A man who would make significant contributions to Denison, Texas, was born in Jamaica, Windham County, Vermont, in 1856. His father, Roswell Lyman Cobb ((1817–1901), and his mother, Ellen Sophia Howard (1822–1891), along with several children, worked together on the family farm. After the Civil War, the Cobbs moved to a different farm, in Andover, Allegheny County, New York. There they stayed while son Charles, in 1873, went off to Ithaca to enroll at Cornell University.

After completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell in 1877, Charles went to law school at the University of Michigan, earning his law degree in 1879. That year he was admitted to the bar in Michigan, and he practiced law in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, from 1879 to 1884. He married Icy Jane Van Vleck (1854–1920) in West Schuyler, Herkimer County, New York, on December 21, 1880, and brought her back to Eaton Rapids. Charles left the practice of law and went into banking there from 1884 to 1890.

It seems likely that, at this point, Charles moved his family south to Denison, Texas. The 1891 Denison City Directory listed him as president of the National Bank of Denison. He was living on the south side of West Woodard Street, between Perry and Tone avenues.

The National Bank of Denison was the town's earliest chartered bank, being established shortly after Denison was founded in 1872. At the end of 1873, Harrison Tone said the bank was the only national bank within 200 miles. By 1881, J. M. Ford was heading the bank and built a fine new edifice at 231 West Main Street, at the northeast corner of Rusk Avenue. Initially the structure was called the "First National Bank" or "Ford Building." One source says the bank was reorganized in 1882.

A promotional brochure written by Lee Linn in 1887 said that this bank was one of two in town, noting, "The First National was reorganized a short time since and its capital stock increased from $50,000 to $150,000. In its newly organized state, the First National affords a notable illustration of the confidence Eastern capitalists are exhibiting in Denison enterprises." Maybe it was a good time for new leadership.

By 1896, Cobb was living in a nice home at 1105 West Bond Street. He and Icy were to have three daughters—Myra V. Cobb Ousley (1881–1950), Abbie Willis Cobb (1883–?), and Icy Ellen Cobb Violet (1887–1975). Myra graduated from Denison's Educational Institute in the Class of 1899, while Abbie was in the Class of 1900. Abbie attended Cornell University, her father's alma mater, and became a teacher in St. Louis, Missouri.

Charles's mother died in 1891 and his father in 1901. Both were buried under imposing markers in Fairview Cemetery in Denison.

Between 1890 and 1913, Charles Cobb was listed in the City Directories of Denison, Texas; Muskogee, Oklahoma; and St. Louis, Missouri. He seems to have had business interests in a number of places. In Denison, in 1901 he was listed as president of both the National Bank of Denison and the Denison Driving Park and Fair Association. Two years later, he was president not only of the bank but also of the Denison Grocer Company; and treasurer of the Denison Trust Company.

It seems likely that John B. McDougall was an associate of Charles S. Cobb in some of his Denison ventures. In 1905, McDougall was a founder of the Denison Bank and Trust. He also joined Walter S. Hibbard in creating the Denison Grocer Company; the 1907 City Directory listed McDougall as the firm's vice president. In addition, McDougall helped found the State National Bank, 300 West Main Street; and Southwestern Surety Insurance Company.

In 1909, the Denison City Directory listed James Boyd and his wife Sallie also living at 1105 West Bond Street. Boyd continued to live there until his death in 1927. This may suggest that the Cobbs began to disengage from Denison around 1909.

Following his wife's death in 1920, Charles seems to have left Denison for good, moving to Des Moines, Iowa. He remarried (to Bess W. Martin), traveled to Europe, then settled in St. Louis. He died there on January 15, 1939.

1105 West Bond Street
ca. 2005

Source: The Book of St. Louisans: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of St. Louis and Vicinity, 2d ed. (Chicago: A. N. Marquis & Co., 1912.

Biography Index
Susan Hawkins
© 2024