CORBETT, Carlton - 1914

CORBETT, PERRY, PARKHURST, WHITMORE, CUMMINGS, PRITCHARD

Posted By: VOLUNTEER
Date: 6/26/2009 at 15:19:04

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

CARLTON CORBETT.

Since the following sketch was written Mr. Corbett passed away January 15, 1914.

The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Cherokee county without learning how close has been the connection of Carlton Corbett with the work of general development, improvement and progress. He was the second white person to settle in the county, only Robert Perry having preceded him. He comes of the sterling New England stock that has done so much to further the upbuilding of the middle west, native ability enabling him to recognize and embrace the opportunities here offered. He was born August 12, 1831, at Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, and is a son of John and Almira (Parkhurst) Corbett, who were descended of English ancestry, although several previous generations of the family were represented in the new world. John Corbett, the great-grandfather of Carlton Corbett, was one of the heroes who found for American independence and while thus defending the interests of his country was taken prisoner. Again when the United States became involved in war with England in 1812 he once more went to the front and throughout all the intervening years patriotism and loyalty have been accounted salient characteristics of the family.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Corbett were born six children, two daughters and four sons, of whom Carlton Corbett is the eldest son and second child. Through the period of his youth he attended the common schools and assisted in the cultivation of the home farm in New England. In 1852 he was attacked by the gold fever and went as a young man of twentyone to California, where he engaged in mining. Unlike many others who crossed the country to that mecca of fortune, he was very successful and after four years returned to New England with substantial gains as the tangible evidence of his work in the mines. It was not long after this that the Milford Emigration Society was formed, of which Mr. Corbett became a member. He and Lemuel Parkhurst were chosen to proceed in advance of the others and, as in good old Biblical days, "to spy out the land," in which they hoped to make arrangements for suitable homes for a colony of fiftytwo members and to found a town. Much concerning the town and Mr.Corbetts relation to its upbuilding and development may be found on other pages of this work. In company with Mr. Parkhurst he proceeded to Sioux City, Iowa, but found that the land there had already been claimed. Leaving Mr. Parkhurst at a point on the Mississippi river, Mr. Corbett with a man by the name of Martin, proceeded toward the little Sioux river and followed its course into the territory now known as Cherokee county. He

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was much impressed with the fertility of the land and the conditions here to be found and his report of the country and its possibilities was so glowing that it was only a few months later when the first section of the colony arrived to people the district. They built log cabins and made ready for the winter as best they could. It was Mr. Corbett who first located the land and aided in the organization of the county in 1857. In August of that year he was elected the first prosecuting attorney and had to go to Sioux City on horseback, a distance of sixty miles to qualify. In the spring of 1860, Mr. Corbett again went in search of gold, going overland to Colorado where he explored Pikes Peak and the surrounding territory. In the fall he returned to Cherokee. In 1860 he was elected to the office of treasurer and recorder. This he filled for six years and then served for two years as treasurer alone. In 1870 he was once more elected recorder, remaining in that position for one term. He retired from these various offices as he had entered them—with the confidence and goodwill of all concerned, faithfulness to public duty being ever one of his strongly marked characteristics.

Taking up the pursuits of private life, he concentrated his energies upon farming and realestate dealing and in 1873 formed a partnership with Frank E. Whitmore, for the purpose of selling railroad lands and other realty, which partnership existed for a number of years. It is a current opinion that "Corbett knew every foot of land in Cherokee county," so thoroughly did he familiarize himself with the district and its possibilities. He sold thousands and thousands of acres of land and erected many buildings. There is no one who has done more to colonize and develop this section and promote its material progress. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank at Cherokee and in 1885 erected the Corbett block. He was one of the stockholders and directors of the First National Bank and his cooperation has been a potent element in advancing many plans and projects for the public good. He was again called from private life to office in 1876, when elected a member of the city council for a two year term, and later he filled the position of city treasurer continuously for a number of years from 1877.

Mr. and Mrs. Corbett had the distinction of being the first couple married in Cherokee county, the wedding ceremony being performed on the 2oth of November, 1859. The bride was Miss Rosabella Cummings, who was born in New Hampshire, and they became the parents of three children: Elmer E., who died April 5, 1883, at the age of twentyone years and six months; May E., who passed away November 7, 1880; and Idella F., the wife of Dr. M. F. Pritch- ard. Mrs. Carlton Corbett died December 28, 1910, after an illness of several years. In his political views Mr. Corbett has ever been a stanch republican but in the discharge of the duties of the local offices which he has filled he has never allowed partisan prejudices to interfere. No one has ever been more intensely interested in the welfare of Cherokee county than Carlton Corbett and none have been more familiar with its history. During the Indian scare of 18623 he and his wife remained in the garrison. He was then filling the position of county treasurer and collecting taxes and, unwilling to desert his post, he remained at the fort and took care of the countys funds. The same spirit of loyalty has characterized him in every relation of life and no history of Cherokee county would be complete without extended reference to him. Ever a man of honor able purpose, he possesses, too, a kindly spirit and an affable disposition that make him popular with his friends, whom he judges not by their material wealth but by their worth of character.

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