Gideon Cobb

Narrative:

     Gideon Cobb was born on 26 Jun 1791 in Pawlet, Vermont.^9,10,11
     He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, John Cobb, in the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont.²⁰ He was probably one of the two males age 16 to 26 listed in the household of his father in the 1810 Federal Census of Orwell, Rutland Co., Vermont.²¹
     Gideon apparently moved to Vernon, Oneida Co., New York, by 1812, joining his older brother William there.^22,23,24 (See map.)
     Gideon and his brother William went to Aurora, Erie Co., New York, in 1812 to erect defenses against the expected attack of the British and Indians, then returned to Vernon.²⁵ Gideon and William operated an axe and scythe manufacturing business in nearby Rome, New York. Gideon was the peddler (traveling salesman) for the business. He traveled throughout western New York, selling his wares out of an ox cart given to him by his father.^25,26

A Pioneer in Rochester --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Gideon and William settled in Rochester, New York, about 1813. There were few inhabitants in the area at the time, with much of it presumed to be unusable swamp, "suitable as a resort for frogs and muskrats" as Gideon recalled some 35 years later.^27,28,29 Gideon established the first public conveyance in Rochester shortly after his arrival. He made semi-weekly trips with a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen, carting goods and passengers between the village and the river landing. He continued the operation for more than two years. In reminisces some 35 years later, he said the wife of one early settler usually cooked provisions for his treks, and that he often slept under the work-bench of another. In 1814 he was hired to clear a 3 rod-wide (49 foot) road between Frankfort and Roschesterville (later State St.), receiving a team of oxen as payment. He also used his ox teams to clear North St. and Monroe Ave.^31,32,33
     Gideon Cobb was mentioned in the will of John Cobb, his father, dated 10 Sep 1815, his father stating that he had already received all assistance which justice justified.³⁴
     The first fire company in Rochester was organized 19 Oct 1817, with Gideon and his brother William among the 23 original members.³⁵

Success in Business --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In 1818 Gideon and William paid $1,960 for 140 acres along Monroe Ave. and formed The Sand Company to quarry the sand found in the area. William left that business the following year to use his skills in making mill irons, taking advantage of the demand created by new mills being created across the country.²⁵ In 1820 Gideon started Monroe Avenue Brickyards, the first brick factory in the area. With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 Rochester became a boomtown, officially becoming a city in 1834. With the high demand for brick to construct commercial buildings, the business prospered.^25,36 Gideon did the mason work for the new court house, which was finished in Dec 1851 at a cost of $61,900. He bought the old court house for $500.^37,38
     Gideon, his son William, and other investors consolidated several small brickworks to form the Rochester Brick and Tile Manufacturing Company, incorporating it 7 Feb 1853. By 1855 it was producing over 12 million bricks per year, shipping them to many points in the U.S. and Canada.²⁵
     But despite his success in other businesses, he seems to have regarded himself primarily as a farmer.^39,40,41,42 In the 1860 census he reported having 150 acres of improved land, and 40 acres unimproved, valued at $30,000, and $300 worth of tools and implements. He reported six horses, six milch cows, four working oxen, three other cows, and ten swine, valued at $800. He reported that he had produced 150 bushels of wheat, 150 of corn, 25 of oats, 300 lb. of wool, 70 bushels of potatoes, 30 of sweet potatoes, 400 of barley, and $100 worth of orchard products in the year ending 1 Jun 1860. He had also produced 150 lb. of butter and 20 tons of hay and slaughtered $150 worth of livestock.⁴³
     Gideon married Roxana Worden, daughter of Ichabod Worden and Margaret Brown, on 18 Oct 1819 in Rochester, New York, with Rev. C. Williams officiating.^12,13,14
     Gideon appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Brighton, Ontario Co., New York, with a household consisting of one male age 10 to 16, and three age 26 to 45 (Gideon and two others), one female under age 10 (daughter Sophia), and one age 16 to 26 (wife Roxana.)⁴⁴
     Gideon appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, with a household consisting of two males under age 5 (sons James and William), two age 20 to 30, two age 30 to 40 (Gideon and another), and one age 60 to 70 (probably his wife's father, Ichabod Worden), one female under age 5 (daughter Margaret), two age 5 to 10 (Glorianna and Lucinda), one age 20 to 30, one age 30 to 40 (wife Roxana), and one age 60 to 70 (probably his wife's mother, Margaret Brown.)⁴⁵

