James Alfred Cobb1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 16628, (1845 - 1927)
FatherJohn Cobb4,5,6 (10 Jun 1809 - 15 Jun 1895)
MotherMaria Caffyn7,8,4 (13 Jul 1816 - 19 Aug 1901)

Key Events:

Birth: 10 Aug 1845, Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana9,10,11
Marriage: 4 Nov 1869, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Martha Ella Trumbower (5 Dec 1848 - 21 Jun 1944)12,13,14
Death: 1 May 1927, Los Angeles, California15,16
Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles Co., California17
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     James Alfred Cobb was born on 10 Aug 1845 in Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana.9,10,11
     He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents, John Cobb and Maria Caffyn.18 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents.19

Off to War --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

James Alfred Cobb in the Civil War
photo courtesy Glenn Campbell

     James his cousin Jasper Cobb, and their second cousin Woodson D. Cobb, all enlisted on 24 May 1864 as Privates in the 134th Indiana Infantry Regiment, James in Company I , Jasper in Company B, and Woodson in Company C.20,21,22
     The regiment was one of eight making up Indiana's quota of "100 days' troops." They were used largely for guard duty and in garrisoning necessary points, relieving veteran troops for active field work in the important campaigns of 1864. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis in May, 1864, and left the state at once for Tennessee. Upon reaching Nashville they were assigned to railroad guard duty along the lines of the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama, and Memphis & Charleston railroads. They were kept constantly engaged in this work until the latter part of Aug., 1864, serving beyond the time for which they had enlisted, keeping Sherman's lines of communication open for the transportation of supplies to his army.23
     James and his cousin both mustered out 2 Sep 1864 in Indianapolis.24,25,26

Returning to Civilian Life --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     James married Martha Ella Trumbower, daughter of John P. Trumbower and Sarah Ann Patterson, on 4 Nov 1869 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio.12,13,14
     James and Martha appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana, in the household of his parents.27
     James and Martha appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Aurora, Dearborn Co., Indiana, enumerated 3 Jun 1880. Their children Jesse, Grace and John were listed as living with them, as was her brother, Edwin Trumbower, age 14.28
     He was a clerk in a chair factory, probably his father's, by 1870, and by 1880 had become a foreman.29,30 When Cobb's Iron and Nail Company filed articles of incorporation on 23 Aug 1881, James was named a director, along with his uncle, Oliver Perry Cobb, his brother Thomas, his cousin William, and three others.31,32,33
     By 1885, James, Thomas and their father were operating the huge chair factory of John Cobb & Co. in Aurora, as well as a branch factory in Butlerville, Indiana.34 In 1885 the company disposed of the sheet and bar mill and the right to use Cobb's patent process for manufacturing nails on 50 machines to another company. Both companies were then making 400 to 600 kegs of nails per day.35
     The firm of O. P. Cobb & Company fell into financial hardship, and the creditors forced it into receivership. The assignee reported that there were sufficient assets to pay creditors only if claims then in the courts against the Illinois Central Railroad and the claims against the Federal government for hay and barges destroyed by Union forces in the Civil War were collected. Otherwise creditors would receive only ten cents on the dollar. At a meeting in Aurora on 26 Jun 1888 Oliver convinced creditors to accept a plan to return the company to management in order to pursue those claims.36
     The court cases were not successful. The claim against the Federal Government was pursued in Congress, will little success. In Jun 1891, Oliver having died, P. W. Williams as surviving partner told creditors that the business was being closed. He said would pay their claims on a pro rata from available assets and distribute payments from the Federal claim, which he said totaled over $250,000, when they were collected.37
     James applied for an invalid pension based on his Civil War service on 9 Dec 1889, while living in Indiana. The pension was subsequently approved.38
     His mother left a will dated 3 Dec 1892 in which she left her property to his adopted sister, is sister-in-law, and his wife.6

Moving to California --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     James and Martha traveled over the western plains by covered wagon to Salt Lake City, Utah, with their three surviving childen. Their daughter Grace died there 13 Jan 1896.39,40
     They later moved on to California with their remaining two children.41 They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 1847 E. 2nd St., enumerated 8 Jun 1900, reporting that they were renting their home. Their children Jesse and John were listed as living with them.42
     After moving to Los Angles, James described his occupation as a capitalist. But by 1910 he had apparently suffered serious reverses; he was a sheet iron worker in a factory, working for wages.43,44
     James and Martha appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 432 So. State St., enumerated 21 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their home, free of mortgage. Listed as living with them was a lodger, Anna L. Williams, age 42.45
     James and Martha appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 432 State St., enumerated 8 Jan 1920, reporting that they owned their home, free of mortgage.46
     James died on 1 May 1927 in Los Angeles, California, at age 81, in an automobile accident.15,16 He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles Co., California.17

Children:
     Children with Martha Ella Trumbower:

