REGISTER OF
OLD SETTLERS
BOOK ONE
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MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA REGISTER OF | |
Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 362
submitted by Tina Chown, Sept. 24, 2007
DEATH OF DR. S. M. COBB. The Veteran Physician Dies at Seven O’clock Last Evening – A Long and Useful Life.
Dec. 12 1892 (hand written)Sad but not unexpected news was carried into many Muscatine homes last night by the announcement of the death of Dr. S. M. Cobb, the veteran physician and surgeon, who had been a resident of Muscatine for the past 32 years. Two weeks ago yesterday morning Dr. Cobb suffered a stroke of paralysis, which affected his whole left side, and had since been confined to his bed with but slight improvement to report in response to the anxious inquiries of his many friends. During the past two weeks he had been the same bright and cheery man it was always a pleasure to meet and converse with, although he was fully aware of his grave condition. He enjoyed a hearty supper last evening and on the arrival of his son-in-law, S. M. Gordon, requested to be helped into a setting position. He immediately felt faint and requested to be laid down again, his right arm dropping helplessly as he was gently lowered in his bed. Dr. Lezottle was at once summoned but the aged physician was beyond earthly aid and after fifteen minutes of intense suffering passed away. Since the death of his wife, three years ago, Dr. Cobb had resided with his daughter, Mrs. S. M. Gordon, and it was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, 2007 Walnut street, that his last illness took place.
Stephen Meserve Cobb was born in Cumberland country, Maine, February 4, 1819, the second child of Ebenezer and Mary M. Cobb. He was educated in the common schools and took a preparatory course at the ac academy of his native town. During his youth he resolved to make the practice of medicine his life work and in 1841 went to Delaware county, where he taught school for two years. Returning home he taught during the winter months, assisting his father on the farm in the summer, until 1845. August 10, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Bradbury, daughter of a descendant of an old Revolutionary family, at Limerick, Me. By this union two children were born, Ella T., wife of Frank Rust of Logan, Kansas, and C. Millard, a druggist of Lincoln, Neb. Mrs. Cobb died in December, 1851 and the doctor was again married, Dec. 26, 1852, to Harriet S. Mitchell, a native of Your county, Me. They were the parents of three children, Dana W., of Wichita, Kans., Lucilla M., wife of Samuel M. Gordon, of this city, and Alden R., who died at the age of six months.
In 1846 the deceased embarked in the mercantile business at Limerick, Me., in which he continued for two years and then commenced the study of medicine, teaching school in the winter to pay his expenses. In 1849 he attended lectures in the medical department of Bowdoin College, from which institution he graduated in 1852, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Maine, where he remained until 1856, when he emigrated to Osage, Iowa, engaging in partnership there with his brother. In October, 1860, he removed to this city, which had been his residence continually ever since.
In 1862 when the president issued his 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, with the exception of a sick furlough of sixty days, served in the capacity until August 10, 1865, when the regiment was mustered out of service at Davenport. During those years of hard service of the 35th their faithful surgeon was ever at hand to relieve the sick and suffering, ever unmindful of his own comfort. No wonder the old boys have always given him such a hearty reception and prominent position at their annual re-union held in this city September 30, 1891, Surgeon Cobb was presented with a handsome gold beaded cane by the regiment.
Returning to his Muscatine home in 1865 Dr. Cobb resumed the practice of his profession which he continued until stricken down t3wo weeks ago. He was the oldest practicing physician in the city and enjoyed the high esteem of his professional associates and other. In 1869 he was appointed as a member of the Board of Pension Examiners, and had filled the position continually since, with the exception of a short time, when he was relieved by Gen. Black. He was a member of the Iowa State Medical Society, the Eastern Iowa Medical Society and the Society of Physicians and Surgeons of Muscatine County. He was the oldest member in years of Shelby Norman Post, No. 231, G. A. R. Dr. Cobb was an interested member of the Congregational church, in which held the office of deacon for many years.
The deceased had annually visited his old him in Maine for a number of years past and last August, in company with his sister, Mrs. Dr. Chase, of Osage, Iowa, enjoyed a three months’ stay there. His brother Andrew died at his home in Maine about three weeks ago. Besides the children mentioned about, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Dr. Chase, of Osage, the other living in Maine.
The funeral services will be held to-morrow afternoon at 2:00 o’clock from the Congregational Church.
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