Robert Livingston Cobb1,2,3

ID# 1587, (1805 - 1875)
Robert Livingston Cobb|b. 6 Oct 1805\nd. 1875|p1587.htm|Gideon Dyer Cobb|b. 11 Sep 1773\nd. 1 Mar 1834|p1043.htm|Modena Chittenden Clark|b. 4 Oct 1779\nd. 7 Oct 1837|p1042.htm|Elkanah Cobb|b. 21 Jan 1746/47\nd. 10 Aug 1795||Mary Willard|b. abt 1749\nd. 1 Aug 1842||Isaac Clark|b. 5 Oct 1748\nd. 31 Jan 1822||Hannah Chittenden|b. 13 Jul 1756\nd. 8 Sep 1789||

Father Gideon Dyer Cobb4,5 (1773-1834)

Mother Modena Chittenden Clark4,5 (1779-1837)

Family Background
The Linah Mims - Rebeccah Davis Family
Charts
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
     Robert Livingston Cobb was born on 6 Oct 1805 in Eddyville, Livingston Co., Kentucky.6,7,8 He married Cornelia Rebecca Mims, daughter of Linah Mims and Rebeccah Davis, on 13 May 1835 in Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.9,10,11,12 He died in 1875 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky.5
     He is probably one of the three males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Gideon Dyer Cobb, in the 1810 Federal Census of Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.13,14 He is probably one of the two males age 10 to 16 listed in the household of his father in the 1820 Federal Census of Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.15 He is probably one of the seven males age 20 to 30 listed in the household of his father in the 1830 Federal Census of Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.16

Establishing Himself in Eddyville

"Rose Hill," built by Robert L. Cobb about 1832, now the Lyon Co. Historical Society Museum

     On 16 Oct 1832 Robert bought lot no. 7 in Eddyville, on Water St. at Shelby St., from Noel Watkins for $70. Robert then built a home on that lot, known as "Rose Hill." On 26 Jan 1844 he sold the house and lot to Thomas W. Catlett for $3,500. The home was later owned by Frederick H. Skinner and his wife, who was a daughter of Catlett, and remained in the family until it was acquired by the state of Kentucky in 1952 and was used as housing for the employees of the adjacent Kentucky State Penitentiary. After being declared surplus by the state, it was given to the Lyon County Historical Society, which now uses it to house a museum.17,18
     Robert appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., Kentucky, with a household consisting of three white males under age 5 (Robeson, Linah, and Joshua), one between 30 and 40 (Robert); and one white female between 10 and 15 and one between 15 and 20 (unknown) and one between 20 and 30 (Cornelia); and one male and two female slaves.19
     Robert and Cornelia Rebecca Mims appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of District No. 1, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, enumerated 13 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $10,600, and 11 slaves, four females ranging in age from 9 to 75, and seven males, ages 4 to 30. Their children Robertson, Linah, Joshua, Sam and Bobella were listed as living with them, as was his brother, Gideon Dyer Cobb Jr., and her sister, Rebecca E. Mims.20,21 He and Cornelia appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 10 Jul 1860, reporting $20,000 in real estate, and $32,635 in personal property. Their children Robertson, Linah, Joshua, Bobella and Mark were listed as living with them, as were her sister, Sarah Jane Mims, and Russel Mims, who would appear to be some relative of Cornelia and Sarah. He also reported 14 slaves, 11 of them males, in two slave houses. Two of the females, aged 21 and 22, were reported to be fugitives from the state.22,23

The Cobb Brothers in Business


     Three of the Cobb brothers, Caleb, Robert, and Gideon, were very active in business ventures in Eddyville and the surrounding area, apparently following in their father's footsteps. We have evidence that Robert joined his father's business at age 21, and we can assume that Caleb did before him.24 It appears that by the time of their father's death in 1834 the sons had taken over active management of the businesses. Through a series of partnerships among themselves and with others they engaged in mercantile, real estate, and iron businesses. Iron was a major business in Kentucky at the time; the state was the nation's third ranked producer in the 1830's.25

Cobb Gray & Bell Partnership


     By 1829, Robert had joined the partnership of his older brother Caleb and Chittenden Lyon, which they then called Lyon, Cobb & Co. The new partnership acquired property on the river, below Water St. and southeast of Main St., and built a 40 by 60 ft building on it by Jan 1834. By 1836 that building was expanded to a two-story brick structure 40 by 80 ft., which served as their store and ware house, apparently the base of their mercantile and trading business. That partnership ceased operations at the end of Jun 1836, when Robert took on new partners for the mercantile business, and Caleb and Lyon seem to have taken up other interests. Lyon sold his one-third interest in the property to Robert in Aug 1836, but Caleb kept his share until he began to dispose of most of his real estate in 1841. He sold his one-third interest to Robert in Jun 1841.26,27
     In Aug 1836 Robert formed a new partnership, with William Gray, David Bell, and his brother Gideon, who was just 18 years old. The partnership was known as Cobb, Gray & Bell. On 2 Aug 1836 Robert sold a one-third interest in the lot and building where the mercantile business was housed to Gray. It appears the firm operated solely as a mercantile business. No record of real estate transactions has been found. The partnership seems to have been dissolved with the departure of Gray between Jun 1838 and Jul 1840.28 Gray continued to hold his interest in the property until Jun 1846, when he sold it back to Robert.29
     The partnership of Cobb, Gray & Bell was replaced by what turned out to be a short-lived partnership of the remaining partners, Robert, Gideon, and David R. Bell, using the name of Cobb Bell & Co. The first record that has been found of it is the $20,000 land purchase by the partnership from Caleb, the older brother of Robert, on 2 Aug 1841. The sale included 18 parcels containing over 4,628 acres, mostly in Caldwell Co. but two in Livingston Co. Three parcels totaling over 1000 acres are identified as being adjacent to Eddyville Furnace. Another parcel of 667 acres included the Livingston Forge.30 With this transaction the mercantile and iron interests of the Cobb brothers were joined in a single business for the first time. Robert seems to have focused on mercantile interests, including mortgages to secure creditor accounts at the store, while Gideon was more focused on the iron business.31,32,33,34 Only one other real estate transaction by the partnership has been found, in Apr 1842, when it purchased the south half of lots No. 49 and 50, fronting on Second St. in Eddyville. The partnership was dissolved, apparently by the death of Bell, between Mar and Jun 1843.35

