Ralph R Cobb

COBB

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/1/2010 at 19:06:17

Ralph R Cobb is well known in connection with educational and business interests in Boone and along both lies has contributed to the progress and promoted the welfare of the community. A board minded, cultured gentlemen, his influence is ever on the side of right, justice, truth and improvement. He was born in Porter county, Indiana, April 21, 1872, and is a son of Henry A and Sylva R (Sawyer) Cobb, both of whom were natives of the Hoosier state. On March 1, 1883, they arrived in Boone and are now residents of Jackson township, this county. IN their family were three sons and four daughters: Ralph R of this review, Bertha who is the widow of Ira B Johnson and makes her home in Boone, Agatha M the wife of Dr E L D Montague of Cedar Rapids, Frank F who is living in Jackson township, J Asa whose home is in Sioux City, Iowa, Violia the wife of Rev. Dow Crewdson, pastor of a church in Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Mattie M who was a teacher in the graded schools of Logan and now makes her home with her parents.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Ralph R Cobb was resided during the greater part of his life in Boone county. His educational opportunities were those afforded by the common schools, supplemented by study in the Ames high school and in the Northern Indiana University at Valparaiso, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for eleven terms being connected with the Madrid high school for four years. In 1903 he was elected county superintendent in the schools and in January 1904, entered upon the duties of that position, in which he continued for seven years, during which time he greatly improved the conditions of the public schools and raised the standard of education in eh county. He had the ability not only to import clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired, but he also inspired teachers and pupils with much of his own zeal and interest in the work. After leaving the position of county superintendent he spent a few months in the Boone National Bank in charge of the savings accounts. He afterward became one of the organizers of the Boone Blank Book Company which is one of the important manufacturing interests of this part of the state. He is still connected therewith as one of the directors.
On November 15, 1904, Mr Cobb was untied in marriage to Miss Mary H Heward, a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and unto them has been born a daughter, Lois H, whose natal day was May 19, 1907. Mr Cobb votes with the republican party and has always strongly indorsed its principles. He has made a study of political conditions and is always ready to support his position by intelligent argument. His fraternal relations are with eh Masons and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church. They are prominent in the social circles of the city and are recognized leaders which intelligence and culture are received as passports into good society. Wherever known, as his professional and business interests have brought him a wide acquaintance, Mr Cobb is held in the highest regard and the circle of his friends in Boone county is an extensive one.

1914 Boone County History Book