Mary Celeste Phelon1,2,3,4

Family Chart
ID# 17593, (1839 - 1924)
FatherIsaac Phelon5,6 (abt 1806 - Oct 1858)

Key Events:

Birth: 17 Feb 1839, Kentucky7,8,9
Marriage: Dec 1858, Shelby Co., Tennessee, Dr. Joshua W. Cobb (about 1829 - 11 Sep 1867)10,2,11
Death: 31 Dec 1924, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee12,13
Burial: 2 Jan 1925, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee14,15
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Mary Celeste Phelon was born on 17 Feb 1839 in Kentucky.7,8,9
     She was probably the female under age 5 listed in the household of her father, Isaac Phelon, in the 1840 Federal Census of Daviess Co., Kentucky.16
     She moved to Tennessee with her family by 1846.17 She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, in the household of her father, Isaac Phelon, and his wife, Julia [surname unknown], who seems not have been her mother.18
     Mary married Dr. Joshua W. Cobb, son of James Dyer Cobb and Rachael Isaacs Jones, in Dec 1858 in Shelby Co., Tennessee.10,2,11
     Mary and Joshua appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, enumerated 13 Jul 1860, reporting personal estate of $2,000. Their daughter E. S. was listed as living with them, as were her brother, Dick Phelan, age 10, and Thomas Brolton, age 21, a medical student, who may have been "reading" medicine under Dr. Cobb.19
     Her husband died on 11 Sep 1867 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.20
     Mary opened a "select school for girls and small boys" at her home at 204 Second St. after her husband died. She advertised that pupils in music would also be received, and that terms were moderate.21,22
     Mary appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, enumerated 21 Jun 1870, in the household of J. T. Gore, a bookkeeper, and his wife. Her son George was listed as living with her.23
     Mary appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 85 Adam St., enumerated 7 Jun 1880. Her son George was listed as living with her.24
     By 1880 she seems to have been operating a boarding house. The 1880 census lists 18 boarders, a cook, and four servants in her household. In the 1900 census there are nine boarders listed.25,26
     Mary appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 85 Adams St., enumerated 4 Jun 1900, reporting she rented her home. Her son George was listed as living with her, as were his wife, Henri Pearl Woodard, and their son, George.27
     Mary appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 811 Jefferson Ave., enumerated 19 Apr 1910, in a building with three other households. Also listed in her household were three lodgers and two servants. Her son George and his wife and two children were listed in one of the other households in the building.28
     Mary appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 811 Jefferson Ave., enumerated 1920, reporting she owned her home, which was mortgaged. Her household had two roomers and a janitor listed, and there are six other households listed in the building, all shown as renters.29
     Mary died on 31 Dec 1924 in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at age 85.12,13 She was buried on 2 Jan 1925 in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee.14,15

Children:
     Children with Dr. Joshua W. Cobb

It appears they had one other child who died young, though the records are conflicting.33,34

Citations

  1. [S11980] Isaac Feelon household, 1850 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows name as Mary Feelon.
  2. [S2218] Shelby County - Marriage Records 1820-1920, online, record for J W Cobb and Miss M C Phelon, citing bk 2, pg 11, shows year.
  3. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 8715376, Celeste Phelan Cobb, includes tombstone photo showing same.
  4. [S11974] J. T. Gore household, 1870 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows name as M C Cobb.
  5. [S11980] Isaac Feelon household, 1850 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  6. [S11971] Mary Celeste Cobb, Certificate of Death.
  7. [S11980] Isaac Feelon household, 1850 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows age 11 and state.
  8. [S2219] J. W. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows age 20 and state.
  9. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 8715376, Celeste Phelan Cobb, shows date, with year as 1844, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  10. [S2220] J. W. Cobb and M. C. Phelen, marriage register, shows bond dated 13 Dec 1858, with no return recorded.
  11. [S2219] J. W. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  12. [S11971] Mary Celeste Cobb, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.
  13. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 8715376, Celeste Phelan Cobb, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  14. [S11971] Mary Celeste Cobb, Certificate of Death, shows date and cemetery.
  15. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 8715376, Celeste Phelan Cobb, includes tombstone photo.
  16. [S11981] Isaac Phelon household, 1840 U.S. Census, Daviess Co., Kentucky.
  17. [S11980] Isaac Feelon household, 1850 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows 4-year-old child as born in Tennessee.
  18. [S11980] Isaac Feelon household, 1850 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  19. [S2219] J. W. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  20. [S11972] Dr. J. W. Cobb obituary, Public Ledger, shows died Wednesday.
  21. [S11979] Advertisement, Memphis Daily Appeal, 29 Aug 1868, same advertisement ran repeatedly in Aug and Sep 1868.
  22. [S11974] J. T. Gore household, 1870 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as teacher.
  23. [S11974] J. T. Gore household, 1870 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  24. [S11975] Celeste Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  25. [S11975] Celeste Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as keeping house.
  26. [S11976] Mary C. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as landlady.
  27. [S11976] Mary C. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  28. [S11977] Mary C. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  29. [S11978] Mary C. Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  30. [S2219] J. W. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  31. [S11974] J. T. Gore household, 1870 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  32. [S11973] George Willard Cobb, Certificate of Death.
  33. [S11976] Mary C. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows her as mother of two, with one living.
  34. [S11977] Mary C. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows her as mother of three, with one living.