R. L. & G. D. Cobb Partnership


     With the loss of Bell, Robert and Gideon operated their business under the name of R. L. & G. D. Cobb.36 The first purchase the two brothers made jointly was a significant one, expanding their iron operations. On 20 Jul 1844 they bought 15 separate parcels of land from John Stacker of Missouri, Samuel Stacker of Tennessee & Thomas T. Watson of Trigg Co. for $10,000. The Eddyville Furnace and its landing on the Cumberland River was included, along with 13 other parcels apparently used for their ore and coal deposits. The sale involved over 3800 acres in all.37 The Eddyville Furnace, also called Jim and I, was located one mile east of Kuttawa, Caldwell Co., was built in 1832 by John and Samuel Stacker and Thomas Tennessee Watson.38
     The firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb made other purchases as well. In 1846 they made four purchases of land totaling almost 2,000 acres, another in 1848 of 200 acres, and in 1850 they bought a half lot in Eddyville with a double log house, weatherboarded, with kitchen and smoke house attached, and a frame shop and stable.39 The firm purchased three properties at auction on the courthouse steps, two sold as a result of suits to collect debts owed them.40
     In one unusual transaction, R. L. & G. D. Cobb bought a tract on Eddy Creek from the partners' cousin, Elijah George Galusha Jr., on 8 Sep 1852. They paid $625 for 124 acres, but the seller retained the use of that portion lying north of the turnpike with all its appurtenances (presumably including his home), and the spring, for his life and that of his wife. He retained the right not only to use it himself, but also to rent it out, and to cut wood and timber for his own use. He had mortgaged the property to them two years before to secure a $270.90 note and up to $200 in credit for goods from their store over the next two years. This appears to be a case of resolving the debt and providing cash to a needy relative.41,42
     It appears that Robert and his brother, Gideon, took full advantage of the legislation passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1835 allowing counties to sell warrants authorizing surveys of land patent applications. Each of them patented nearly 3000 acres in Caldwell Co. in a number of patents obtained over many years.43 Robert purchased warrants that resulted in ten grants totaling 2,987 acres in Caldwell Co., Kentucky the first surveyed 29 Jun 1837, and continuing until 1853.44,45
     Prior to 1850, the R. L. & G. D. Cobb partnership had sold only one property – 237 acres on Eddy Creek with a gristmill and sawmill known as Leroys Mill, which they sold in 1848. Then, on 12 Aug 1850 they sold apparently all their iron operations in Caldwell Co. to William and John F. Kelly, iron masters, under the name of Kelly & Co. The sale, for $20,000, included the Eddyville Furnace and about 8,000 acres of land in 37 parcels. On the same date they sold the site where "Cobb & Machen's old forge stood" and another parcel, now in Crittenden Co. (that county having been formed from Livingston Co. in 1842), a total of 956 acres, for an additional $2,000. Crittenden records have not been examined, so we do not know whether the Crittenden Furnace as sold at the same time.46 The partnership sold three other parcels after disposing of its iron assets, a 400-acre section of "White House Farm" sold to Willis Benson Machen on 20 Sep 1850 for $3,300, 200 acres on the Tennessee River in 1852, and a half interest in lot no. 2 in the donation part of Princeton in 1856.47
     The store operated by the Cobbs and their partners extended credit to its customers. In some cases they seem to have seen the need to secure that credit with mortgages, sometimes on land, but often on growing crops, livestock, tools, household goods and slaves. A total of 30 mortgages issued by the various Cobb partnerships have been found in Caldwell Co. records, and more may exist in other counties, or may have been missed or not recorded. Many of the mortgages on land have releases recorded some time later, though a few were foreclosed. There are no releases recorded for mortgages not involving land so it is impossible to know what proportion of those were paid off. Perhaps surprisingly, there are few cases of repeated mortgages by the same borrower.48

