The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-03-20
Hon. Thomas X. Cobb, of Knox
County.


'neut men who are asking positions OF
honor and trust from the people OF
.this district seem TO be in demand. and
as the sketch OF the life of Hon. James
ID. Williams, published in last weeks is
sue, attracted considerable attention and
comment, we have thought proper 10
chronicle few of the events in the ca
reer of another sell-made man. who pur-
poses enter ing the lists 10 break a friend
riy lance with Mr.. Williams in the APP
.proaching Congressional tournament
And We desire to say right here that
lw- 10 not do this at the instance Of the
gentleman whose name heads this arii-
cle. From an intimate and lifelong
friend OF his we gather the incidents
that occurred in his early life. Ills ca
|reer has not been, perhaps, very event
fol. strange or extraordinary, but II has
mot been unworthy of imitation by the
poor young men of the country who de-
sire 20 break away from those twin
jsiors Of the rising mind, low birth
and iron fortune
Ihos. y. Cobb i native of Indiana.
lie was born on farm two miles east
of Springfield, in Lawrence county, III
the year 1927. He was
RAISED A FARMER,
And was an industrious. hsrd-working
box. A was the custom in those days,
hen he cot old enough he attended the
district school, nj the old schCOl-house,
idusing three months Of the year, except
when interrupted. rs was Frequently the
.case. by having 10 stop TO SOW wheat or
cut up corn in the fall. The balance of
ihe time he spent in
7 MAKING RAILS.
Clearing up ground and cultivatinG his
Gathers farm. lie continued to work on
he farm until he was in his twenty-iirst
. ear. When he rot permission of his IA
'.her 10 attend the old Seminary az Bed
ford. the county seat. his father giving
his time but refusing TO bear his eI-
'nenses. There lac spent five months in
hard study. Aft-r leaving school he
fsn.ht school himself six months. For
The first quarter he received $40. for the
second $50; tho first being district
school, the second a subscription school.
!, PAYS HIS DEBTS.
\ Out OF the money thus earned he paid
his board and also paid for his tuition
aud his books. the Indebtedness he had
.incurred while attending the Seminary
al bedford. With the remainder he at
blended tie State University at Bloom
.ington. making his hard-earned money
20 as far as possible by
KEEPING BACH
: With n few other young men in similar
circumstances. They bought their own
provisions and had them cooked. and by
ihis means their average weekly expense
was about 10 cents each. Dio Lewis
himself never lived more frugally. :
when he returned home he taught
school again ia the fall and winter.
GETS MARRIED.
r The following spring, the 10th %
/. March. 1850. he did what many young
men do at this time OF life, got m arried
d His wife's parents were also in mode
rate circumstances and lived in the sam,
fcounty. lie at once moved into log
house with board roof. on small tract
tof land given him by his father. Iiav
ing in his mind the study OF the law. he
Tried TO sell his land for 500, but could
e not find a purchaser.
j fOlNN IL iHt ishBDBE.
: And now he and his young wife com
'.menced the struggle OF life together. -
He went to work clearing and fencing
and cutivating his little farm, finally al
'din- another tract to it. lie continue,
\ this until lac had arrived at the qge o
26 and been blessed with Two children
tln August 1853 iie sold his farm. move,
Ito Bedford. commenced the study o
law. attended law school and as las
hung out his shingle."
I IN THE SENATE.
In 1853 he was elected TO the Stat,
/. senate and reelected in 1859. Martin
/ County. now in this district, was one o
! INC counties he represented. and the cit
/ liens OF that Democratic stronghold,
\ know how well he served them. II,
r'was the leader OF the Democratic part,
!. in the Senate. The records show tia
''whiie in the Senate he was always il
Il his seat aud was watchful in regard I,
q the interests OF the State.
AT TUE BAR.
Seven years since. TO secure n brcadc
!. field for the practice of his profession
be removed 10 Ninccnnes. As he wa
!, a good and industrious farmer, so h
= has bren Industrious aud successful Il
his profession, aud by his energy an
, perseverance has succeeded in accumu
iiating handsome competence. His Suc
:. cess to-day is an evidence OF what cr
be accomplished by pluck and persev,
france. though the possessor be poor an
I unknown. Ofhls career rs lawyer. hi
leIpower rs an advocate before jury, W
)ineed not speak. The people of the dis