Irene Cobb1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 70, (1836 - 1906)
FatherDr. Joshua Cobb4,5,6 (19 Apr 1809 - 7 Apr 1879)
MotherJulia Ann Mims4,5 (7 Jul 1812 - 11 Sep 1841)

Key Events:

Birth: 31 Jul 1836, Kentucky7,8,9,10,11
Marriage: 10 Nov 1857, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, Francis Patten Gracey (30 Jun 1834 - 27 Apr 1895)12,13,14
Death: 31 Mar 1906, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee15,16
Burial: 1 Apr 1906, Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee17,3
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
AncestryThe Cobbs of Pawlet, Vermont
The Linah Mims - Rebecca Davis Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Irene Cobb was most likely born on 31 Jul 1836 in Kentucky, although some sources show her as born in 1837 or 1838, after her parents moved to Tennessee.7,8,9,10,11
     She probably moved to Stewart Co., Tennessee, with her parents about 1837.18,19,20 Irene is probably one of the two females under age 5 listed in the household of her father, Dr. Joshua Cobb, in the 1840 Federal Census of Stewart Co., Tennessee.21
     Her mother died on 11 Sep 1841, when Irene was 5 years old.22,23
     She appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Trigg Co., Kentucky, enumerated 2 Aug 1850, in the household of Marcus Marcellus Tyler and Sarah Jane Mims, her late mother's sister and her husband.24 She also appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Stewart Co., Tennessee, in the household of her father and stepmother, Marina Turner Bryan. Since her father's household was enumerated four months later, perhaps she had gone back to his home by then, or perhaps both households viewed her as living with them.25,26 She had clearly moved to Clarksville with her father and stepmother by 1851.27,28,29
     Irene married Francis Patten Gracey, son of Mathew Lyon Gracey and Maria A. Tilford, on 10 Nov 1857 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, with Rev. A. Mizell officiating.12,13,14
     After their marriage, Irene and Francis Patten Gracey settled in Eddyville where he carried on a mercantile and tobacco business, which he continued until he joined the Confederate service.30
     On 26 Dec 1859 Irene's father gave her a lot in Eddyville that he had purchased some years before.31
     Irene and Frank appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., Kentucky, enumerated 11 Aug 1860, reporting real estate of $600 and personal estate of $895. Their son Julien was listed as living with them, as well as his sister and brother, Ellen and Matthew, and three laborers, one from Ireland and two from Scotland, who appear to have been employees.32
Cobb, Kentucky, rail stop named in Irene's honor
by her husband
photo by author

     With her husband away at the war, Irene, Julien, and perhaps other members of the household move to Clarksville, Tennessee. They had relocated there by 15 Nov 1861, when he obtained leave to visit them and find permanent arrangements for them.33
     According to family tradition, while her husband was away during the Civil War, Irene decided he needed to see his small son. This would have been after Clarksville was occupied by Federal troops in Feb 1862. She loaded her son into the buggy and with servants started for Captain Gracey's headquarters. When she reached Federal lines, she was stopped. When she pleaded so desperately to be allowed to continue, she was given a pass through enemy lines and she reached her husband's headquarters safely.34
     Irene and Irene settled in Clarksville after the War.35,34 They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 28 Jun 1870, reporting real estate of $10,000 and personal estate of $6,000. The household also included seven apparent boarders, all but one black, perhaps some as household help.36
     Irene was named an heir in the will of Frank Gracey, her husband, dated 2 Sep 1879 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, to receive one half of his estate.37
     Irene and Frank appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 14 Jun 1880, with three black laborers, one male and two female. Their son Julien was listed as living with them.38
     Irene appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, in the household of her son Julien and his wife, Minnie Irene Thomas.39
     Irene died on 31 Mar 1906 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, at age 69, at the home of her son Julien.15,16 She was buried on 1 Apr 1906 in Greenwood Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, in her husband's lot.17,3

Children:
     Child with Francis Patten Gracey:

Citations

  1. [S728] Montgomery Co. Marriage Register, vol. 3, pg 47, no. 417, Francis P. Gracey to Irene Cobb, 9 Nov 1857.
  2. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows name as Irine Cobb.
  3. [S3366] Irene Cobb Gracey grave marker, Greenwood Cemetery.
  4. [S8719] Irene Cobb Cobb obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.
  5. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879.
  6. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows them in same household, apparently as parent and child.
  7. [S8719] Irene Cobb Cobb obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows date, with year as 1837, and place as Stewart Co., Tennessee.
  8. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows age 14 and state, as Kentucky.
  9. [S3366] Irene Cobb Gracey grave marker, Greenwood Cemetery, shows year, as 1836.
  10. [S2097] Julien Gracey household, 1900 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows month, as July, year, with last digit unclear but apparently a 6, age overwritten to be 65, and state, as Kentucky.
  11. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 403, shows date, as 15 Nov 1838.
  12. [S728] Montgomery Co. Marriage Register, vol. 3, pg 47, no. 417, Francis P. Gracey to Irene Cobb, 9 Nov 1857, return show date, as 10th.
  13. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, "Marriages 201-300," citing Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, 13 Nov 1857, shows date and officiant.
  14. [S3369] Williams, Cabins to Castles, pg 188, shows date, as 11 Sep 1857.
  15. [S8719] Irene Cobb Cobb obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows "this morning," at home of son Julien.
  16. [S3366] Irene Cobb Gracey grave marker, Greenwood Cemetery, shows year.
  17. [S8719] Irene Cobb Cobb obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, shows date and cemetery.
  18. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows he moved to the Cumberland Iron Works about 1837.
  19. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 266, shows he became resident physician at the iron works.
  20. [S1288] Beach, Along the Warioto, pg 132, shows he served as physician to Cumberland Iron Works.
  21. [S634] Joshua Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Steward Co., Tennessee.
  22. [S1998] Julia Ann Cobb and daughter Ione grave marker, Eddyville Cemetery, shows date.
  23. [S3048] "Sudden Death of Dr. Joshua Cobb," The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr 1879, shows year and place, as Cumberland Iron Works.
  24. [S569] M. M. Tyler household, 1850 U.S. Census, Trigg Co., Kentucky.
  25. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee.
  26. [S643] Joshua Cobb, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, slave schedule.
  27. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows he moved to Clarksville in 1851.
  28. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 267, shows iron businesses, and retired about 1866.
  29. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, citing Clarksville City Directory 1859-1860, shows occupation as physician and address.
  30. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 403.
  31. [S3152] Deeds, Lyon Co., Kentucky, B:127-8, Joshua Cobb of Clarksville Tennessee to my daughter Irene Gracey formerly Cobb of Eddyville, 23 Jan 1860.
  32. [S570] Francis P. Gracey household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  33. [S3377] Frank P. Gracey, Compiled Service Records, Confederate, Kentucky, letter 15 Nov 1861, F. P. Gracey to Maj. G. B. Cosby.
  34. [S3369] Williams, Cabins to Castles, pg 188.
  35. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 404.
  36. [S1774] F. P. Gracey household, 1870 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  37. [S8704] Will Books, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, S:600, will of F. P. Gracey, 1 May 1895.
  38. [S1904] F. P. Gracey household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  39. [S2097] Julien Gracey household, 1900 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  40. [S3123] Julian F. Gracey, Certificate of Death.
  41. [S8848] Julian F. Gracey obituary, Nashville Tennessean.
  42. [S2101] Moore and Foster, Tennessee the Volunteer State, 3:38.