Accepting Mortgages


     Many of the mortgages by small farmers seem to list not only crops and livestock but also all farmer's the tools and household goods, and thus provide an insight on the lifestyle of those farmers. A mortgage by Madison F. Dunn in 1843 is illustrative. He mortgaged (spelling from the originals):
a spotted mare, bay mare colt, 2 pr black oxen, 2 milch cows & calves, 3 head young cattle, 6 head sheep, waggon, 30 head stock hogs, 3 beds, bed steads & clothing, fancy press & table, bureau & crib, 8-day clock, all his household & kitchen furniture of every description, ploughs, hoes & all other farming tools, 12 chairs; also all his interest in the estate of his father and grandfather Freeman; 1000 lb. bacon & 100 bu. corn; present year crop of corn, tobacco, wheat, oats & income from above livestock.
A mortgage by George M. Marshall in 1842 suggests the lifestyle of a more prosperous citizen. He mortgaged:
4 feather beds, bed steds, under bed boulster, pillows and all coverings, bureau, press, 2 folding leaf tables, 2 sets windsor chairs yellow & black, set split bottom chairs, windsor rocking chair, map & book of USA, 8-day clock, brindle cow & calf, cow marked with under slope & upper nick each ear, gilt dressing glass, work stand, cradle & bedding, yearling brindle heifer marked crofe & split in right ear and swallow fork in left, 2 sets silver spoons table & tea, 2 sets knives & forks ivory & bone handle, pots, ovens, skillet, dishes, plates, cups & cancers, all kitchen furniture & cooking utinsels of all sorts and kinds, and 5 window curtains.49
For other examples, see Extracted Caldwell Co. Mortgages.

Robert's Land Outside the Partnerships


     He made six purchases of lots in Eddyville between 1835 and 1853, in addition to the parcels used his home and for the store and ware house.50 Robert also purchased ten properties in Caldwell Co. at auction on the courthouse steps between 1834 and 1853, most of those being sold in settlement of judgements obtained to collect debts owed him and his partners. After 1849 he had discontinued, with one exception, ordinary purchases, and seems to have been focused on collecting debts owed him and his partners.51
     Robert dealt extensively in rural land and town lots separately from his partners as well. Records have been found of 14 purchases of land in Caldwell Co. from 1834 to 1847, totaling over 3,500 acres.52
     Robert sold 13 additional parcels in Caldwell Co. between 1836 and 1853, some for which no purchase deed has been found, indicating that there were likely more purchases and sales than have been found.53
     The properties for which sales have been found fall far short of the known purchases, leaving many parcels unaccounted for, including the lot with the store and warehouse below Water St. in Eddyville. That building seems to have been abandoned by the Cobb mercantile business by 1853, likely because it had relocated to larger quarters. What became of the mercantile business and the remaining real estate is unknown; none of Robert's children seem to have stayed in Eddyville after he retired to Paducah, and Gideon had no known children.54,55 (For details of all the records that have been found for land transactions involving Robert, see the extracted Caldwell Co. Deeds for Robert and Gideon Cobb.)

Retiring to Paducah


     Robert and Cornelia Rebecca Mims moved to Paducah, Kentucky, in 1870 when he retired from active business.5,56 He and Cornelia appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, enumerated 11 Jun 1870, reporting that she had real estate of $10,000 and personal estate of $1500. Their children Linah, Joshua, Bobella and Mark were listed as living with them, as was their son Robertson, his wife Virginia Walker and their children, Robert, Virginia and Cornelia. Also in the household were her sister, Sarah Jane Mims, her sister Rebecca's son, David Mitchell, and a married mulatto couple who were domestic servants.57

