Oscar Cobb1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 9453, (1816 - 1911)
FatherDr. John Cobb4,5,6 (25 Jul 1789 - 6 May 1832)
MotherSarah Robbins5,7,8 (1 Sep 1789 - 27 Jul 1844)

Key Events:

Birth: 8 Oct 1816, Ludlow, Windsor Co., Vermont9,10,11
Marriage: 1856, Charlotte Callender Wilcox (23 Jan 1833 - 12 Apr 1867)12,13,14
Marriage: 1869, Martha H. Warner (Dec 1836 - 9 Apr 1919)15,16,17,12
Death: 10 Oct 1911, 307 Potomac Ave., Buffalo, New York18,19,10
Burial: Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie Co., New York20,21
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Oscar Cobb was born on 8 Oct 1816 in Ludlow, Windsor Co., Vermont.9,10,11 He and his brother Carlos were baptized on 23 Aug 1818 in Ogden Presbyterian Church, Ogden, New York.22
     He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Dr. John Cobb, in the 1820 Federal Census of Ogden, Genesee Co., New York.23 He was probably the male age 10 to 15 listed in the household of his father, Dr. John Cobb, in the 1830 Federal Census of Ogden, Monroe Co., New York.24
     He attended the Monroe Institute in 1831 in Rochester.25
Ad for Oscar Cobb's drug store in St. Louis
Sangamo Journal, 7 Jun 183926

     His father died on 6 May 1832, when Oscar was about 15 years old.27,28,29
     Oscar was school teacher in 1832-3. He stopped teaching because of ill health. He then opened a drug store and chemical business in Rochester, which he operated until 1837.30,31

Moving West --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Oscar moved to St. Louis, Missouri, about 1838, where he opened a similar business, at 57 Front St. In addition to drugs of the day and patent medicines, he offered paints and painter's supplies, cigars, and wines.32,33
     An association called the St. Louis Lyceum was formed in St. Louis "for the intellectual improvement of its members in literature science and the arts through the medium of lectures, debates and other literary exercises" with the intent of collecting a library and procuring a suitable building. On 13 Feb 1839 the Missouri General Assembly passed an act authorizing the incorporation of the association. The act named Oscar as one of the twelve initial trustees of the corporation.34
     About 4:00 am on 31 Oct 1839 a fire broke out in a four story stone building near Oscar's store. The fire spread rapidly, consuming that building and several others, including a large warehouse, Oscar's drug store, two wholesale grocers, and several grocery stores and coffee houses. Fire fighters were hampered by two large explosions, variously attributed to gunpowder and high-proof alcohol. One of the damaged buildings toppled on men trying to remove goods from the path of the fire, killing four or five. It was called one the most destructive fires ever in the city.35

Return to New York --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Again losing his health, he retired to the New York lake country in 1844.7
     He and his brother Carlos were engaged by the Upper Canada Co. to explore the north shore of Lake Superior and locate mines in 1845-46.36,37
     He joined Carlos in the produce commission business in Buffalo in 1847, operating under the name of Cobb & Co. Taking advantage of the confluence there of lake shipping and the Erie Canal, they established their business at 23 Central Wharf in Buffalo. The wharf was the center of the grain trade in Buffalo at the time.38,39,40,41,42,43 Oscar continued in that business in Buffalo after his brother moved to New York in 1862.44,45
     Oscar appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, enumerated 13 Sep 1850, in a boarding house operated by Joseph Guild and his family. In addition to Guild, his wife, and their five children there were there were 41 other boarders, including a few couples but mostly single people, mostly men and some women.1
     Oscar continued his involvement with civic and charitable organizations in Buffalo. The city had one of the earlier Young Men's Christian Associations in the United States, and Oscar served as a member of its board and an officer for a time. In 1854 the Buffalo and Washington Associations decided to organize a meeting of the 26 units then in existence in various cities with the objective of creating a national organization. Oscar, as Corresponding Secretary, was charged with gaining agreement with gaining their agreement to meet. Representatives from 19 cities did meet in Buffalo on 7 Jun 1854 and did agree to form a national confederation.46,47
     He was for many year a trustee of the Buffalo Orphan asylum, an active menber of the Charity Organization society, a member of the Historical Society, and a director of the City Despensary. He was a trustee of the Centray Presbyterian Church and an elder for more than 50 years.4
     Oscar appeared on the 1855 State Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, enumerated 23 Jun 1855, in a hotel operated by F. L. Brown and his wife, along with 86 other permanent guests. There were more men than women, mostly single with a few couples or small families.48

Establishing a Family --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Oscar married first Charlotte Callender Wilcox, daughter of Birdsey Wilcox and Lydia Ann Callender, in 1856.12,13,14
     Oscar and Charlotte appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, enumerated 27 Jul 1860, reporting real estate valued at $15,000 and personal estate of $600. Their daughter Julia was listed as living with them, as was Mary Tobin a 24-year-old Irish servant.49
     Oscar and Charlotte appeared on the 1865 State Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, enumerated 17 Jun 1865, reporting they lived in a wood house valued at $6,000. Their children Julia, Jennie, John and Charlotte were listed as living with them, as were her mother and Bridget Conue, a 20-year-old Irish servant.50
     His wife died on 12 Apr 1867 in Buffalo, New York.51,52
     Oscar married second Martha H. Warner, daughter of Orson Warner and Lousia Denison, in 1869.15,16,17,12
Ocar Cobb
from Fifty Years of the YMCA of Buffalo53

