Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 172

STEPHEN MESERVE COBB, M. D. , one of the leading and prominent practicing physicians of Muscatine, was born in the district of Massachusetts, now Cumberland County, Me., on the 14th of February, 1819, and is the son of Ebenezer and Mary Meserve ) Cobb. His paternal great-grandfather, Andrew Cobb, was one of the pioneers of York County, where he purchased land, developing a farm in a dense forest, which at the time of his death reverted to his son, Ebenezer Cobb, and the land is still in the possession of the family. Eight children were born to Ebenezer and Mary Cobb: Harriett married Frost Guptill, and both died in York County, Me.; Stephen, our subject; Andrew, who resides in York County, Me, on the old homestead, is the husband of Caroline Cole; Almira B., wife of Dr. S. B. Chase, of Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa; Sarah M., who died at the age of eighteen years; Elizabeth B. married Timothy Brackett, and both died in York County, Me.; William B., who married Abbie Lord, of a prominent and wealthy family, is a graduate of the medical department of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and is now practicing at Standish, Cumberland Co., Me.; Mary Ann, wife of Joshua Cobb, is a resident of one of the suburbs of Portland, Me. Mr. Ebenezer Cobb, was a man who stood high in the community where he resided; he was a Deacon for many years in the Free-Will Baptist Church, where his family worshiped, and always took great interest in the work of that denomination. In early life he was a Democrat, and later became a Free-Soiler, voting for Birney, the abolition candidate. He was among the first in york County to espouse the cause of the slaves. His death occurred in that county, Nov. 19, 1868, and Mrs. Cobb died Dec. 29, 1870.

Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native town. During his youth he resolved to make the practice of medicine his life work, but being reared upon a farm, shut out from the world, he did not know how to make his way through college, as he entertained the idea that it would cost him about $800 or $900. In 1841 he went to Delaware, where he spent two years in teaching school, and after returning home, in 1843, followed the same profession during the winter months, and assisted his father on the farm in the summer time, until 1845. At Limerick, Me., on the 10th of August, 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary G. Bradbury, a daughter of Simeon Bradbury, of Buxton, Me., and a descendant of an old Revolutionary family. By this union he had two children: Ella T., now wife of Frank Rust, of Downs, Kan., and Cassius M., a druggist of Lincoln, Neb. Mrs Cobb died in December, 1851, and the Dr. was again married, Dec. 26, 1852, to Miss Harriet S. Mitchell, a native of York Co., Me. They are the parents of two children now living: Dana W., who is in the employ of the United States Express Compnay, and Lucilla M., who wedded Samuel M. Gordon, and resides with her parents. Allen R. Died when six months old. In 1846 our subject embarked in mercantile business at Limerick, Me., in which he continued for two years, and then commenced the study of medicine, and entered the office of Dr. J. M. Buzzell, of Limerick, remaining with him through the summer, and following the profession of teaching during the winter in order to pay his expenses. In 1849 he attended lectures in the medical department of Bowdoin College, from which institution he was graduated in 1852, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Sanford Corners, York Co. Me., where he remained until 1856, at which time he emigrated to Iowa, locating in Osage, Mitchell County, where he entered into partnership with his brother. In October, 1860, he removed to Muscatine, of which city he is the oldest practicing physician.

In 1862, when the war cloud hung over this land, and the President issued a call for volunteers to serve three years, the 35th Iowa Regiment was formed in this vicinity, and in September Dr. Cobb was commissioned assistant surgeon. In 1863, the surgeon having resigned, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, and held that position until the close of the war. That spring the regiment was sent to Vicksburg, but while en route for that place was ordered to Jackson, Miss., where it participated in the first battle at that city, losing but two men. After tearing up railroads it marched to Vicksburg, where it participated in the siege and capture. Next the brave boys of that regiment were sent to Jackson, Miss., engaging in the second battle in that place. On account of sickness the Doctor was ordered home on a sick furlough for sixty days, but again joined his regiment at Pocahontas, Tenn., on the 1st of January, 1864. The regiment was ordered on the Meridian expedition, but not reaching Vicksburg in time, the 11th Iowa Infantry was sent in its place, and the 35th went into camp on Black River, there remaining until called to take part in the Red River expedition. It participated in the battles of Pleasant Hill, Old River Lake, and several other skirmishes, and was in the two-days battle at Tupelo, under A. J. Smith. After the battle at Tupelo, they returned to Memphis, Tenn., and from there were taken up the White River in transports, to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., and from there marched across the prairie to Brownsville, where they remained about ten days, fitting up the expedition by providing themselves with teams and provisions to march up through North Arkansas in pursuit of Gens. Marmaduke and Price. After several days' marching they reached the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, and were taken in transports to St. Louis, where their wardrobes, which were sadly out of repair, were replenished. From St. Louis they went on transports to Jefferson City, and the resumed the march after Marmaduke and Price, and pursued the enemy several days, until they arrived at Harrisonville, when they gave up the chase, rested a couple of days, and then started on their return march to St. Louis, and arrived at that city about the middle of November. After remaining there at Benton Barracks about a week they were ordered to Nashville, and participated in the battle which occurred there on the 15th and 16th of December, at which time Col. Hill was killed, and were then sent in pursuit of Gen. Hood, going to East Tennessee, where they remained in camp three weeks. In February, 1865, the regiment was ordered to New Orleans, thence to Dauphin Island, and on the 28th of March aided in the capture of Spanish Fort. It was then sent to Montgomery, Ala., and later to Selma, that State, when, the war having been brought to a close, it was ordered to Davenport, Iowa, and mustered out of service Aug. 10, 1865.

Returning to his home in Muscatine in that year, Dr. Cobb has since continued the practice of his profession. Socially, he is a member of Shelby Norman Post No. 231, G. A. R. In 1869 he was appointed as a member of the Board of Pension Examiners, and has filled the position continually since, with the exception of a short time when he was relieved by Gen. Black. He is a member of the Iowa State Medical Society, the Iowa Eastern Medical Society, and the Society of Physicians and Surgeons of Muscatine County. Dr. and Mrs. Cobb are members of the Congregational Church, in which he holds the office of Deacon. He is the oldest practicing physician in the city of Muscatine, and is held in high regard, not only by his fellow practitioners, but by all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.


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