Edward COBB

COBB, TAYLOR, BROWN, MASON, MCGOWEN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/2/2014 at 13:09:29

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 662-63. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ EDWARD COBB

Edward Cobb, a retired farmer and venerable citizen of Clear Lake, Iowa, has resided here during the past twenty-two years. The greater part of his active life was spent in Lincoln township, Cerro Gordo county, where he still owns a fine farm which he improved. Also he improved another farm in that township, which he sold. His identity with this county dates from 1865, when he came here from Jackson county, this state, he having come to Iowa with his parents when he was a child.

Mr. Cobb is a native of the "Empire State." He was born in Essex county, New York, August 1, 1830, eldest of a family of nine children, all of whom are still living and enjoying good health. In 1838 his parents moved to Illinois and the year following came over into Iowa and settled on a farm in Monmouth township, Jackson county, near what was known as the Big Woods. On this farm they reared their large family, and here the father and mother died when well advanced in years. Both are buried in Buckhorn cemetery, near the old home. Thus Edward was reared from his ninth year in Iowa. Before coming to Cerro Gordo county he spent a year and a half in Minnesota. He had married some years previously, and in 1865, with wife and children, four horses and five head of cattle, he landed in Lincoln township and took up his residence here, having little capital at the time but possessing a good share of pluck and energy. With borrowed money he bought his first eighty acres of land. To this he added until at one time he owned three-quarters of a section, the result of hard work and good management.

On February 13, 1853, at Millrock, Jackson county, Iowa, Edward Cobb and Lucy Taylor were united in marriage, and at this writing, 1910, they have traveled life's pathway together for a period of fifty-seven years. Mrs. Cobb, like her husband, is a native of New York state, born July 29, 1835. She accompanied her parents to Iowa about 1851, and was reared on a farm in Jackson county. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cobb, eight in number, two died young and two when they had reached young manhood. Those living are: Mrs. A. C. Brown, a widow of Mason City; E. T., a farmer of Lincoln township; Mrs. Addie A. Mason, a widow residing in Dakota, where she has a claim; and Mrs. W. J. McGowen, whose husband is a hardware merchant of Clear Lake. The grandchildren number nine and there is one great-grandchild in the family - a grandson of Mrs. Brown.

Politically Mr. Cobb is a Republican. In his prime he served in various township and school offices. He was a member of the Sons of Temperance many years ago, but he has never allied himself with any of the fraternal organizations.

NOTE: Edward Cobb died on April 4, 1917. Lucy A (Taylor) Cobb died on March 26, 1921. They were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014