     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, enumerated 1 Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $60,000 and personal estate of $30,000. Their daughter Martha and his children by his prior marriage, Julia, Jennie, John, Charlotte and Mary, were listed as living with them, as were Mary Salmon and Sarah Edwards, domestic servants.54
     He retired in 1873, but became a real estate broker for a time after 1900.55,56,57,58,59,60
     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1875 State Census of Buffalo, Livingston Co., New York, enumerated 11 Jun 1875, reporting they lived in a frame house valued at $12,000. His children Julia, Jennie, John, Charlotte and Mary were listed as living with them, as was Sarah Cassidy, a 22-year-old Canadian servant.61
     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, at 37 Church St., enumerated 7 Jun 1880. Their son Carloscar and his children Julia, Jennie, John, Charlotte and Mary was listed as living with them, as was Lizzie Hobbs, a 30-year-old Canadian servant.62
     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, at 37 Church St., enumerated 9 Jun 1900, reporting they owned their home, free of mortgage. His children Jennie and John were listed as living with them, as was John's daughter, Mary, and an 18-year-old female servant listed only as McCormick.63
     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1905 State Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, at 37 Church St.. Their son Carloscar and Oscar's children Jennie and John was listed as living with them, as was John's daughter, Mary.64
     Oscar and Martha appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, at 37 Church St., enumerated 25 Apr 1910, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. His daughter Jennie was listed as living with them.65
     Oscar died on 10 Oct 1911 in 307 Potomac Ave., Buffalo, New York, at age 95, at his home.18,19,10 He was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie Co., New York, in his own lot, between his two wives.20,21

Children:
     Children with Charlotte Callender Wilcox:

  • Lydia A. Cobb66,67 ( - May 1857)
  • Julia Ida Cobb68,50,7 (1858 - 14 Oct 1945)
  • Jennie Sarah Cobb50,69,7 (abt 27 Oct 1860 - 19 Sep 1954)
  • John Callender Cobb50,70,7 (abt 19 Sep 1862 - 23 May 1955)
  • Charlotte Wilcox Cobb50,71,7 (abt 18 Aug 1864 - 1 Aug 1951)
  • Mary Emily Cobb72,73,7 (1867 - 28 Apr 1947)

Children:
     Children with Martha H. Warner:

  • Martha Louise Cobb72,74,7 (19 Mar 1870 - 7 Apr 1875)
  • Carloscar Warner Cobb62,64,7 (1879 - 1933)

