Maj. Robert H. Cobb1,2,3

M, ID# 1781, (1836 - 1914)
Maj. Robert H. Cobb|b. May 1836\nd. 20 Jul 1914|p1781.htm|Robert Livingston Cobb|b. 6 Oct 1805\nd. abt 1873|p1587.htm|Cornelia Barbour Mims|b. 1816\nd. 31 May 1875|p1780.htm|Gideon D. Cobb|b. 11 Sep 1773\nd. 1 Mar 1834|p1043.htm|Modena C. Clark|b. 4 Oct 1779\nd. 7 Oct 1837|p1042.htm|Linah Mims|b. 14 Nov 1772\nd. bt 1847 - 1850|p475.htm|Rebeccah Davis|b. abt 1786\nd. bt Jul 1824 - Jun 1830|p2186.htm|

Father Robert Livingston Cobb4,5,6 (1805-abt 1873)

Mother Cornelia Barbour Mims4,7,5 (1816-1875)

Charts
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
Descendants of Gideon Cobb

Family Background – see:

The Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family
The Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont
     Maj. Robert H. Cobb was born in May 1836 in Caldwell Co., Kentucky.8,9,10 He married Sarah Virginia Walker, daughter of John Allen Walker and Mary Boone Grimes, on 3 Aug 1865 in Monroe Co., Mississippi.11,12,13 He died on 20 Jul 1914 in Wichita Falls, Texas, at age 78.14,10,15 He was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas, with his wife, their sons Robert Jr. and Percy, and daughters Ethel and Greta, and her husband.16
     
Maj. Robert Cobb
from Confederate Veteran17
Although he consistently used Robert as his given name as an adult, including for official records, it appears it was actually Robertson. It appears that way on the census of 1850, 1860, and 1870.18,19,20
     He was probably one of the three males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Robert Livingston Cobb, in the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky.21
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of 1st District, Trigg Co., Kentucky, in the household of Marcus Marcellus Tyler and Sarah Jane Mims, his mother's sister and her husband, enumerated 2 Aug 1850.22 He also appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of District No. 1, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents enumerated 13 Sep 1850. Since his parents' household was enumerated over a month after his aunt and uncle's, perhaps he had moved back home. Or it may be that both households thought of him as living with them.23,24
     Robert attended the Trigg Male Seminary in Cadiz, Kentucky, under the teaching of Quintus M. Tyler, and at the Western Military Institute in Georgetown, Kentucky, where the future Confederate General Bushrod Johnson was superintendent.4,25 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents.26,27

R L Cobb & Sons


     With his brothers focused on mills and the iron business, Robert's father maintained the family mercantile business in Eddyville founded by his father.28,29,30 Robert and his brothers Linah and Joshua joined their father in the family business as they came of age. It is not clear just when each joined the firm, but all were participating by 1859. The firm was then called R L Cobb & Sons.31,32,33 Robert withdrew from the partnership 1 Jul 1861, leaving Linah, Josuha and their father operating the business.34
     He apparently left the family firm to devote his time to his law practice. He studied law one term at the University of Virginia, where he was a member of the class of 1855-56, and reported his occupation as lawyer in 1860.35,36

Military Service


     Robert enlisted 19 Aug 1861, as a Lieutenant in Company F, 3rd Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Capt. H. B. Lyon's Company. He reported for duty at Camp Boone, Tennessee.37,38 The company was made a light artillery unit, and by Dec 1861 he was commanding the battery in the absence of the Captain, who had been promoted. He was promoted to Captain 1 Mar 1862. The unit was known as Cobb's Battery after he took command, and gained recognition for its exploits at the battle of Chickamauga in Sep 1863. That battle was one of the most significant Union defeats the War, and involved the second highest number of casualties in the war after the Battle of Gettysburg. It also served in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Vicksburg, and others.39,40,41,42
     Robert was appointed Major of a battalion of artillery 7 Apr 1864, reporting to General Johnston. On 23 May 1864 President Jefferson Davis submitted nominations for artillery officers to the Second Confederate Congress which included Robert, noninated to the rank of Major, to be effective 10 Feb 1862. His nomination was confirmed 28 May.43,44 He was was part of the Army of the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana that was surrendered 8 May 1865 by Lt. General Richard Taylor to Maj. General Edward Canby. This was the last major Confederate force remaining east of the Mississippi River. He was paroled 16 May 1865 at Meridian, Mississippi.45,46 His cousin, Capt. Robert Linah Cobb, served for time in his unit. With similar names they were confused in wartime records, and continue to be confused by Civil War buffs today.47,48,49

