The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-25

lect was more eapacious than IS here
represented, and although the hair grew
down upon the forehead, the mass o.
brain above the car was really very great
which was the case with Noah Web
ster, Calhoun, and mary others. Ac
quisitiveness was moderate, as was Sc,
eretigeness, and he was frank, candid
open-hearted, and generous to a fault
He was eminently devotional, jnst, sin.
cere, and trusting--a man Of high prir.
ciple and of sterling worth. He was
amiablo, joyous and hopeful. His great,
est faults were those which affected
himself, and those dependent upon him,
rather than others. His desire to 10
good, and to confer favors on the world
was SO great that he even became i'm
proqident aud almost negiectful of his
personal affairs. He was the father of a
large and very interesting family OF both
sons and daughters, who have grown up
iuteligently aud virtuOusly, and so far as
we know, are we'll settled IN life. Our
relations with Mr. Cobb were always
mere or less intimate, and we counted
him one of our best friends, and have
more than once had occasion to avail
ourselves of his literary services, in pre-
pairing the manuscript of inexperienced
authors for the press. And in parting
with him, although he had reached ripe
OLD age, we feel that we have lost S friend
indeed. But what is our loss may be his
gain. Peace to his spirit. The following
brief biographical sketch will interest cur
readers.
Lyman Cobb was born in StocEbridge,
Berkshire County, Mass, September is,
1900. His father died in 1909, and
leaving a large faulty Of children, Lyman
started at that early age to provide for
himself, and moved to the central part Of
New York. At the age of nineteen he
printed his frst spelling book, and at the
time was occupied in teaching school
He sold the copyright of his book to the
publishers at Ithica for TompkinS County
/ for $1,000, which yielded at one half a
cent per copy during the term OF twenty
eight wears. twenty five thousand dollars
The publication of his spelling book
reached millions of copies, being used ID
nearly every school in the State of New
York. He wrote the following books :
I''SpelIer," "Expositor," "Dictionary, a
series of five Reading Books, Speaker,
Primary Arithmetic, Higher Arithmetic,
/ Miniature Lexicon, Corporeal Punish
mcot, and upward Of sixty or seventy
small illustrated juvenile works.
The abolishment of corporal punish
ment was for years his hobby. At every
school convention or public educational
meeting he by resolution ascertained the
sense of the meeting, and agitated the
question, and the public became awakened
10 that extent that the Public School
Society of New Y ERIK ordered two copies
of his work to be furnished each school,
and the teacher recommended to read the
same at least once Ia each year. Ihe
children Of tae present day owe an im-
mense amount TO him for the changes
produced through his efforts in school
discipline For many years he IaboTed
regularly twenty hours each day, rising
at. five and retiring at one AN. And
upon Sunday his recreation and rest was
attending three services at church and
visiting TWO Sabbath schools, aud address
ing the childrea on each day. This
immense amount of labor and want of
rest made sad havoc upon his constitu
tion, and made the last few years Of his
life painful through sutferngS.
He was an active member of the Prison
Association, Public School Society (Chalr-
man of No. for many years., New York
Historical Society, and great friend and
frequent visitor of the Colored Home,
Home Of the Friendless, Five Points
Mission, aud House Of Refuge, the latter
especially, at which places whenever he
visited always addressing the children.
He was an earnest Christian IN the com
munion of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, but liberal in his views.
His unfinished works were "The Ma
tional Dictionary" large quarto, upon
which lie had labored some years a Bible
Dictionary, upon which three years
labor had been spent, and Concordance.
In the year ending October, 1857, his
income from all sources was $500. He
died at Colesburg, Potter Co, Pa, Oclo-
her 26, 1864, aged sizty-four years.
He had been confined to his bed for over
two years.-Erom the archaeological
Journal
How He DID IT.-A committee called
on fourishing tradesman to solicta sub
,-r;.tior for tho oupro-t or = rIorovnop