John Saunders Cobb1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 1927, (1877 - 1951)
FatherJoshua Clark Cobb4,5,6 (7 Jul 1839 - 22 Dec 1895)
MotherManie Saunders7,8,5 (14 Feb 1850 - 26 Jan 1932)

Key Events:

Birth: 4 Oct 1877, Paducah, Kentucky9,10,11
Marriage: 10 Apr 1918, Graves Co., Kentucky, Alma Lettie French (5 Jun 1890 - 25 Apr 1964)12,13,14
Death: 30 Nov 1951, Los Angeles Co., California15
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont
The Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     John Saunders Cobb was born on 4 Oct 1877 in Paducah, Kentucky.9,10,11
     John 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.16
     His father died on 22 Dec 1895, when John was 18 years old.17,18
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Paducah, Kentucky in the household of his mother.8 He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Paducah, Kentucky in the household of his mother.19
     He was He worked for the Paducah News-Democrat as a newspaper writer for a time, then moved on to other newspapers in various cities.20,21,22
     John married Alma Lettie French, daughter of Morgan F. French and Alma Lee Overby, on 10 Apr 1918 in Graves Co., Kentucky, with W. M. Wood offciating.12,13,14
     Alma's daughter Mary used the Cobb surname after her mother married John, listing her birth father's name on only a few government records. John seemed to have claimed her as his daughter, but apparently without formally adopting her.23,24,25,26
     John and Alma settled in Memphis, Tennessee, shortly after they married. It appears she lived there more or less continuously the rest of her life. But it seems to have only nominally been his home as he lived elsewhere, in some cases for extended periods, as he changed employment. But he did appear in Memphis in the 1920, 1930, and 1940 census, perhaps because she reported that as his residence, and he has not been found in any census elsewhere.
     John registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living in 504 Colonial, Norfolk, Virginia, reporting he was employed as a newspaper reporter by the Virginia Pilot Publishing Co. in Norfolk.3
     He worked for the Memphis News-Scimitar for a time. By 1919 he was writing for the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, as a police reporter and sports writer.27,28,29,30 In Oct 1919 he refereed a boxing match in Paducah.31
     John and Alma appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 205 South Wellington St., enumerated 8 Jan 1920, reporting that they rented their home. Her daughter Mary was listed as living with them.13
     Having also worked for the Cincinnati Times-Star and the Louisville Post, John became the sporting editor of the Daily Oklahoman, in Oklahoma City. In late 1923 he accepted a position in New Orleans.32,30
     John went to California about 1925, where he worked for a time as a newspaper man in Los Angeles. He then worked with Robert E. Perry, a trainer and handler of boxers on the Pacific coast, before returning to Memphis in 1930. In late 1930 he was manager and tutor of Gale Stinson, a heavy-weight boxer from Paducah.33,34,35
     John and Alma appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 1531 Monroe, enumerated 13 Apr 1930, reporting they rented their home, for $45.00 per month, and owned a radio. Her daughter Mary was listed as living with them, as was her half-sister Ivie.36
     By 1932 John had returned to newspaper work in Los Angeles. In 1940 he reported he was unable to work, and in 1950 was not working and not looking for work.37,38,39
     John was named an heir in the will of his sister Reubie dated 9 Aug 1933, to receive $100 in cash.40
     John and Alma appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, at 728 Eva St., enumerated 8 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $3,000, and that they had lived in the same house in 1935. Her daughter Mary, her husband Allen Martin Gillum, and their infant son were listed as living in the same dwelling.41
     John was mentioned in the will of his brother Irvin dated 24 Dec 1943. He left John nothing, saying he had provided for him over many years.42,43
     John and Alma apparently separated before 1950, whether legally or not is unknown. He appears in Los Angeles in the 1950 census, listed as married, which she was living in Memphis with her daughter, listed as separated.44,45
     John appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, residing in the Barbizon Hotel, 1927 West Sixth St..44
     John died on 30 Nov 1951 in Los Angeles Co., California, at age 74.15

