BIOS: Charles Pythian COBAUGH, Rockwood, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 170/1 Charles Pythian COBAUGH. Charles Pythian Cobaugh, deceased, who was a prominent and influential citizen of Rockwood, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born in 1841 in Taylor township, Cambria county, near Conemaugh, the son of Daniel and Nancy (Gochenow) Cobaugh, and one of eight children, namely: Charles Pythian, of whom later; David, a resident of Johnstown; Philip,lives in Conemaugh; Jennie married (first) Richard Clay, (second) a Mr. Davis, of Chicago; Alice married David Moyer, of Conemaugh; Susannah, wife of Thomas Grove, of Morrellville; Louisa, wife of John Good, and Daniel, who was in the war of the rebellion and was a prisoner in Libby prison nine months. Charles P. Cobaugh, in his earlier days, worked upon a farm. At the breaking out of the Civil war he tendered his services to his country, serving two inlistments. The first was for three months in Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves. On October 21, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company C, First Battalion, Nineteenth United States Infantry, served for three years, and was honorable discharged at Camp Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, October 29, 1864. The command to which he belonged was a part of the Western army and was commanded by General Benjamin Harrison. At the close of the war he became fireman and later engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, and accepted a position, nearly twenty years ago, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. He removed his family to Meyersdale, and it was during his residence at this place that he had charge of the engine on the "Keystone Shifter," a coal train that plied between Salisbury Junction and Cumberland. His next removal was to Rockwood, thence to Connellsville and back again to Rockwood, where his family have since resided. In 1886, while engaged in shifting in sight of his own home, the locomotive of which Mr. Cobaugh was in charge blew up, and he and his fireman, the late Harry Dayton, escaped with their lives, as if by a miracle. For many months after the terrible accident the unfortunate engineer was confined to his bed, hovering between life and death, occasioned by the great nervous shock and other injuries of a serious nature sustained in the awful catastrophe. He never fully recovered from the effects of the explosion, but as soon as he was again able to engage in active pursuits he railroaded and rested by turns, his last work at the throttle having been performed several years ago on the Confluence helper. From that time on he was engaged in the manufacture of cigars and tobacco on a limited scale. Polically Mr. Cobaugh was an ardent Republican. He was a member of the William H. Weller Post No. 549, G. A. R.,; Meyersdale Lodge No. 554, F. and A. M.; and of Rockwood Council No. 801, Royal Arcanum. During his residence in Rockwood Mr. Cobaugh identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church. Charles P. Cobaugh married, June 18, 1866, Rebella Parks, daughter of Joseph Parks, who for many years was an engineer on the famous Old Portage railroad, and who met his death by an explosion of his engine in 1865. Eight children, five sons and three daughters, were born to them, namely: George P.; Clara B., wife of William Millhouse; Grace, wife of George E. Beatty; Lewis D.; Lena M., wife of W. A. Shumaker; the three other sons, Joseph W., Charles P. and James G., are all deceased. Joseph W. died from the effects of having his head caught between two cars loaded with rails in the Rockwood yards, in 1887; Charles P. died in 1892 of typhoid fever; and James G. was scalded to death in 1902 in a wreck on the Somerset & Cambria branch of the railroad. Chales P. Cobaugh died at his home in Rockwood, January 9, 1904, aged sixty-four years. His demise was most sincerely mourned by those who knew him intimately. He was a fond parent, a Christian man and an ideal citizen in every sense of the term. The funeral services were conducted on January 11th, in the Rockwood Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. C. L. E. Cartwright, of Scottdale, during whose pastorate in Meyersdale Mr. Cobaugh was received into the church, delivered a powerful and impressive sermon. He was assisted in the services by Rev. O. E. Rodkey, Rev. W. H. Blackburn and Rev. R. D. Ellis. Interment was at New Centerville. The services at the cemetery were conducted by his comrades of the Grand Army and his brethren of the Masonic fraternity, a large delegation from Meyersdale Lodge being in attendance.