Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-20

y. y, Harris OF the congregational cDuTcn
officiating. Solos were rendered by j. w.
Shelley. The burial was in the Putney
Falls cemetery. The bearers were Mr..
Cobb's six sons.
Norman Cobb, ST., was the oldest man
in Putney. He was of Revolutionary de-
scent and came from family remarkable
for its physical strength and endurance.
He was born in Coventry, Sept. p, 1907.
His grandfather, Samuel Cobb, was born
in Taunton, Mass, in 1853, and afterward
migrated TO Westmoreland, Y. H., where
he was one of the pioneer settlers. He
was with Stark's army at the battle of
Bennington and continued with the army
until the close of the war. In 1900 he and
his son Tisdale and wife, Norman Cobb's
parents, went on horseback from West
moIeland TO Bloomington, this state, the
end Of the road, and from there through
the woods on foot to Coventry. Samuel
Cobb raised the first dwelling house of civ
ilized man in that town, 1t was made of
spruce logs and was covered with bark
The floor boards were drawn through the
woods from Barton ten miles distant. The
first town meeting in Coventry was held in
that rude house and Samuel Cobb was
elected to three offices, including that of
Norman Cobb's father, Tisdale Cobb,
had a rude horse near that of Samuel
Cobb. To him and his wife was born a
daughter Betsey, sister of Norman. To
her belonged the distinction of being the
first white child born in Coventry. Other
children were soon born in the town, and
at length the need of a schoolhouse was
felt, so Samuel Cobb's corn barn was con-
verified to the purposes of such house. A
ruder building was perhaps never devoted
to educational purposes.
When Norman Cobb was five years old
the war of 1912 broke out and his father
was made lieutenant of a corps of soldiers
which was stationed at Derby Line to
guard against hostile approaches which
might possibly take place. A few years
later, when Norman Cobb was yet small
boy, his father and family moved to East
Putney, which was then or afterward called
Cornton because of the abundance of corn
raised there. Here Norman Cobb learned
the trade of blacksmith, following, in this
respect, the footsteps of his father and
grandfather. Nearly all of his life since
then has been spent in the eastern part OF
the town, with the exception of two years
when he was employed by the Rutland
railroad. Scacrely one of the present resi-.
dents of Putney Falls was there when he
went there.
Mr.. Cobb married Miss Mary r. Carr
OF Westminster, sister of Prentiss Carr OF
West Townshend, Feb. IL, 1880, and they
had six children, all of whom are living.
They are Norman, Alphonso and Marshall
OF Putney Falls, Daniel p. Cobb of Brat.
tleborO, Hollis Cobb of North Adams.
Mass, and Quincy b. Cobb of West
Townshend Mr.. and Mrs. Cobb crle-
brated their golden wedding anniversary
in Pierce's hall in Putney Falls, and they
were drawn to the hall In a sleigh manned
by their six sons. They quietly celebrated
the Goth anniversary of their marriage
nearly nine years ago. Mrs. Cobb, or
"Grandma," as all were pleased to speak
of her, died Jan. II, 1892.
Besides being a proficient blacksmith.
Mr.. Cobb was the village sexton for many
years, and he carried on a small farm
connected with his homestead. He was
generous and open-hearted and he had a
kindly disposition which made him MANY
friends. His latch string was ALWAYS Out
10 the entire neighborhood. Altogether.
he was one OF the sturdy New Engianders
whom everybody delights to meet He
was an expert fisherman, and whenever
he took down his pole from the spikes
which supported 1t In the old carriage
house the family knew what 10 expect,
One OF the stories which Mr.. Cobb de.
lighted TO tell the "youngsters" Of the vii.
iage was about the way in which he assist.
ed In rescuing some people on the Great
Meadows" in East Putney. A freShei
broke up the Ice In the Connecticut rive,
ana the water rose TO the chamber win.
dows OF the houses on the meadows. In
one house the people neglected 10 leave
when they could and finally they were un,
able to do so. Mr.. Cobb and some Others
procured some boards and brldRed over
the water between the cakes of ice which
surrounded the house, aud upon this
oridge the people walked from the cham,
per window to place of safety. Scarcely
nSa they crossed this temporary bridge
when the Ice moved away. Mr.. Cobb
leaves two brothers, Alfred Cobb OF Spring,
neld' Mass, and Albion Cobb of Thomas.
ton, Conn.