Children:
     There were no children with Alma Lettie French

Citations

  1. [S1043] Manie S. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows name as Jno S. Cobb.
  2. [S12156] Marriage Book, Graves Co., Kentucky, 9:50, John Sanders Cobb and Alma French Warner.
  3. [S3312] John Saunders Cobb, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  4. [S1669] Reuben Saunders household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows Joshua as son-in-law and the child as grandson of Reuben, and both with surname Cobb.
  5. [S1950] Battle, Perrin and Kniffin, Kentucky - A History of the State, pg 291.
  6. [S1042] Connelley and Coulter, History of Kentucky, pg 497.
  7. [S1669] Reuben Saunders household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, show Mamie as daughter and the child as grandson of Reuben, and both with surname Cobb.
  8. [S1043] Manie S. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  9. [S1669] Reuben Saunders household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows age 2 and state.
  10. [S3312] John Saunders Cobb, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, as 8 Oct 1884, but the year is inconsistent with his appearance on the 1880 census and age shown on the 1900 and 1910 censuses, but consistent with the age shown on the 1920, so I conclude he probably purposefully changed his age for some reason.
  11. [S12156] Marriage Book, Graves Co., Kentucky, 9:50, John Sanders Cobb and Alma French Warner, shows age 27 at marriage 10 Apr 1918, city, and state.
  12. [S12156] Marriage Book, Graves Co., Kentucky, 9:50, John Sanders Cobb and Alma French Warner, shows date, county, state, and officiant.
  13. [S3311] John S. Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  14. [S3312] John Saunders Cobb, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows her as his nearest relative.
  15. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for John Saunders Cobb.
  16. [S1669] Reuben Saunders household, 1880 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  17. [S2314] Oak Grove Cemetery, list of burials, C burials 1800 thru 1999, pg 19, shows date.
  18. [S1042] Connelley and Coulter, History of Kentucky, pg 497, shows year, town, county, and state.
  19. [S1044] Mamie S. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  20. [S12169] "Keen Interest in Shepherd, "Red" Herring Contest," The Paducah Evening Sun, 20 Sep 1919, shows formerly was on the News-Democrat.
  21. [S1044] Mamie S. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as reporter for a newspaper in Louisville.
  22. [S12156] Marriage Book, Graves Co., Kentucky, 9:50, John Sanders Cobb and Alma French Warner, shows occupation as newspaper.
  23. [S3311] John S. Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows her name as Mary F. Cobb and John as her father.
  24. [S12157] John Cobb household, 1930 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows her name as Mary F. Cobb and John as her father.
  25. [S7952] Record of Marriage Licenses, Shelby Co., Tennessee, X02:284, Allen M. Gillum and Mary Warner Cobb.
  26. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Mary Gordon Gillum, Soc. Sec. No. 411-15-1924, shows father's surname as Warner.
  27. [S12170] "Town Gossip," The Paducah Evening Sun, 2 Dec 1919, shows he was police reporter and feature writer for Commercial-Appeal, formerly on the News-Scimitar.
  28. [S12169] "Keen Interest in Shepherd, "Red" Herring Contest," The Paducah Evening Sun, 20 Sep 1919, shows he was sporting writer for Memphis Commerical-Appeal.
  29. [S3311] John S. Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as reporter, for a newspaper.
  30. [S1042] Connelley and Coulter, History of Kentucky, pg 497, shows occupation as newspaper writer, living in Louisville, Kentucky.
  31. [S12169] "Keen Interest in Shepherd, "Red" Herring Contest," The Paducah Evening Sun, 20 Sep 1919.
  32. [S12171] "John C. Cobb Comes Home for a Visit," The News-Democrat, 17 Nov 1923.
  33. [S12172] "Gale Stinson to Try Ring Punch," The Sun-Democrat, 12 Nov 1930, shows five years in California, recently returned to Memphis, boxing association.
  34. [S12173] "Random Shots," Los Angeles Evening Express, 25 Feb 1930, shows him as former Los Angeles newspaper man.
  35. [S12157] John Cobb household, 1930 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as reporter and industry as newspaper.
  36. [S12157] John Cobb household, 1930 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  37. [S12174] ""Dr." Galen Gough Central Figure in Battle of Strong," The Sun-Democrat, 24 Jul 1932, shows him as a Los Angles newspaper man.
  38. [S12162] John S. Cobb household, 1940 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee, shows unable to work.
  39. [S12163] John S. Cobb household, 1950 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows he had no job and was not looking for one.
  40. [S12155] Will Book, McCracken Co., Kentucky, G:101-2, Reubie Cobb Rudy will.
  41. [S12162] John S. Cobb household, 1940 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.
  42. [S12192] "Cobb, Irvin S will," Brooklyn Eagle, 18 Mar 1944, shows shares to wife and sister, bequests to library, cook and secretary.
  43. [S12175] "Cobb Estate Left to Wife," San Francisco Examiner, 19 Mar 1944, show written prior Christmas Eve, distributions to wife, daughter, sister, none to brother.
  44. [S12163] John S. Cobb household, 1950 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  45. [S12167] Allen M. Gillum household, 1950 U.S. Census, Shelby Co., Tennessee.