Sarah Martha McElevey1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 2187, (1856 - 1935)
FatherEzekiel McElevey4,5,6 (Dec 1815 - 4 Oct 1860)
MotherLouisa Caroline Stevens4,7,6 (18 Jun 1824 - 31 Oct 1894)

Key Events:

Birth: 24 Jul 1856, Cincinnati, Ohio8,9,10
Marriage: 27 Jan 1880, New Liberty, Pope Co., Illinois, Gideon Berry Cobb (27 Jun 1846 - 16 Jul 1895)11,12
Death: 30 May 1935, 1630 W. North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio5,7,13
Burial: 1 Jun 1935, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio14,15
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     16 Sarah Martha McElevey was born on 24 Jul 1856 in Cincinnati, Ohio.8,9,10
     She appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of her parents, Ezekiel McElevey and Louisa Caroline Stevens.17
     Sarah married Gideon Berry Cobb, son of Caleb Clark Cobb and Louisa Berry Long, on 27 Jan 1880 in New Liberty, Pope Co., Illinois, with Rev. Elisha Baugh officiating.11,12
     It appears that Gideon and Sarah lived for a time in Kentucky after their marriage, as their eldest son was born there in 1881. By 1883 they had moved to Shawneetown, Illinois.18
     Her husband died on 16 Jul 1895.13,19,20
     Shawneetown had experienced flooding from the Ohio River from it's earliest days. In response levees had been built to protect the town, and repeatedly strengthened as higher and higher floods occured. The levee was thought to be sound when it suddenly falled at about 5:00 pm on 3 Apr 1898, so no preparations had been made. Refugees rushed to the hills, the public school, the court house, and the Riverside Hotel, and some stayed in the second stories of their homes. Twenty-five people drowned.21,22 Sarah, recently widowed with four sons ages 6 to 17, was among the victims. According to family lore, she had time to grab only the tablecloth and whatever was on it, food and all, and rush to the court house where the family stayed with others on the second floor. She and the children were taken to Mt. Vernon, Indiana, by rescue boat.23,24
Hamilton Co. O.E.S. Home
photo courtesy Cardinal Chapter #140 O.E.S.

     Soon after, she moved to her native Cincinnati with her children.25 She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 515 Tusculum Ave, enumerated 1 Jun 1900. Her children Frank, Caleb, Albert and Aaron were listed as living with her.26
     Sarah appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 409 Tusculm, enumerated 27 Apr 1910, reporting that she rented her home. Her children Caleb, Albert and Aaron were listed as living with her.27
     Sarah appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of her son Albert and his wife Emily.28
     Sarah appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 1630 W. North Bend Rd., enumerated 10 Apr 1930, She was living in the Hamilton County Order of the Eastern Star Home and Hospital along with a matron and her husband, two servants, and 16 other residents.29 The Home was opened 11 Aug 1923 as a combined home and hospital to serve Masonic-related members, continuing to serve as a hospital until 1941, when stronger regulations forced it to serve only as a rest home and nursing facility.30
     Sarah died on 30 May 1935 in the Hamilton County Order of the Eastern Star Home and Hospital, 1630 W. North Bend Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio, at age 78.5,7,13 She was buried on 1 Jun 1935 in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in her father's lot.14,15

Children:
     Children with Gideon Berry Cobb:

Citations

  1. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates, shows name as Sarah Martha McElevey.
  2. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Sarah Cobb, 1 Jun 1935, shows father's surname as McElevey.
  3. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Aaron B. Cobb, 21 Jul 1911, shows mother's name as Sarah Martha Cobb.
  4. [S3399] Gideon B. Cobb and Sarah M McElevy, Return of Marriage to County Clerk.
  5. [S2814] Sarah Cobb, Certificate of Death.
  6. [S851] Ezekiel McElevey household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows them living apparently as parent and child.
  7. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Sarah Cobb, 1 Jun 1935.
  8. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates, shows date, with year as 1856, and city.
  9. [S2814] Sarah Cobb, Certificate of Death, shows date, with year as 1855, city, and state.
  10. [S851] Ezekiel McElevey household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows age 4 and state.
  11. [S3399] Gideon B. Cobb and Sarah M McElevy, Return of Marriage to County Clerk, shows date, town, and officiant.
  12. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates, shows date, town, and state.
  13. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates, shows date.
  14. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Sarah Cobb, 1 Jun 1935, shows date and lot.
  15. [S2814] Sarah Cobb, Certificate of Death, shows date and cemetery.
  16. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998.
  17. [S851] Ezekiel McElevey household, 1860 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  18. [S2793] Deeds, Crittenden Co., Kentucky, Q:397-8, Gideon B. Cobb & wife to William J. Boyd, 28 Mar 1883, shows them of Gallatin Co. Illinois.
  19. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #43479566, Gideon B. Cobb, shows year and includes photo of tombstone showing same.
  20. [S850] Sarah M. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows his wife as widowed.
  21. [S4092] History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois, pp 103-5, describes early flooding and levee projects.
  22. [S4093] Carroll, Carney, Beuckman, Roedel and Mayer, "The Shawneetown Flood", describes 1898 flood.
  23. [S4091] Interview, Judith Cobb Stewart, 13 Jun 2013, gave story of grabbing table cloth and going to court house.
  24. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates, shows moved to Mt. Vernon by rescue boat.
  25. [S4091] Interview, Judith Cobb Stewart, 13 Jun 2013.
  26. [S850] Sarah M. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  27. [S2830] Sarah M. Cobb household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  28. [S2833] Albert Cobb household, 1920 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  29. [S2831] Hamilton County Order of the Eastern Star Home, 1930 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  30. [S2832] History of the Hamilton County O.E.S. Home, online.
  31. [S2836] Frank M. Cobb and Marritta Christopher, application for marriage license.
  32. [S7222] Alfred Albert Cobb, family history notes, list of Gideon Berry Cobb family dates.
  33. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #43479582, Eleanor L. Cobb, shows the child as daughter of Sarah's husband, and includes photo of tombstone showing same.
  34. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial #43479629, Madaline Cobb, shows the child as daughter of Sarah's husband, and includes photo of tombstone showing same.
  35. [S2916] "Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958," FamilySearch.org, record for Caleb Clark Cobb and Ethel Grace Jackson, citing FHL #365193, v 249 cn 318.
  36. [S2916] "Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958," FamilySearch.org, record for Albert W. Cobb and E. Margaret Stegemeyer, citing FHL #365189, v 241 cn 421.
  37. [S2813] Aaron Barry Cobb, Certificate of Death.