it, which he now occupies. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is universally esteemed by all who have the pleasure to know him. In business life Mr. Corbus is worthy and straightforward; in social circles, he is a true and firm friend; he has fulfilled the duties of his office with credit and honor, having fine natural abilities adapting him to even a higher and more difficult position.