Children of Robert Livingston Cobb and Cornelia Rebecca Mims

Citations

  1. [S2303] Judith Kilbury-Cobb, "RE: Cobb Ancestry," e-mail to author, 15 Jun 2001, citing hand-written pages titled "From Joshua Cobb's Family Bible," provided by Lillian W. Sprout, 5 Dec 1931, Montrose, Pennsylvania, shows name as Robert L. Cobb.
  2. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, bond of Robert L. Cobb and Fransis Hey Dallam, 12 May 1835, signed by him as Robt. L. Cobb; and License, dated same day, shows name as Robert L. Cobb.
  3. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, shows full name.
  4. [S2303] Judith Kilbury-Cobb, "RE: Cobb Ancestry," e-mail to author, 15 Jun 2001, citing hand-written pages titled "From Joshua Cobb's Family Bible," provided by Lillian W. Sprout, 5 Dec 1931, Montrose, Pennsylvania.
  5. [S1042] William Elsey Connelley and E. M. Coulter, History of Kentucky, pg 497.
  6. [S2303] Judith Kilbury-Cobb, "RE: Cobb Ancestry," e-mail to author, 15 Jun 2001, citing hand-written pages titled "From Joshua Cobb's Family Bible," provided by Lillian W. Sprout, granddaughter of Joshua Cobb, with notarized statement 5 Dec 1931, Montrose, Pennsylvania, that they were from a Bible in her possession, shows date.
  7. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 45, county, and state.
  8. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows age 56, and state.
  9. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, bond of Robert L. Cobb and Francis Hey Dallam, 12 May 1835, shows intended to be married shortly, and License, dated same day, has return showing marriage solemnized 13 May 1835.
  10. [S726] Caldwell Co. Marriage Bonds, Book A, Robert G. Cobb to Miss Cornelia Mims, 13 May 1835, shows date.
  11. [S49] Deborah Anne Cobb Freeman, Family File 31 Jul 1998, shows date, town, county, and state.
  12. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows both in household.
  13. [S583] Cobb & Clarke household, 1810 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  14. [S826] Chittenden Lyon, letter to James Witherell, 5 Apr 1828, shows that Samuel C. Clark was living with G. D. Cobb in 1828.
  15. [S576] Gideon D. Cobb household, 1820 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  16. [S1789] Gideon Cobb household, 1830 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  17. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , G:160, Noel Watkins & wife Sarah M. to Robert L. Cobb dated 16 Oct 1832, $70 for lot #7 in Eddyville; G:284-5, Berry Hodge of Union Co. to Robert L. Cobb dated 17 Dec 1833, $1 for lot #7 in Eddyville, clearing title of lot Cobb bought from Watkins because no conveyance from Hodge to Watkins was recorded; and M:47, Robert L. Cobb & wife Cornelia B. to Thomas W. Catlett dated 26 Jan 1844, $3500 for lot #7 in Eddyville.
  18. [S2001] Odell Walker, "Rose Hill -- The Cobb House", pp 38-9, shows that Cobb built the house about 1832, sold it to Catlett in 1844, who owned it until 1897, when it became the property of his granddaughter Belle Minner Hussey, bought by the state in 1952 and used for housing until given to the Historical Society.
  19. [S1795] R. L. Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  20. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  21. [S1745] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  22. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  23. [S1675] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  24. [S1977] Irvin S. Cobb, Exit Laughing, pg 25, citing ledger and day books of the business, shows Robert taken into the business at age 21.
  25. [S849] "Kentucky Historical Marker Database," Kentucky Historical Society, reverse of most markers in category "iron industry," viewed Jun 2005, shows Kentucky as third ranked in 1830's.
  26. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , F:60-1, John W. Marshall & Samuel P. L. Marshall to Chittenden Lyon, Caleb C. Cobb & Robert L. Cobb dated 2 Oct 1829, $150 for 45x60 ft. lot below Water St., near Main St.; F:424-5, Minerva Catlett executrix for Hanson Catlett to same dated 24 Jul 1830, $80 for40x60 ft. lot below Water St. at Main St.;F:288, John Bradley of Princeton to same dated 10 Jan 1834, $214.38 for lot at Main and Water Sts. where Lyon, Cobb & Co. had a 40x60 ft. ware house (this appears to be the same lot, with the odd amount suggesting the settlement of a debt although the text does not say it is); H:236-7, Robert L. Cobb to William Gray dated 2 Aug 1836, $1500 for 1/3 share of 85x70 ft. lot at Water and Main Sts. with a two-story brick house, 80 X 40 ft., erected by Lyon, Cobb & Co., property held the last day of Jun 1836 by C. Lyon, C. C. Cobb and R. L. Cobb as joint tenants; H:237-8, Chittenden Lyon to Robert L. Cobb dated 31 Aug 1836, $1500 for 1/3 share in same property; and K:148, Caleb C. Cobb to same dated 10 Jun 1841, $1500 for 1/3 share in same property.
  27. [S876] Chittenden Lyon Will (21 Nov 1842), Caldwell Co. Will Book B, pg 57-59, shows Caleb to settle affairs of Lyon & Cobb, and Robert to settle those of Lyon, Cobb, & Co.
