Greenbrier County, West Virginia    Biography: John TOBIN

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Transcribed and submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook @earthlink.net>, 1998.
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JOHN TOBIN - mayor of Ronceverte, was born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1826. John 
and Mary (GIBSON) TOBIN, his parents, were natives of Ireland, and died in 
that country.  In Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1853, the wedded life of the subject 
of this sketch began, Ellen COFFEY becoming his wife. She was born in 
Waterford, Ireland, in 1830, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (SULLIVAN) COFFEY.
Her father died in Lockport, New York, and her mother is supposed to be 
living yet in the West.  The children of Mr. and Mrs. TOBIN were six, of 
whom only three are living: Mary Ellen, born in November, 1855, died in 1856;
John E., February 22, 1857; Thomas E., March 14, 1864, lived about four months;
Robert Emmet, January 5, 1866; Mary Ellen, March 15, 1869;  Alice, died 
at the age of two years. The living children are all at home.   Mr. TOBIN 
has three sisters living, viz.: Bridget (SULLIVAN), resides in Atchison 
County, Kansas, as does Alice (KELLY): another sister, Ellen, is unmarried, 
and lives at New Dungarvan, Waterford County, Ireland, has married and 
raised a family.  The brothers and sisters of Mrs. TOBIN are: Margaret,
John and Thomas - children by first wife, and are living in New York; Catharine, 
Joanna, Mary, Robert, Phillip, Winnie, Mike, and Sarah Jane, are in the West.
John TOBIN is an experienced railroad man, having spent most of his life in 
that business, but is now retired from active pursuits, and living in comfort
at his beautiful residence in Ronceverte. He is regarded by his fellow-townsmen
as one of the best officials the town has ever had.  He was member of the council
and of the school board from the incorporation of the town until he assumed
the duties of his present office of mayor.

Source:  Hardesty, Henry H.  Hardesty's Historical and Geographical
Encyclopedia.  New York: H.H. Hardesty and Company, 1884.
Rpt. in West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia.  Ed. Jim Comstock.
Richwood: Comstock, 1974.