Living in Mississippi, then Back to Kentucky


     Robert and Sarah lived in Loohatan, a train stop a mile south of Muldon, Monroe Co., Mississippi, for several years after their marriage. At least part of that time they lived at her parent's mansion, where he worked to reorganize the interrupted plantation life at the vast Walker estates. Their first three children were born in Mississippi.50,51,52,53,54 About 1870 they and their three young children moved to his home state, Kentucky, settling with his parents in Paducah. They and their children, Robert, Virginia and Cornelia, appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents.55
     Robert was for a time part of the firm of Kay Cobb & Selser, though details are unknown. He reported his occupation in 1870 as a clerk in a tobacco warehouse. Whether that was in connection with this firm is unclear. He withdrew from the firm in Sep 1873.56,57
     On 26 Apr 1878 Robert filed a petition of bankruptcy at the U.S. District Court in Paducah. He reported about $6,000 in debts, about $1,400 of that dating to his involvement with R L Cobb & Sons, and another $1,300 related to his involvement with Kay Cobb & Selser. He reported no assets other than a small amount of personal property: wearing apparel worth $200, books worth $300, and a cow worth $10. He sought exemption from the bankruptcy of the clothing, $200 worth of books, and the cow. He said he held a one-fifth interest in the estate of his late mother, but that it had debts likely to exceed the value of the estate. He reported that the household property belonged to his wife, and she had paid for a $300 life insurance policy.58 (For further details of the bankruptcy proceeding see the extracted Case Files.)
     He apparently returned to the practice of law by 1880, and continued in that profession after moving to Texas.59,60,61
     Robert and Virginia appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, at Broadway St., enumerated 1 Jun 1880. Their children Robert, Virginia, Cornelia, Greta, Ethel and Percy were listed as living with them.62

Moving to Texas


     Robert and Virginia moved their family to Wichita Falls, Texas, then a frontier village, in 1884.63 They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas, enumerated 14 Jun 1900, reporting that the family was renting its home. Their children Robert, Virginia, Greta, Ethel and Percy were listed as living with them, as were Richard Hyde, a farmer, and his wife Sarah who are listed as boarders.64
     Robert and Virginia appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Houston, Harris Co., Texas, in the household of, their daughter Greta and her husband, Robert Donaldson Thorburn.65