The Family Tradition – Tavern Keeping --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     After their marriage in 1819 Roxana moved into Gideon's small log cabin. With his success in business, they built a proper home, a magnificent 22-room Greek Revival mansion on 300 acres of forest, near the village of Brighton, on the southeast edge of Rochester (the area was annexed by Rochester in 1905). But seemingly true to Cobb tradition, a rear wing of the mansion was built for use as a stagecoach tavern. The tavern wing included a large baking kitchen, milk storage room, and a separate meat-grilling room, with a brick floor and large brick ovens.^46,47,48
     The tavern was apparently short-lived however. In 1833 the Cobbs attended a temperance meeting in the brick schoolhouse which stood across Monroe Ave. from the Cobb home. The meeting turned into quite a rousing affair with Deacon Fischer expounding on the evils of liquor. When the sermon ended, the charged entourage bolted to the nearest tavern, which just happened to be the rear wing of the Cobb's home. They proceeded to remove all the liquor and smashed the kegs of liquor in the street. A fire was started, quickly turning into a blazing inferno, and lighting up the evening sky like the northern lights. The tavern was reportedly never opened again.²⁵
     Gideon appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, with a household consisting of two males aged 10 to 15 (sons William and James), one age 20 to 30, and one age 40 to 50 (himself), one female under age 5 (daughter Frances), one age 5 to 10 (Maria), one age 15 to 20, one age 20 to 30, one age 40 to 50 (wife Roxana), and one aged 50 to 60.⁴⁹

Public Service --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Gideon became more involved in civic affairs in his later years. In 1838 he was elected superintendent of the poorhouse. In 1844 he was selected as delegate to the Whig Senate Convention.²⁵ The Western House of Refuge was established by the state legislature on 8 May 1846 to house juvenile delinquents from 43 counties. The facility was opened in Rochester on 11 Aug 1849. Gideon was appointed to a three-year term on the board of managers in its second year.⁵⁰
     Gideon was apparently a recognized business leader as well. He was elected a director to the Commercial Bank of Rochester by the stockholders at their annual meeting on 1 Jun 1847. In 1854 the Six-Penny savings bank was organized, and Gideon was one of the 21 inital trustees. After four years the bank was closed, returning to depositors 95% of their deposits.^51,52
     Gideon and Roxana appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated 18 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $24,000. Their children James, Margaret, William, Maria and Frances were listed as living with them, as were five laborers, aged 16 to 30, and Margaret Martin, age 22, no occupation given.³ His sister Sarah and her husband, and her sister Senah and her husband, were apparently living close by as they are listed in the next dwelling in the census record.⁵³
     Methodist Episcopal services were held in school houses in Brighton for a number of years, conducted by ministers from Rochester. On 12 Oct 1852 a local Methodist society was organized, and Gideon was elected one of the five trustees. The Alexander Street church was constructed the following year.⁵⁴
     Gideon and Roxana appeared on the 1855 State Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated 15 Jun 1855, reporting that they lived in a brick house valued at $4,000. Their children William and Frances were listed as living with them, as were her brother, Lyman Worden, and Robert Robertson, a 15-year-old Canadian-born servant.⁵⁵ His widowed niece, Mary Cobb, daughter of his brother Harry, and her children were apparently living close by, as they were listed in the preceding dwelling.⁵⁶ On 10 Apr 1860 Gideon sold 15 acres of land at $200 an acre to St. Patrick's Catholic church for an addition to their cemetery.⁵⁷
     Gideon and Roxana appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated 13 Dec 1860, reporting real estate valued at $30,000, and personal estate of $1,000. Also listed as living with them were her brother Lyman Worden, five children whose relationships are unknown: Elisa H. Cobb, age 10, William Warner, age 12, and Charles F., George P. and Daniel J. Crosmon, ages 12, 8, and 4; and two people apparently servants, Caroline Myers, age 15, a servant girl, and Thomas Smith, age 25, a laborer.⁵⁸
     His wife died on 21 Apr 1863.^59,60
     Gideon died in Aug 1864 in Rochester, New York, at age 73.^15,16,17 He was buried on 7 Aug 1864 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, New York, next to his wife in his lot.^18,19
     Cobb's Hill, still a notable landmark in Rochester, was owned by Gideon and his descendants for over 85 years before it was sold to the city by the widow of his son William. The city created a water reservoir at the top, completed in 1908.²⁵