  28. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , H:236-7, Robert L. Cobb to William Gray dated 2 Aug 18, $1500 for 1/3 interest in lot on Water and Main Sts. purchased by Chettenden Lyon, Caleb C. Cobb & Robert L. Cobb where they erected a two-story brick house occupied by Cobb, Gray & Bell as a store and ware house; I:72-3, John F. Veid mortgage to Robert L .Cobb, William Gray, David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb “merchants & copartners trading under the name and style of Cobb, Gray & Bell” dated 23 Jun 1838; and I:544, Denson Dees mortgage to Cobb, Bell & Co. dated 18 Jul 1840.
  29. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , M:411-1, William Gray & wife Sydia to Robert L. Cobb dated 23 Jun 1846, $1500 for 1/3 share of lot on lower side of Water St. at Main St. where the store house of R. L. & G. D. Cobb stands.
  30. [S1976] C. C. Cobb to David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb "trading under the style & firm of Cobb Bell & Co." Robt. L. Cobb deed, 2 Aug 1841, item No. 1, 556 ac. on Cumberland River adjoining Town of Eddyville; No. 2, 444 ac. on the Cumberland River adjoining the above, excepting 31 ac. belonging to Eddyville Furnace; No. 3, 100 ac. on waters of Eddy Ck.; No. 4, one moiety or equal half of undivided survey of 1000 ac. on Livingston Ck.; No 5, 150 ac. on waters of Lick & Eddy Cks.; No 6 50 ac. on both sides of Spring Ck.; No. 7, 190 ac. on waters of Poplar Ck.; No. 8, 219 ac.; No. 9, 111 ac.; No. 10, 200 ac. on Spring & Crab Cks.; No. 11, 200 ac. on Spring & Crab Cks.; No. 12, one moiety of undivided survey of 1000 ac. on Goose (now Livingston) Ck.; No. 13, 72½ ac. on Knob & Hammond Cks. adjoining Eddyville Furnace; No. 14, 200 ac., one moiety of 400 ac. on Spring Ck. a branch of Livingston Ck.; No. 15, 50 ac. & house on Skinfame Ck.; No. 16, 666 2/3 ac. in Livingston Co. on Livingston Ck., where Livingston Forge erected; No. 17, 291 ac., part of 517 ac. tract in Livingston Co. on Livingston Ck.; and No. 18, 200 ac. on Tennessee River opposite Long Island.
  31. [S1795] R. L. Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows the only person employed, apparently Robert, as employed in commerce.
  32. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows Robert's occupation as merchant.
  33. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows Robert's occupation as merchant.
  34. [S578] Gideon D. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Crittenden Co., Kentucky, shows Gideon and Caleb living with a group of young men whose occupation appears to be laborer, apparently in the iron works, with Caleb's occupation as iron maker and Gideon's as merchant and iron maker.
  35. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , K:574-8, George M. Marshall to Robert L. Cobb, David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb dated 14 Apr 1842, for two half-lots in Eddyville; K:387-7, Madison F. Dunn mortgage to R. L. Cobb, David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb "trading under the firm & style of Cobb Bell & Co." dated 17 Mar 1843; L:84-5, John Martin mortgate to Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb "surviving partners of Cobb Bell & Co" dated 19 Jun 1843; and P:85-86, Robert L. Cobb & wife Cornelia, & Gideon D. Cobb to Willis B. Machen dated 20 Sep 1850, shows grantors as surviving partners of Cobb, Bell & Co., David R. Bell having "long since departed this life."
  36. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , M:127-8, Edward T. Walkins, Commissioner in Chancery to Robert L. Cobb and Gideon D. Cobb of the firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb dated 4 Feb 1845, $1500 for the interest of Elijah Shepardson in a house and lot in Princeton in settlement of debt owed Robert L .Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb, surviving partners of Cobb Bell & Co.
  37. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , L:454-9, John Stacker of Missouri, Samuel Stacker of Tennessee & Thomas T. Watson of Trigg Co. to Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb dated 20 Jul 1844, $10,000 for several parcels of land, on which Eddyville Furnace stands and adjacent thereto: 1st 100 ac. survey made for Christopher –-?–- , conveyed to John Jones and by him to grantees, where Eddyville [Furnace?] stands; 2nd 100 ac. on –?– Ck., purchased of John Hammonds; 3rd 50 ac. on Cumberland River immediately below the Furnace; 4th 30 ac. purchased of C. C. Cobb upon which the Furnace landing sits; 5th 2 surveys of 400 ac. each purchased of Randolph Doom; 6th 300 ac. bought of Henry Doven; 7th 480 ac. survey made in name of Saml. & John Stacker & Thomas T Walter on Cumberland River; 8th 260 ac. survey made in name of Samuel & John Stacker & Thos T Walter; 9th 700 ac. survey made in name of Samuel & John Stacker & Thomas T Walson; 10th 100 ac. survey in name of Stacker & Watson on Cumberland River; 11th [blank] ac. survey; 12t 300 ac. survey for Slacker & Watson on Cumberland River; 13th 124 ac. survey in name of Daniel Glenn on Goat Ck.; 14th 400 ac. survey made for E. S. Galusha conveyed by him to Stacker & Watson; and 15th 90 ac. survey made in name of Joshua Hammond purchased of him.
  38. [S849] "Kentucky Historical Marker Database," Kentucky Historical Society, Marker Number 1326, viewed Jun 2005.