Citations

  1. [S2752] Joseph Guild household, 1850 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  2. [S7718] Forest Lawn Cemetery, death registers, bk F, tab C, pg 12, Oscar Cobb.
  3. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75027610, Oscar Cobb, includes tombstone photo showing same.
  4. [S7806] Cobb obituary, The Buffalo Courier.
  5. [S863] Cobb, History of the Cobb Family, pg 185.
  6. [S7750] Hughes, American Ancestry, XI:65.
  7. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46.
  8. [S3256] Lautz application, The Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
  9. [S7806] Cobb obituary, The Buffalo Courier, shows date, town, and state.
  10. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75027610, Oscar Cobb, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  11. [S7718] Forest Lawn Cemetery, death registers, bk F, tab C, pg 12, Oscar Cobb, shows age 95 yrs 2 days at death 10 Oct 1911, town, and state.
  12. [S7806] Cobb obituary, The Buffalo Courier, shows year.
  13. [S863] Cobb, History of the Cobb Family, pg 185, shows year.
  14. [S7728] Oscar Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  15. [S7734] Oscar Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  16. [S7735] Oscar Cobb household, 1875 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9, shows married.
  17. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows year.
  18. [S7806] Cobb obituary, The Buffalo Courier, shows yesterday, at family home and address.
  19. [S7718] Forest Lawn Cemetery, death registers, bk F, tab C, pg 12, Oscar Cobb, shows date and city.
  20. [S7723] Forest Lawn Cemetery, lot registers, sec. 3, lot S.E.Pt., Oscar Cobb.
  21. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75027610, Oscar Cobb, includes tombstone photo.
  22. [S7683] , "Ogden Presbyterian Church."
  23. [S2450] John Cobb household, 1820 U.S. Census, Genesee Co., New York.
  24. [S2451] John Cobb household, 1830 U.S. Census, Monroe Co., New York.
  25. [S7750] Hughes, American Ancestry, XI:64.
  26. [S7751] Advertisement, Sangamo Journal, 7 Jun 1839.
  27. [S7683] , "Marriages and Deaths from Rochester Newspapers, Jan. 1, 1832 - June 30, 1832," 16 May 1832 Rochester Daily Advertiser, 22 May issue of Anti-Masonic Enquirer and Rochester Republican all show date, as 9th, and "after a few days illness." Rochester Observer 16 May issue shows 3rd (may be a transcription error) and May 23 issue shows date as 8th. "Pioneer Cemetery," copied from July 1934 tombstone reading by the Irondequoit Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, shows date as 8th.
  28. [S863] Cobb, History of the Cobb Family, pg 185, shows date, as 6th ,town, and state.
  29. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 45, shows year, town, county, state, and cause of death as "from infected poison of a patient."
  30. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows taught 1832-3, ill health, opened drug store in Rochester.
  31. [S7750] Hughes, American Ancestry, XI:64, shows taugh 1832, drug and chemical business in Rochester until 1837.
  32. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows he opened as a drug merchant in 1838.
  33. [S7751] Advertisement, Sangamo Journal, 7 Jun 1839, shows address and items for sale.
  34. [S7753] Laws of the State of Missouri, 1838, pg 246.
  35. [S7752] "Destructive Fire and Loss of Life," The Daily Cleveland Herald, 10 Sep 1839.
  36. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows Carlos explored for Upper Canada Co. to locate mines in 1848, Oscar accompanied his brother to Lake Superior in 1847.
  37. [S7725] Wilson, Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, I:666, shows his interest in geology and engaged by Canadian government as geologist to survey northern shore of Lake Superior in 1845-6.
  38. [S7755] The Commercial Advertiser Directory of Buffalo, 1852, pg 148, show Cobb & Co. commission merchants and address, both Carlos and Oscar as working for that firm.
  39. [S7725] Wilson, Appletons' Cyclopedia of American Biography, I:666, shows Carlos entered the produce commission business in 1847, and wrote tax bill.
  40. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows Carlos was in business with his brother in 1848, and Oscar joined his brother in business as Cobb & Co. in 1847.
  41. [S7750] Hughes, American Ancestry, XI:64, shows Oscar was a grain and flour merchant in Buffalo.
  42. [S7715] Carlos Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows occupation as commission merchant.
  43. [S2752] Joseph Guild household, 1850 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows Oscar's occupation as commercial merchant.
  44. [S7733] Oscar Cobb household, 1865 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9, shows occupation as merchant.
  45. [S7734] Oscar Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows occupation as com. merchant.
  46. [S7754] Sickels, Fifty Years of the Young Men's Christian Association of Buffalo, pp 27-9.
  47. [S7750] Hughes, American Ancestry, XI:64, shows he identified with several institutions.
  48. [S7727] F. L Brown household, 1855 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9.
  49. [S7728] Oscar Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  50. [S7733] Oscar Cobb household, 1865 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9.
  51. [S7718] Forest Lawn Cemetery, death registers, bk B, tab C, pg 2, Mrs. Charlotte Cobb, shows date and city.
  52. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75027970, Charlotte Wilcox Cobb, shows date as unknown and includes tombstone photo showing date as 12[?] Apr 1867.
  53. [S7754] Sickels, Fifty Years of the Young Men's Christian Association of Buffalo, pg 14.
  54. [S7734] Oscar Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  55. [S2607] Cleveland and Cleveland, Genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland Families, vol 1 pg 46, shows retired in 1873.
  56. [S7806] Cobb obituary, The Buffalo Courier, shows retired in 1871 and occupied his time with real estate and intellectual pursuits.
  57. [S7736] Oscar Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows occupation as no business.
  58. [S7737] Oscar Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows occupation as retired.
  59. [S7738] Oscar Cobb household, 1905 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 20, shows occupation as real estate bro.
  60. [S7739] Oscar Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows occupation as own income.
  61. [S7735] Oscar Cobb household, 1875 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9.
  62. [S7736] Oscar Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  63. [S7737] Oscar Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  64. [S7738] Oscar Cobb household, 1905 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 20.
  65. [S7739] Oscar Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York.
  66. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75028028, Lydia Cobb, includes photo of tombstone with her Charlotte's name the child's as "Lydia A., their infant child."
  67. [S7723] Forest Lawn Cemetery, lot registers, sec. 3, lot S.E.Pt., Oscar Cobb, shows as infant, and in same grave as Charlotte.
  68. [S7728] Oscar Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  69. [S7726] Forest Lawn Cemetery, burial permit, Jennie S. Cobb, no. 9594, 21 Sep 1954.
  70. [S7726] Forest Lawn Cemetery, burial permit, John C. Cobb, no. 370, 26 May 1955.
  71. [S7726] Forest Lawn Cemetery, burial permit, Charlotte Cobb Lautz, no. 5714, 3 Aug 1951.
  72. [S7734] Oscar Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Erie Co., New York, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  73. [S7735] Oscar Cobb household, 1875 New York State Census, Erie Co., New York, Buffalo, ward 9, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  74. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 75027765, Martha Louise Cobb, includes tombstone photo showing her as daughter of Oscar & Martha H. Cobb.