Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb

Narrative:

     Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb was born on 23 Jun 1876 in Paducah, Kentucky.^8,9,10
     Irvin appeared with his parents, Joshua Clark Cobb and Manie Saunders, on the 1880 Federal Census of in Paducah, McCracken Co., in the household of Dr. Reuben Saunders, his mother's father.¹⁹
     Irvin attended public schools for the most part. From 1886 to 1888 he attended a private school run by Dr. Lewis Schuck, the minister of the First Baptist Church. In 1890 he was enrolled in a private school run by William A. Cade in the suburb of Arcadia.²⁰
     Irvin's father's eyesight grew much worse from his war injuries, and in early 1892 the steamboat company he worked for changed hands and he was fired. The family's plans for Irvin to go to military school were abandoned when he had to go to work to support the family.^21,22 He was became an apprentice reporter for the Paducah Evening News. He became managing editor four years later, in 1896. He later worked for the Louisville Evening Post, and as a reporter there developed a reputation as a trial reporter. He returned to Paducah in 1901 and worked at the Paducah Democrat until 1904, when he left for New York City in Paducah, Kentucky.^23,24
     His father died on 22 Dec 1895, when Irvin was 19 years old.^10,25
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Paducah, Kentucky in the household of his mother, Manie Saunders.⁷
     Irvin married Laura Spencer Baker, daughter of Marcus Stephen Baker and Fannie Krenson, on 12 Jun 1900 at her parents home, 236 Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, with Rev. Bascom Anthony, paster of Trinity Methodist Church, officiating.^11,12,13
     Irvin and Laura settled in New York after their marriage.²⁶
     He later worked in New York for the Evening Sun and the Evening Herald. His reputation as a humorist and reporter grew until he was widely syndicated throughout the United States. He also wrote fiction, most of which focuses on his Kentucky childhood. Many of his stories were published in the Saturday Evening Post. He was hired by the New York Post and went to Europe in 1914 to cover World War I. He and four friends were captured by the Germans and later released. An illness interrupted his plans to return to Europe, and led to his best-seller, Speaking of Operations, published in 1915.^{23,27,28,29,30,31}
     Irvin and Laura appeared on the 1905 State Census of 346 West 57th St., Manhattan, New York Co., New York, as boarders in the household of Amelia Scott and her daughter. There were seven other boarders listed in the household, including one other couple with their daughter. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them.³²
     Irvin and Laura appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York, at 21 Edgecliff Terrace, enumerated 1910, reporting they owned their home. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them.³³
     He was a friend and supporter of President Woodrow Wilson and as such reluctantly supported the U.S. involvement in World War I. He again worked for the Post in Europe in 1917 and 1918, this time reporting on the state of the American soldiers there. He was the most popular source of war information in the country. He reported so favorably about the black American soldiers that he became a hero among black Americans, a group of which honored him in Paducah in December 1918. He made a speech at Carnegie Hall in 1918 with Theodore Roosevelt in support of relief for black soldiers.
     In 1923 he left the Post for Cosmopolitan and there published more fiction and humorous essays. He sold several scripts to Hollywood in the 1920s. He and his family moved to California in 1934 so he could advise his friend Will Rogers on a movie, Judge Priest, based on Cobb's fiction. Cobb was Master of Ceremonies for the 1935 Academy Awards and played the Mississippi riverboat captain in the 1935 film "Steamboat Round the Bend." He appeared in five other movies and in 1936 had his own radio show called, "Paducah Plantation."²³
     Irvin registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Ossing, Westminster Co., New York, reporting he was employed as a writer, in New Castle, New York.²
     Irvin and Laura appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Ossing, Westminster Co., New York, enumerated 6 Feb 1920, reporting that the family owned its home, mortgage free. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them.³⁴
     Irvin and Laura appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of New York City, New York, at 830 Park Ave., enumerated 17 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned an apartment valued at $30,000, and owned a radio. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them, as were two maids, a 24-year-old from Ireland and a 37-year-old from Germany.³⁵ Irvin and Laura also appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of East Hampton, Suffolk Co., New York, enumerated 21 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home valued at $90,000, and owned a radio. Their daughter Elizabeth was listed as living with them.³⁶
     Irvin was named an heir in the will of his sister Reubie dated 9 Aug 1933, to receive her large gilt mirror, marble top mahogany table, and large antique chair.³⁷
     Irvin and Laura appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 1717 La Mesa Dr., enumerated 30 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $40,000, and had lived in the same city in 1935. Also listed as living with them were their eight-year-old grandson and Melissa Morgan, a maid.³⁸
     Irvin left a will dated 24 Dec 1943, in which he left his wife for her lifetime the income from five-sixths of his estate, after specific bequests. At her death the income, and $25,000, was to go to his daugher Elizabeth. At her death the principal was to go to her children. He left the income of one-sixth of the estate to his sister Manie, for her lifetime. If she died before his wife, she was to also receive this income. In either case, it was also to go to his daughter and her children. He left nothing to his brother John, saying he had already provided for him over many years. He left his books, including copies of his own published books, to the Carnegie Public Library in Paducah. He left $100 each to Mattie Copeland, the family cook, and to Olive Green Sullivan, his former secretary.^39,40
     Irvin died on 10 Mar 1944 at his residence, the Hotel Sheraton, 37th St. and Lexington Ave., Manhattan, New York, at age 67.^14,15,16 He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky, under a granite boulder inscribed "Back Home."^17,18
     His will was probated on 17 Mar 1944 in New York.⁴¹