  39. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , M:299-301, Caleb C. Cobb & Willis B. Mahen to R. L. & G. D. Cobb dated 19 Jan 1846, $600 for      3 tracts, part of Rittenhouse Academy survey: 190 ac., 219 ac. and 111½ ac.; N:14-5, Nathaniel Doom & wife Theodosia to Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb dated 18 May 1846, $675 for 2 parcels on Poplar Ck., 521 ac. & 154 ac.; M:448-9, William B. Chandler & King Chandler to same dated 15 Jun 1846, $285 for 335 ac. on Cumberland River; M:417-8, Caleb C. Cobb to same dated 29 Jun 1846, $600 for 200 ac. on Flat Ck. and 250 ac. adjacent; N:476, Joshua Hammond to same dated 23 Sep 1848, $200 for 200 ac. on Cumberland River; and P:18-9, Frederic N. Harris to same dated 16 Feb 1850, $1000 for NE ½ of lot #34 in Eddyville.
  40. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , M:127-8, Edward T. Walkins, Commissioner in Chancery to Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb of the firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb dated 4 Feb 1845, $1500 for one equal half or moiety of lot #2 in the Donation part of Princeton in settlement of Caldwell Circuit Court order in suit to collect debt owed Cobb Bell & Co.; O:474-5, I. H. Rackerby, commissioner in chancery to R. L. & G. D. Cobb dated 23 Apr 1850, $180 for 150 ac. on Eddy Ck. in settlement of Caldwell Circuit Court order in suit by R. L. & G. D. Cobb to collect debt owed by James C. Church; and P:14-5, E. N. Owen, deputy Sheriff to Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb dated 10 Aug 1850, $575 for 2 tracts on Livingston Ck. 600 ac. and 200 ac. in settlement of writ obtained by Josiah Kennedy, former owner, against Caleb C. Cobb & Willis B. Machen.
  41. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , Q:102-3, Elijah G. Galusha to R. L. & G. D. Cobb dated 8 Sep 1852; and P:87-9, Elijah G. Galusha mortgage to R. L. & G. D. Cobb, merchants of Eddyville, dated 24 Aug 1850.
  42. [S826] Chittenden Lyon, letter to James Witherell, 5 Apr 1828, describes Galusha as "a poor farmer."
  43. [S838] Kentucky Secretary of State, Land Office, online, describes legislation enabling sale of warrents, and a search of the County Court Order Series for "Cobb" finds 10 grants for Robert, totalling 2987 acres, and 3 for Gideon, totalling 2968 acres.
  44. [S839] Kentucky Land Patents, County Court Order Series, Patent No. 1286, (Bk. 4, pg 160), warrent no. 23, dated 18 Apr 1837, surveyed 29 Jun 1837, granted 20 Sep 1839, 200 ac. on the ridge between Lick Creek and Bakers Hollow; No. 5065 (Bk. 11, pg 128), warrent no. 109, dated 1 May 1843, surveyed 8 May 1843, granted 26 Jul 1844, 150 ac. on Clifty Creek; No. 5066 (Bk. 11, pg 129), warrant no. 111, dated 11 Aug 1843, surveyed 15 Aug 1843, granted 26 Jul 1844, 100 ac. on Skinframe Creek; No. 5067 (Bk. 11, pg 130), warrant no. 103, dated 9 Jan 1843, surveyed 19 Jan 1843, granted 26 Jul 1844, 30 ac. on Crab Creek; No. 5363 (Bk. 11, pg 420), warrant no. 112, issued 4 Dec 1844 for his services in repairing the road from Eddyville to Smithland, surveyed 10 Jan 1844, granted 21 Nov 1844, 300 acres on Flat Creek; No. 5364 (Bk. 11, pg 421), warrant no. 112, dated 4 Dec 1843, surveyed 16 Jan 1844, granted 21 Nov 1844, 600 acres on Livingston Creek, a branch of the Cumberland River, the remainder of the grant for repairing the road; No. 6528 (Bk. 14, pg 109), warrant no. 62, dated 3 Nov 1840 (filed with patent no. 7041), surveyed 10 Dec 1840, granted 4 Jul 1845, 500 acres on Long Creek, a part of 800 acres bought by Elias Smith 3 Nov 1840, assigned to Robert 10 Dec 1844; and Patent No. 7717 (Bk. 16, pg 402), warrent no. 75, according to the index but not found, surveyed 21 Jan 1842, granted 3 Jul 1846, 100 acres on Cammack Creek, bought by William M. Etherage, assigned to Robert 18 Jan 1843.
  45. [S838] Kentucky Secretary of State, Land Office, online, record for Patent No. 17878, citing Bk. 34, pg 475, shows surveyed 4 Mar 1846, granted 8 Dec 1851, 1000 acres on the Cumberland River, jointly with William Mercer; and No. 21015, citing Bk. 38, pg 379, shows surveyed 2 Jul 1851, granted 1 Apr 1853, 7 acres on Skinframe Creek.
  46. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , N:391-2, Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb, merchants & partners in trade under the style & firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb, to Nelson Ellis & William H. Heath dated 17 Jan 1848, $1075 for two tracts on Eddy Ck., 37 ac. and 200 ac. including the mills; P:47-58, Robert L. Cobb, merchant, & wife Cornelia, & Gideon D. Cobb, merchant, doing business under the style and firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb, acting individually and as surviving partners of Cobb, Bell & Co. to William Kelly & John F. Kelly, iron masters, doing business under the style and firm of Kelly & Co., dated 12 Aug 1850, $20,000 for 37 parcels, including 100 ac. "on which Eddyville Furnace stands," other parcels identified as containing 7404½ acres, and seven parcels of unstated size; and P:19-20, same to same dated same, $2000 for 2 parcels in Crittenden Co. [apparently recorded in Caldwell Co. because the clerk obtained Cornelia's release of dower and certified it to Crittenden Co. to save her having to travel to that county]