Children of Maj. Robert H. Cobb and Sarah Virginia Walker

Citations

  1. [S949] Cobb - Thorburn tombstone, Riverside Cemetery, shows name as Major Robert Cobb.
  2. [S569] M. M. Tyler household, 1850 U.S. Census, Trigg Co., Kentucky, shows name as R. H. Cobb.
  3. [S3276] R. H. Cobb, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky.
  4. [S3376] "Commander of the Famous Cobb's Battery", pg 309.
  5. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, appearing to be parent and child.
  6. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, appearing to be parent and child.
  7. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, 2 Jun 1875.
  8. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows month, year, age 64, and state.
  9. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 14, county, and state.
  10. [S949] Cobb - Thorburn tombstone, Riverside Cemetery, shows year.
  11. [S64] International Genealogical Index, record for Virginia Walker marriage, citing FHL film #886908 v. 3, Monroe Co. Mississippi marriage records, white , v.3.
  12. [S1372] "Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935," Ancestry.com, record for Robert Cobb and Virginia Walker, shows date and county.
  13. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows married, 35 years.
  14. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914, shows date, city, and state.
  15. [S951] Virginia Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows her as a widow.
  16. [S949] Cobb - Thorburn tombstone, Riverside Cemetery.
  17. [S3376] "Commander of the Famous Cobb's Battery", pg 309.
  18. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows name as Robertson H. Cobb.
  19. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows name as Robeson Cobb.
  20. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows name as Robertson Cobb.
  21. [S1795] R. L. Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  22. [S569] M. M. Tyler household, 1850 U.S. Census, Trigg Co., Kentucky.
  23. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  24. [S1745] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  25. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "Western Military Institute," viewed 2 Oct 2011, shows location of school and identifies Gen. Johnson.
  26. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  27. [S1675] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  28. [S1795] R. L. Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows the only person employed, apparently Robert, as employed in commerce.
  29. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as merchant.
  30. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as merchant.
  31. [S3265] R. Cobb bankruptcy, Schedule A-3, shows debt created in 1859 by R L Cobb & Sons, and that Robert and R L Cobb, L M Cobb, and J C Cobb were doing business as a partnership.
  32. [S3266] J. C. Cobb bankruptcy, Schedule A-3, shows debt created in 22 Aug 1859 by R L, L M, and JC Cobb, firm of R L Cobb & Sons.
  33. [S1950] Battle, Perrin and Kniffin, Kentucky - A History of the State (1885), pg 291, shows Joshua's first venture was with his father in Eddyville, where he engaged in the tobacco trade.
  34. [S3265] R. Cobb bankruptcy, Schedule A-3.
  35. [S3376] "Commander of the Famous Cobb's Battery", pg 309, shows his studies at University of Virginia and beginning his practice.
  36. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as lawyer.
  37. [S3276] R. H. Cobb, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, card for company muster-in roll, shows unit, rank, date, and place.
  38. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914, describes his enlistment, change of company to artillery, and his promotions.
  39. [S3277] R. Cobb, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, card for muster roll, 30 Sep to 31 Dec 1861, shows him as Lt., commanding in absence of the Captain; card for list of commissioned officers, shows rank as Capt. and date of commission.
  40. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914, describes change of company to artillery, and his promotion.
  41. [S3019] "Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System," National Park Service, record for R. H. Cobb, citing NARA microfilm M377-3, shows unit as Capt. Cobb's Co., Kentucky Light Art'y., rank in as 1 Lieutenant, rank out as Captain; record for Cobb's Company, Kentucky Light Artillery shows engagements.
  42. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "Battle of Chickamauga," viewed Jul 2011, described battle.
  43. [S3278] Robert Cobb, Compiled Service Records, General and Staff Officers, card for register of appointments, shows rank, dates of appointment and confirmation.
  44. [S2965] United States Congressional Serial Set, Senate Doc. No. 234, 58th Congress, 2nd session, Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865, vol 4, 24 May 1864, pp 86-7, shows R. Cobb of Kentucky nominated; pg 100, Congress consented; pp 216-7, same group consented to again without explaination, appearently in error.
  45. [S3278] Robert Cobb, Compiled Service Records, General and Staff Officers, parole.
  46. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "Richard Taylor (general),"viewed Aug 2011, shows generals, date of surrender.
  47. [S646] Montgomery County, Tennessee Genealogy Website, online, War Records, Civil War section, shows name and regiment, as Co. F/ S0th Tenn. Inf. [sic]
  48. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 124-5, shows at organization of 50 Tennessee Christmas day 1861 he was named Ordinance Sergeant, and as such supplied the sheet used as a white flag in the surrender of Ft. Donelson.
  49. [S49] Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, citing Civil War Records obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
  50. [S3376] "Commander of the Famous Cobb's Battery", pg 310, shows they lived a year a the Walker estate, and his work there.
  51. [S3266] J. C. Cobb bankruptcy, Schedule B-3, Choses in action, lists him as having an outstanding account and located in Loohstan, Mississippi.
  52. [S1270] Robert Cobb Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows he was born in Mississippi.
  53. [S3011] Virgnia Leoma Harding, Certificate of Death, shows she was born in Mississippi.
  54. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows Cornelia as born as Mississippi.
  55. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  56. [S3265] R. Cobb bankruptcy, Schedule A-3, shows debt incurred Jul 1873 by firm, and that he withdrew from it in Sep 1873.
  57. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as a clerk at a tobacco warehouse.
  58. [S3265] R. Cobb bankruptcy.
  59. [S1668] Robert Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as lawyer.
  60. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows occupation as lawyer.
  61. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914, shows he engaged in the practice of law in Paducah after the war, and that he practiced law "until he became too old."
  62. [S1668] Robert Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  63. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914.
  64. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas.
  65. [S950] R. D. Thorburn household, 1910 U.S. Census, Harris Co., Texas.
  66. [S1270] Robert Cobb Jr., Standard Certificate of Death.
  67. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows him in the household of Robert L. and Cornelia, apparently the child of Virginia but not clear which son is the father.
  68. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows her in the household of Robert L. and Cornelia, apparently the child of Virginia but not clear which son is the father.
  69. [S3012] Gretta Cobb Thorburn, Certificate of Death.
  70. [S3371] "Thorburn-Cobb Wedding," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jun 1905, shows her as daughter of Major and Mrs. Robert Cobb.
  71. [S3014] Ethel Cobb, Standard Certificate of Death.
  72. [S3013] Percy Cobb, Standard Certificate of Death.

 

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