Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-07-06

4 @1bbf sh0 oObf anu INV 11t9NNh vi inns
sketch. How well he has thus far sue
ceeded will be set forth in some measure
through the following brief biographi-
cal sketch.
| HIS SCHOOL DAYS.
Going back to the young mans school
days we find William T. Cobb exhibiting
early signs OF becoming cultivated
scholarly gentleman. His course In the
| common schools and Rockland high
school was attended by highest hopors,
| for when be graduated from the latter
| institution in 1873 he was the winner OF
| the salutatory and had fitted for a
| college experience which was to be
marked By further triumphs.
In the fall o. the same year that he
| graduated from the RockIand school
be entered Bowdoin college, and there he
| took the full four years course. He
| graduated In 1877, and not only had the
distinction OF being tine youngest mem
Der of that large class, but was one of the
ten selected for commencement parts.
Among his classmates were at least two
who now have national reputation.
One Is Robert E. Peary, the famous ex-
plorer, W no Is still convinced that he will
| solve the mystery OF he North Pole; the
| other is Charles w. Morse, whose meteoric
course has landed him In the front
circle of New York's great tuanciers.
Another member OF the class tho Ia we'll
known in this State, is George T. Little,
| librarian OF Bowdoin college.
| The Ivy Day exercises of the class OF
| 1877 brought another distinction which
| the subject of this sketch has ever valued
appreciatively-elec as the most pop
| ulsr man OF his class, a distinction which
had been earned by his unfallipg genial
| ity, his courtesy toward every associate
| and his leadership in the good times
| which contribute to the life of every
class and every college. He was also one
of the editors of the college paper, the
| Bowdoin Orient, the columns of which
reflected his intellectual attainments.
Mr.. Cobb's fraternity was Zeta Psi, and
he was a member OF the alumni COM
| mittee which had charge OF building the
| handsome chapter house which was en-
| tered last January. AS an alumnus of
| Bowdoip, he has retained the warmest
regard for that institution, and has at
| tended numerous commandments.
| Last summer the college showed its APP
probation by electing him one OF it's
overseers, and throughout his canvass for
| the GU bernatorial nomination he has no.
where received more ardent support than
that which has come from Bowdoin men.
| Graduates OF that college are now scat
tered all over the State, and from them
have come to Mr.. Cobb many volunteer
| pledges OF support. This sentiment ex-
tends in very great measure to the
present student body.
While engaged in his college course Mr..
Cobb taught school one winter In South
| Windhsm. With the completion OF his
course at Bowdoin he went to Europe and
| studied one year at the University of
| I.eipsic and one year at the University of
| Berlin. During the vacations he i'm
proved his opportunity to indulge in
foreign travel and visited various parts Of
| the continent. He also made an extern
sive study OF the German language, be
coming proficient reader and fluent
| speaker OF 1t.
HIS BUSINESS ABILITY.
| Mr.. Cobb returned to America In the
summer of 1879, and in the fall of that
year entered the law school of Harvard
! university, where he remained one year.
Returning to Rockland he studied law In
the office OF Rice & Hall (the late A. s.
| RICE and Hon. o. G. Hall, now judge of
| superior court in Kennebec county,. He
was admitted to the Knox county bar In
| 1881, but never entered upon the practice
of his chosen profession, out Of Difference
to the wishes OF his father.
Upon the death OF the father In 1890,
William T. Cobb was elected president of
the Cobb Lime Co. He was then thirty
three years OF age but had mastered the
details and proven a successful manager
OF one of New England's largest indus
tries. In 1888 the firm of Cobb, Butler 4
Co. was organized, and Mr.. Cobb with
Hon. A. W. Butler took up the manage
ment OF the shipbuilding business which
had been begun by Francis Cobb. This
| firm to-day has the reputation of being
one OF the most successful shipbuildiug
concerns in New England.
Mr.. Cobb remained president OF this
road and the Cobb Lime Co. until the
properties OF both were sold to the Rock
land Rockport Lime Co. Mr.. Cobb be-
came director of this corporation, a
| position which he still holds. His princi-
| pal business interests OF the present time,
however, are with the firms OF Cobb,
| Wight & Co. and Cobb, Butler & Co,
being senior member OF both. He has
been director OF the Rockland national
bank since the death OF his father, and
| director since their organization OF the
Rockland, Thomaston Il Camden street
railway, Camden q Rockland Water Co.,
Eastern Telephone Co., Knox Telephone
& Telegraph Co., Rockland Trust Co. and
Security Trust Co., Eastern Steamship
Co., McLoon & Slower Lime Co., Georges
Valley Railroad Co. He is also president