  47. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , P:85-6, Robert L. Cobb & wife Cornelia, & Gideon D. Cobb to Willis B. Machen dated 20 Sep 1850; Q:310-1, R. L. & G. D. Cobb, surviving partners of Cobb, Bell & Co. to Noah Fulks dated 27 Sep 1852, $600 for 200 ac. on Tennessee River; and Robert L. Cobb & Gideon D. Cobb, late partners under firm of R. L. & G. D. Cobb, and Cornelia B. Cobb to Thomas J. Floumoy, surviving partner of Floumoy & Son dated 1 May 1856, $1560 for one moiety of lot#2 in donation part of Princeton.
  48. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , mortgages to R. L. Cobb & Co.: H:190-1 dated 8 Jun 1836, and H:212 dated 27 Jun 1836; to Cobb, Gray & Bell: H:412-3 dated 12 May 1837, H:498 dated 30 May 1837, H:502-3 dated 27 Jul 1837, I:30-1 dated 7 Apr 1838, I:32 dated 2 Jun 1838, and I:72-3 dated 23 Jun 1838; to Cobb, Bell & Co.: I:544 dated 18 Jul 1840, K:262 dated 2 Sep 1841, K:346 dated 17 Jan 1842, K:345-6 dated 17 Jan 1842, K:425-6 dated 16 May 1842, K:485-6 dated [blank day & month] 1842, K:488-9 dated 5 Aug 1842, K:604-5 dated 17 Jan 1843, L:49-50 dated 17 Jan 1843, L:8 21 dated Feb 1843, K:387-8 dated 17 Mar 1843, and L:448-9 dated 18 Dec 1844 [may be in error since other earlier mortgages are to "surviving partners"]; to surviving partners of Cobb Bell & Co.: L:84-5 dated 19 Jun 1843, L:108-9 dated 11 Aug 1843, L:201-2 dated 12 Dec 1843, L:399-400 dated 3 Oct 1844, M:211-2 dated 17 Sep 1845, N:246 dated 20 Aug 1847, N:463-4 dated 18 Sep 1848, and O:261-2 dated 20 Sep 1849; to R. L. & G. D. Cobb: M:284-5 dated 30 Dec 1845, M:380-1 dated 20 May 1846, M:410-1 dated 1 Jun 1846, M:424 dated 20 Jun 1846, M:434-6 dated 24 Jul 1846, N:4 dated 22 Aug 1846, N:7 dated 15 Sep 1846, N:15-16 dated 19 Sep 1846, N:158-9 dated 5 Mar 1847, N:183 dated 20 Apr 1847, N:267-8 dated 22 Sep 1847, N:333-4 dated 31 Jan 1848, N:420-1 dated 29 Jun 1848, N:446-7 dated 4 Sep 1848, N:478 dated 28 Sep 1848, O:119-20 dated 20 Mar 1849, O:127-8 dated 3 Apr 1849, O:261-2 dated 20 Sep 1849, P:87-9 dated 24 Aug 1850, P:29 dated 14 Sep 1850, P:250-1 dated 28 Apr 1851, P:332 dated 26 Sep 1851, P:517 dated 31 Jan 1852, P:614 dated 26 Aug 1852, and Q:34-5 dated 18 Oct 1852.
  49. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , K:387-8, Madison F. Dunn mortgage to R. L. Cobb, David R. Bell & Gideon D. Cobb trading under the firm & style of Cobb Bell & Co. dated 17 Mar 1843; and K:425-6, George M. Marshall mortgage to R. L. Cobb, D. R. Bell & G. D. Cobb of the firm of Cobb Bell & Co. dated 16 May 1842.
  50. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , G:451, John Hallick to same dated 13 Jan 1835, $1000 for lots #72 & 73 in Eddyville; H:183-3, Thales D. Morrison to same dated 24 Sep 1835, $250 for lot #35 in Eddyville; M:91-2, President & Directors of Cumberland College to same dated 8 Apr 1845, $300 for lot in Eddyville on Water St. near Franklin St., opposite #12; N:375-6, John Long & wife Maria to same dated 15 Apr 1848, $700 for lot in Eddyville, lower side of Water St.; O:97-8, Alex McCall & wife Rachael M. E. & Thomas Claiborne to same dated 22 Feb 1849, $300 lots #28 & 25 in Eddyville and lot on S. side of Water St.; and Q:253-4, Crittenden H. Boyd & wife Elizabeth Boyd to same dated 16 Apr 1853, $1000 for lot #3 in Eddyville.
  51. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , G:441-2, Thomas Hunter, Deputy Sherriff to Robert L Cobb dated 9 Jan 1835, $153 for120 ac. on Skinframe Ck., in settlement of a Circuit Court order in favor of John Gatewood against William Mosely, former owner, and others; M:128-9, Rezin H. J. Davidge, Commissioner in Chancery to same dated 7 Mar 1843, $1000 for parcel of land in settlement of suit before Caldwell Circuit Court brought by Cobb & Lyon; N:381-2, same to same dated 21 Oct 1847, $50 for 25 ac. to settle suit in Circuit Court to collect mortgage to Cobbs Gray & Bell; O:359-60, David Flournoy, Commissioner of Chancery to same dated 16 Oct 1849, $500 for      97 ac. on Eddy Ck. on both sides of road from Princeton to Eddyville, to settle suit brought in Circuit Court by Robert L. Cobb; P:344-5, W. B. Machen, Commissioner of Chancery, replacing M. Gracey now dec'd to same dated 20 Sep 1851, $480 for interest of John Long in that part of lot in Eddyville not previously sold by Long to Robert L. Cobb & Robt Love, in settlement of suit brought in Circuit Court by H. Machen; P:452, B. J. Grubbs, Deputy Sheriff to same dated 9 Mar 1852, $25 for 100 ac. on Cumberland River, in settlement of writ issued by Caldwell Circuit Court in favor of Cobbs, Gray & Bell; Q:130-1, Frederick H. Skinner, commissioner in chancery to same dated 30 Jul 1852, $75 for lot #36 in Eddyville, in settlement of petition in Christian Circuit Court by Robert L. Cobb; Q:241-3, John H. Rackerby, commissioner in chancery to same dated 11 Feb 1853, $600 for 350 ac. on Cumberland River below & adjoining Eddyville, in settlement of suit brought in Caldwell Circuit Court by R. L. & D. G. Cobb; and Q:384-6, Edward P. Watkins, commissioner in chancery to same dated 11 Jul 1853, $2100 for lot in Eddyville fronting on the river adjacent to ware house formerly occupied by Cobbs, in settlement of suits brought in Caldwell Circuit Court by Planters Bank of Tennessee, Bank of Kentucky, and others.
