Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-04-21
Norman Cobb of Putney.

The last Sunday Springfield Republican
contained the following article which is OF
local interest.
The Oldest living representative OF one
of the pioneer families OF the state anu
the Oldest citizen in the town OF Putney Is
Norman Cobb, father OF u. L. COBB OF
Rrattleboro and brother of Alfred and Al
bion Cobb Of Springfield, Mass. Although
anproaching his goth birthday anniversary,
he i still in good health and bids far to
see the light Of many summers. lie is OF
Revolutionary descent and comes from
family renowned for its physical strength
and endurance. The first OF the Cobos IN
this state came in the year 1900. ne was
Norman Cobb's grandfather, Samuel Cooo'
and was born in Taunton, Mass IN 1909
and afterward migrated to Westmoreiand'
N. H.. where be was one OF the pioneer
settlers. He was connected with Stark s
armv at the battle of Bennington and cor
timed in the army until the close OF the
= war. Tn 1900 Samuel Cobb, with his fam
;iv which included his son Tisdale and
: wife. Norman Cobb's parents, lett West,
:. moreland on horseback, going thus te
d Bloomington, the end Of the road, where
/ thew left their horses and made their way
n on foot through the woods to Coventry.
Samuel Cobb made the frsA1Toad upor
q the forest and raised the frs dwelling
house of civilized man in that town. l
. was made Of spruce logs, hewn only OF
= the inside. and was covered with bark
le The boards tor the floor were dragged
in through the wood from Barton, ~ mile
m distant. In this rude dwelling the FRS
nj town meeting in Coventry was held an
Samuel Cobb was made town treasurer
- first selectman and highway surveyor. Up
on his motion it was voted to raise > IL
- defray the current expenses of the towr
70 Tn 1902 daughter, Betsey, was born
IT. Tisdale Cobb and wife, sister to Norma
ny Cobb. To her belonged the distinction
or being the first child to be born IN Cover
IN try. At length the need OF school-hous
- was felt, and Samuel Cobb's corn bar
ail was converted to the purposes OF such
house. A ruder building was perhal
ws never devoted to educational purpose
y the seats being rough boards laid upe
~ blocks of wood.
ry The subject of this sketch was born
IN 1907. When a lad of five years the WI
he of 1912 broke out and bis father was mat
lieutenant of a corps of soldiers which WI
wv stationed at Derby Line to guard again
ME hostile approaches which might po,sslb
take place. He can just remember the
we're frost and the fall of snow OH the NOR
INC ing of June 9, 1916, which dritted thr
tic feet deep, destroying the crops. causing e
zen traordinary privation and suffering. Wh
zen vet a small boy he removed with his pa
-. ents to East Putney, where he learned 7
aas blacksmiths trade, following in that in t
eat footsteps of his father and his grandtatht
md Practically all of the time since then
La has lived in East Putney. Scarcely one
,wn the present residents of the place We
wv there when he went there.
Mr.. Cobb married Miss Mary X. Vi
lie of Westminster, February II, 1880, a
ID they have had six sons, all OF whom
~ living. Mr.. and Mrs. Cobb celebra
cry their golden wedding anniversary in
t Of town hall II years ago in the presence
arly over 800 people, which comprised the
s;do tire population of the village, and a'tes
'' the esteem in which the aged couple "
opy held. They were drawn to the hall IL
ever sleigh manned by their six sturdy SC
and Seven years ago their Goth marriage al
Nth yersary was observed at their home,
wv. the family being present. The first
'rec' only death in the family occurred Janu
ten II. 1892, when '.Grandma" Cobb, as
, in were pleased to speak OF her, died, c.
ing deep sorrow throughout the com
nifty.