Robert Cobb Jr.1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 14678, (1866 - 1913)
FatherMaj. Robert H. Cobb3,4,5 (May 1836 - 20 Jul 1914)
MotherSarah Virginia Walker3,5,6 (31 Oct 1844 - 12 Jul 1927)

Key Events:

Birth: 6 Jun 1866, Mississippi7,8,9,10
Marriage: 7 Sep 1901, Lawton, Comanche Co., Oklahoma Territory, Nettie Kessinger (26 Jul 1875 - 14 Nov 1943)11,12
Death: 9 Apr 1913, 2110 10th St., Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas13,14
Burial: 10 Apr 1913, Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas15,16
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont
The Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Robert Cobb Jr. was born on 6 Jun 1866 in Mississippi very possibly in Aberdeen, Monroe Co.7,8,9,10
     He moved to Paducah, Kentucky, about 1870 with his parents. He appeared with his parents on the 1870 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, in the household of Robert Livingston Cobb and Cornelia Barbour Mims, his father's parents.17 He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents, Maj. Robert H. Cobb and Virginia Walker.18
     He moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1884 with his parents.4 He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas, in the household of his parents, Maj. Robert H. Cobb and Virginia Walker.19
     He was like his father a lawyer.20,21,22

Moving to Indian Territory --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Robert apparently moved shortly afterwards to the newly established town of Lawton, Comanche Co., Indian Territory. The town was formed from part of the lands taken from the Indians by proclamation of President William McKinley. The initial town lots were sold at auction, beginning 6 Aug 1901. A tent city had grown up in anticipation of the auction, and banks, saloons, stores and other service industries sprang up overnight. Presumably Robert was there to take part as he was married there in September of that year.23,24
     Robert married Nettie Kessinger, daughter of Catherine Christinna Kessinger, on 7 Sep 1901 in Lawton, Comanche Co., Oklahoma Territory, with probate judge Warren H. Brown officiating.11,12
     After their marriage Robert and Nettie moved over 200 miles northeast to Claremore, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. While living there, "on or about" 27 Oct 1906, Nettie left Robert, according to his divorce filing.25
     Robert returned to Wichita Falls but just when is not clear. There is a Robert Cobb Jr. listed as one of four roomers on the 1910 Federal Census of Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas, at 717 Indiana St., enumerated 21 Apr 1910, who would appear to be this Robert. If so, the information seems badly confused, which is not uncommon for listings of roomers and boarders, as the information was often provided by a landlady or other person who didn't know the tenants well. In this case it is not even clear from the record who the operator of the rooming house was. Robert's age is listed as 35 when it should have been 43, his birthplace is shown as Texas instead of Mississippi, his father's is correct but his mother's is shown as Tennessee instead of Mississippi. His occupation is shown as grocery salesman, when he is known to have been an attorney. But his younger brother, and his brother-in-law both worked in the wholesale grocery business, so Robert may have worked in that business too for a time, or perhaps his landlady confused their occupation with his.26

A Vain Effort to Divorce --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Robert filed for divorce from Jeanette on 27 Mar 1911 before the Wichita Co., Texas, district court, stating that he believed she was living in Pike Co. or Calhoun Co., Illinois, or St. Louis Co., Missouri. Unknown to him, she had already remarried.27,28 The case was called on 5 Dec 1911 but no order was passed.29 The case was again on the court's docket the following December, but was apparently not finalized then either, as the case was dismissed 3 Jun 1913 because of Robert's death.30,31

A Fatal Bar Fight --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Robert was involved in a fight with Sam Carter, a 22-year-old chauffeur, at the Gem Bar in Wichita Falls on 31 Mar 1913. His face was badly discolored and his nose was broken, according to reports. He died nine days later, with the doctor reporting that "It is possible that injures received upon head and face... contributed to death."32,33,34 Carter was charged with murder for his death, but was acquitted by a jury on 29 Jan 1914 after a brief trial. He was arrested less than a month later for assault on another man, and was again found not guilty. Three years later he died of a gunshot wound.35,36,37
     Robert died on 9 Apr 1913 in 2110 10th St., Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas, the home of his father, at age 46.13,14 He was buried on 10 Apr 1913 in Riverside Cemetery, Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., Texas.15,16

Children:
     Children with Jeanette P. Kessinger:

Robert said in his divorce filing that there was no issue from his marriage to Nettie. But in the 1910 census she reported having had four children, with one living. That would appear to be Verna, who was living with her. Were the others by other fathers, or had she and Robert had children who had not survived?38,39

Citations

  1. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows name as Robert Cobb.
  2. [S1668] Robert Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows name as Robert Cobb.
  3. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death.
  4. [S3018] "Major Robert Cobb Dies," The Dallas Morning News, 21 Jul 1914.
  5. [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.
  6. [S1668] Robert Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows him as the son of her husband.
  7. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows date and state.
  8. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows month, year, age 33 and state.
  9. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows age 4 and state.
  10. [S3171] Robert Cobb Jr. and Nettie P. Brown, Marriage Record, shows age 35, town, and state, as Aberdeen, MO; the state is perhaps a clerical error, as Aberdeen Mississippi is in Monroe Co., where his parents were married.
  11. [S3171] Robert Cobb Jr. and Nettie P. Brown, Marriage Record, shows date, town, county, territory and officiant.
  12. [S3119] Cobb v. Cobb, Wichita District Court, District Clerk, petition, shows they were married "on or about " 11 Sep 1901, county, and state, as Oklahoma, but Oklahoma did not become state until 1907.
  13. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows date and place.
  14. [S3115] "Robert Cobb, Jr. Died this A. M.," Wichita Daily Times, 9 May 1913, shows he died "this morning" at his father's home.
  15. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows date and cemetery.
  16. [S949] Cobb - Thorburn tombstone, Riverside Cemetery.
  17. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  18. [S1668] Robert Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  19. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas.
  20. [S948] Robt. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas, shows occupation as lawyer.
  21. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows occupation as "atty at law."
  22. [S3115] "Robert Cobb, Jr. Died this A. M.," Wichita Daily Times, 9 May 1913, shows he had been engaged in the practice of law in Wichita for several years.
  23. [S3171] Robert Cobb Jr. and Nettie P. Brown, Marriage Record, shows his residence as Lawton.
  24. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "History of Lawton, Oklahoma," viewed 12 Jan 2011.
  25. [S3119] Cobb v. Cobb, Wichita District Court, District Clerk, petition, shows they were living there when she left him, and date.
  26. [S3117] Robert Cobb Jr. entry, 1910 U.S. Census, Wichita Co., Texas.
  27. [S3119] Cobb v. Cobb, Wichita District Court, District Clerk, docket record, shows filing date; petition.
  28. [S3120] William A. Waggoner household, 1910 U.S. Census, Pike Co., Illinois, shows her married to Waggoner, a year earlier.
  29. [S3114] "District Court Docket Called," Wichita Weekly Times, 8 Dec 1911, shows Robert Cobb Jr. vs Nettie P. Cobb, divorce, was called on Tuesday [5 Dec 1911] and no order passed.
  30. [S3113] "District Court Docket," Wichita Daily Times, 1 Dec 1912, shows docket no. 4064 Robert Cobb Jr. vs Nettie P. Cobb, divorce to be heard in the session opening the following day.
  31. [S3119] Cobb v. Cobb, Wichita District Court, District Clerk, docket record, shows notation of dismissal.
  32. [S3115] "Robert Cobb, Jr. Died this A. M.," Wichita Daily Times, 9 May 1913, shows name and age of assailant, and assualt was "on Wednesday of last week" [2 Apr].
  33. [S3108] Coley, How Did They Die?- Murders in Northern Texas, pg 86, shows place, name, age and occupation of assailant.
  34. [S1270] Robert Cobb, Jr., Standard Certificate of Death, shows date of injuries, as 31 Mar, and possible cause of death.
  35. [S3115] "Robert Cobb, Jr. Died this A. M.," Wichita Daily Times, 9 May 1913, shows Carter was charged with murder.
  36. [S3105] "Acquitted of Murder," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan 1914, shows acquittal.
  37. [S3108] Coley, How Did They Die?- Murders in Northern Texas, pg 86, shows Carter charged with murder, aqcuitted, and later charges an death.
  38. [S3119] Cobb v. Cobb, Wichita District Court, District Clerk, petition, shows "there is no issue from said marriage."
  39. [S3129] Addie Waggoner household, 1920 U.S. Census, Pike Co., Illinois, shows Nettie had 4 children, with one living.