  52. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , G:349-50, Thomas Rucker to Robert L. Cobb dated 7 May 1834, $214 for 71 ac. on Eddy Ck.; H:246-7, Cyrus Broadwell & wife Virginia to same dated 17 May 1836, $400 for 97 ac. on both sides of road from Eddyville to Princeton; I:70-1, Samuel Campbell to same dated 1 Sep 1836, $369 for 125 ac. on Skinframe Ck.; L:156-7, Charles Jones to same dated 20 Jul 1840, $200 for parcel on Davenport Ck. on the road from Eddyville to Marshall's ferry; L:9-10, Martin A. Rucker to same dated 27 Feb 1843, $900 for 1/5 part of real & personal estate of Robert Harris decd. and life estate of Mrs. Mary Cartwright in land of Harris, 200 ac., and her life estate in Harris' Negroes; M:276-8, Justenian Thrumond, Nepoliean B Thurmond, James L Thurmond, Philip Thurmond, Samuel B. Bennett, Rhoda I Thurmond & Judy Stevens to same dated 20 Nov 1843, 149 ac. on Trade River; L:227-8, Thomas M. Catlett to same dated 20 Jan 1844, $6000 for 386 ac. on Livingston Ck.,10 ac. with water grist & saw mill, & 13 ac.; L:227, John Hallick to same dated 26 Jan 1844, $500 for260 ac. on Lick Ck.; M:96-8, William Henry & wife Cornelia V. to same dated 7 Apr 1845, $200 for 200 ac. on Cumberland River; M:81-2, Edward N. Owen to same dated 8 Apr 1845, $25 for 35 ac. on Livingston Ck.; M:212, Lewis Harrell to same dated 19 Sep 1845, $15 for     an undivided 5th interest in 100 ac. and 44 ac.; M:340-2, James T. Moore & wife Sarah C. to same dated 5 Jan 1846, $1500 for 900 ac. on Cumberland River near Eddyville; M:455-6, George G. Cash & wife Margaret E. to same dated 26 Jan 1846, $150 for his interest in 2 tracts on Eddy Ck., one 44 ac.; M:433, Trustees of Kentucky Baptist Education Society to R. L. Cobb dated 17 Mar 1846, $1200 for all the remaining unsold land donated by State of Kentucky to the Rittenhouse Academy formerly located in this place, 1200 ac. after deducting parcels sold & interference of O'Bannan claim; and N:150-1, James H. Holloway & wife Jinsey to Robert L. Cobb dated 8 Apr 1847, $350 for 125 ac. on Eddy Ck.
  53. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , H:166-7, Robert L. Cobb to John Kindrick dated 16 May 1836, $300 for lot# 46 in Prince's Addition, Princeton; H:576-7, Robert L. Cobb & wife Cornelia B. to James Blue dated 17 Nov 1837,     $300 for 125 ac.; I:57, Robert L. Cobb to William O'Hara dated 7 Dec 1837, $300 for lot #35 in Eddyville; K:524-5, same to Ruben R. Bush dated 28 Jun 1842, $1000 for lots #72 & 73 in Eddyville; L:103-4, same to John Kendrick dated 5 Aug 1843, $525 for 125 ac. on head waters of Skinframe Ck.; M:381-3, same to John F. Bennett dated 18 Mar 1846, $3500 for 386 ac. on Livingston Ck.; N:288-9, Robert L. Cobb to Robert Love dated 20 Jan 1847, $200 for 200 ac. on ridge between Lick Ck. & Bakers Hollow; O:61-2, Robt. L. Cobb to William Stubbs dated 12 Apr 1848, $475 for 160 ac. on Lick Ck.; N:373, Robt. L. Cobb & wife Corenlia B. to Archibald Hunter dated 15 Apr 1848, $350 for lot lower side of Water St. in Eddyville; O:21-2, Robert L. Cobb to James H. McChesney dated 21 Nov 1848, $400 for 3 tracts on Tradewater River, 149 ac., 13 ac. and 20 ac.; Q :46-7, same to Jacob Boone dated 12 Jun 1852, $550 for tract in Eddyville with 1 story frame house, on Water St.; Q:188-9, same to      Miriam G. Young, Dicey H. Young, George C. Young, William J. Young, Ceclia Maria Young, Nancy J. Young, & Louisa V. Young dated 17 Jun 1852, $1500 for 200 ac. on Livingston Ck.; Q:360-1, same to Samuel Garrett & John Garrett dated 2 Mar 1853, $600 for 97 ac. on Eddy Ck., on both sides of the turnpike between Eddyville & Princeton; R:281-2, Robert L. Cobb & Cornelia B. Cobb to Needham C. Gray dated 16 Apr 1853, $250 for 125 ac. on Eddy Ck.
  54. [S1975] Caldwell Co. Deeds , Q:384-6, Edward P. Watkins, commissioner in chancery to Robert L. Cobb dated 11 Jul 1853, shows subject lot fronted on NE by ware house formerly occupied by Cobbs.
  55. [S1977] Irvin S. Cobb, Exit Laughing, pg 24, says the rambling brick building enlarged by the heirs of Gideon Sr. spraddled ove an acre, much larger than the 40x80 building erected on the lower side of Water St.
  56. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as retired merchant.
  57. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  58. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, appearing to be parent and child.
  59. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, shows them in same household, appearing to be parent and child.
  60. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows him in the household of Robert L. and Cornelia, apparently as their son.
  61. [S1950] J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin, Kentucky - A History of the State, pg 291.
  62. [S2087] Henry Cobb grave marker, Eddyville, shows son of R. L. & C. B. Cobb.
  63. [S2086] Sarah T. Cobb grave marker, Eddyville, shows daughter of R. L. & C. B. Cobb.
  64. [S2085] Gideon D. Cobb grave marker, Eddyville, shows son of R. L. & C. B. Cobb.
  65. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows her in the household of Robert L. and Cornelia, apparently as their daughter.

 

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