William Henry COBB was born on August 2, 1833, in Roane County, Virginia. He died on March 23, 1901, at Charleston (Kanawha County), West Virginia. At the time of his death, he was living at Left Hand, (Roane County) West Virginia. His father was William COBB, born about 1796 in Pennsylvania. His mother was Elizabeth (?), born about 1804.
William Henry COBB married Barbara Ellen STARCHER (born August 1833; died November 6, 1911). She was the daughter of Daniel STARCHER and Nance (?). They were married at the residence of her parents at Glenville (Gilmer County), on August 7, 1852, by the Rev. Rufus Notts.
COBB was in the Union Army in the War Between the States. He inlisted on August 15, 1862, and served with Company "A" 13th Regiment of the West Virginia Volunteer infantry. He was discharged on June 22, 1865 at Wheeling, West Virginia.
His Application for Civil War Invalid Pension was filed by him on July 3, 1877. The application Number 238964; Certificate Number 304942, is on file in the Military Records Section of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC.
In the Declaration of Orignial Pension filed before A. A. Smith, Clerk, Roane County Court of Records, on May 29, 1877, it states that COBB, "Alleges Disease of Heart - was at Lynchburg (VA) August 1864. In the declaration, he signed his "X" Mark swearing that:
"I am the identical William Henry COBB who was enrolled on the 15th day of August 1862 in Company A of the 13th Regiment of West Virginia Volunteers, commanded by George Danner, and I was honorably discharged at Wheeling, West Virginia,on the 22nd of June 1865, and my age is now 44 years old. While in the service aforesaid, and in the line of my duty, I received the following disability, to wit:
In August 1864, while on the Lynchburg raid in the Shenadoah (sic) Valley, I contracted disease of heart. I suffer greatly with palpitation of the heart and smothering sensations. Said disease renders me unfit for manual labor. I was treated at Sandy Hook in August 1864 and from there was sent to Frederick City. I claim a pension of disease of heart.
I have never been employed in the Military or Naval Service of the United States otherwise than set forth above. Since leaving the Service, I have resided in Roane County, West Virginia, and my occupation has been farming before my entry into the Service aforesaid. I was of good, sound physical health, being at enrollment a farmer and I am now partially disabled from obtaining my subsistance by manual labor by reason of my disabilities above stated, recieved in the service of the United States, and I make Declaration for the purpose of being placed on the Invalid Pension Roll of the United States. I hereby appoint and empower, with full power of substitute, Nathan W. Fitzgerald, of Washington, D.C., my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute my claim. My Post Office address is Left Hand, County of Roane, State of West Virginia."
And then, on November 25, 1879, William Henry COBB placed "His "X" Mark" on a notarized statement before Lynee I. Ellis, Notary Public, at Newton, West Virginia. The following is the exact wording of the statement:
"I, William Henry COBB, whose Post Office is Left Hand, County of Roane and State of West Virginia and whose age is now 45 years being duly sworn on oath says that he cannot get evidence of a Commissioned Officer as to the circumstances under which his disability occured for the following reason his Captain Dannah (sic) does not remember anything about the circumstances under which his disease of heart occured. And affiant further says the reason why he cannot get the affadavit of his department Surgeon or Assistant Surgeon is that he cannot find the whereabouts for either of them and the reason why he cannot get the affadavit of a family Physician is that he has not been able to pay a family physician and has not been treated by any. My disease for which I claim a Pension is heart disease and shortness of breath. Affiant further says he has not been employed in the United States service either Military or Naval sine the War of Rebellion June 28th, 1865."
On January 15, 1898, Commissioner H. Clay Evans, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, wrote to W. H. COBB, Odell, West Virginia, asking several questions. One question asked if COBB had any children living and wanting their names and dates of their birth. COBB answered that his living children were, Daniel M. COBB, October 2, 1859; James Clark COBB, March 12, 1864; Phillip S. COBB, August 2, 1867; Jennie COBB, May 31, 1873; Elizabeth COBB, April 23, 1879.
Later, COBB was awarded a pension of $6 per month and collected it until his death.
William Henry COBB died on March 23, 1901, while in the hospital at Charleston, West Virginia. His widow, Barbara Ellen STARCHER, filed for a Civil War Widow's Pension. On March 27, 1901, Barbara E. COBB, his widow, appeared in the office of the Clerk of Kanawha County, in Charleston, West Virginia and placed "Her "X" Mark" on a form entitled, Widow's Claim For Pension. She received a pension of $2 per month until her death on November 6, 1911.
During their marriage, William Henry and Barbara Ellen had the following children:
Thomas, born about 1854
A. Y., daughter, born April 9, 1856
Daniel M., born June 15, 1858
Joshiah P., born July 15, 1860
James Clark, born March 12, 1864
Jordan, son, born about 1867
Phillip S., born about 1867
Ulyssus Grant, born about 1870
Filmore, son, born about 1872
West Virginia, daughter, born May 31, 1873
Elizabeth, daughter, born April 23, 1879
The whereabouts of the burial of William Henry COBB is unknown, although records indicate that he may have been buried by the County of Kanawha, possibly at Spring Hill Cemetery at Charleston, West Virginia.
---
Posted by Charles Richard "Dick" COBB, November 20, 2001 01:49PM