  • Jesse Stanley Cobb7,28,42 (7 Aug 1870 - 18 Oct 1934)
  • Grace Alberta Cobb28,47 (27 Aug 1872 - 13 Jan 1896)
  • William Spencer Cobb7 (28 Oct 1874 - 22 Aug 1875)
  • John Walter Cobb28,42,48 (2 Apr 1880 - 12 Feb 1909)

Citations

  1. [S11304] Cobb, Civil War Pension Index, shows name as Cobb, Alfred (alias) Cobb, James A.
  2. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 288, shows name as James Alfred.
  3. [S1554] John Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows name as James A. Cobb.
  4. [S1554] John Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  5. [S1123] John Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  6. [S11338] Will Book, Dearborn Co., Indiana, 11:80-2, Maria Cobb will.
  7. [S1097] Campbell, "Descendants of Henry Cobb."
  8. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 288.
  9. [S1097] Campbell, "Descendants of Henry Cobb", shows date, with year as 1845, town, and state.
  10. [S4079] The William Crawford Memorial, pg 288, shows date, with year as 1845.
  11. [S1166] Kennedy, "Re: The Joshua Cobb Family," e-mail to author, 29 Jan 2007, shows year, as 1844.
  12. [S792] Restored Marriage Records, Hamilton Co. Probate Court, 1860-1869:, J. A. Cobb and Martha Trumbower, citing Cincinnati Volksblatt pg 4, shows date, as 7th.
  13. [S1124] John Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows them apparently living as husband and wife in his parent's household.
  14. [S11338] Will Book, Dearborn Co., Indiana, 11:80-2, Maria Cobb will, shows her as his wife.
  15. [S4443] "California Death Index, 1905-1939," Ancestry.com, record for James A. Cobb, shows date, county, and state.
  16. [S11310] Martha Ella Cobb obituary, Long Beach Press-Telegram, shows date, as 30th, city, and cause.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 155693059, James Alfred Cobb, includes plaque photo.
  18. [S1554] John Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana.
  19. [S1123] John Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana.
  20. [S1159] "American Civil War Soldiers," Ancestry.com, records for Alfred and Jasper Cobb of Dearborn County, Indiana, shows companys, regiment, enlistment date, as 24th, and muster out date and place.
  21. [S2732] Alfred Cobb, Civil War discharge paper, shows regiment and enlistment date, as 9th.
  22. [S11282] Cobb, Civil War Pension Index, shows Co. A & B, and regiment.
  23. [S1158] "U.S. American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866," Ancestry.com, record for 134th Infantry Regiment IN, shows history of the regiment, citing The Union Army, vol. 3, p. 186.
  24. [S1159] "American Civil War Soldiers," Ancestry.com, records for Alfred and Jasper Cobb of Dearborn County, Indiana, show muster out date and place.
  25. [S2732] Alfred Cobb, Civil War discharge paper, shows regiment, enlistment date, as 9th, discharge date and place.
  26. [S1098] Campbell,[no subject] e-mail to author, 14 Feb 2006, states that he has James' discharge papers.
  27. [S1124] John Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana.
  28. [S1550] James A. Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana.
  29. [S1124] John Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows occupation as clerk in a chair factory.
  30. [S1550] James A. Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Dearborn Co., Indiana, shows occupation as foreman- chair factory.
  31. [S2277] "Local Brevities," The Indianapolis Sentinel, 24 Aug 1881, shows the firm incorporated "yesterday" and shows directors.
  32. [S2289] "Aurora Iron and Nail Company," The Daily Inter Ocean, 24 Aug 1881, shows articles filed "to-day," directors, that Aurora Iron and Nail Company which went into bankruptcy "about four months ago," the suit against Oliver Cobb and others, and that it was still pending.
  33. [S2276] History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, pp 346-7, describes merger.
  34. [S2276] History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, pp 344-5.
  35. [S2276] History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, pp 346-7.
  36. [S11343] O. P. Cobb letter to creditors, 28 Jun 1888.
  37. [S11344] Statement to the Creditors of O. P. Cobb & Co., Aurora, Indiana, Jun 1891.
  38. [S11304] Cobb, Civil War Pension Index, shows date, state, applicaition and certificate numbers.
  39. [S11310] Martha Ella Cobb obituary, Long Beach Press-Telegram, shows travel by covered wagon.
  40. [S8380] Death Register, Salt Lake Co., Utah, 1895-1908:22, Grace A. Cobb, shows date, city, county, and state.
  41. [S11310] Martha Ella Cobb obituary, Long Beach Press-Telegram, shows they later resided in Los Angeles after 1902.
  42. [S1128] James A. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  43. [S1128] James A. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as capitalist.
  44. [S1129] James A. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as sheet iron worker, in a factory, and was working for wages.
  45. [S1129] James A. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  46. [S1130] James A. Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  47. [S8380] Death Register, Salt Lake Co., Utah, 1895-1908:22, line 831, Grace A. Cobb.
  48. [S11305] John Walter Cobb obituary, The Los Angeles Times.