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Please do not assume that a book's appearance in 'The Builder' library means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe. The Webmaster TV v C.6J" ,(( ... (. tt, • .f.( ... lC,\( \" «' _I l .. ( ~ ( « .. \'(. .. ,,(( * J" f ,{ , f .~ T A MEMOIR * i V SYLVANUS COBB, JR. BY HIS DAUGHTER, ELLA WAITE COBB PUBLISHED FOR HIS FAMILY BOSTON 1891 COPYRIGHT, 1891, BY ELLA WAITE COBB. C. J. PETERS & SON, TYPOGRAPHERS AND ELECTROTYPERS, 146 HIGH STREET, BOSTON. tty (Weenie Of which SYLVANUS COBB, JR., was long an active and honored whose of member ; principles Love, Fidelity, and Truth, governed his own life basis the of ; whose Fatherhood God and the Brotherhood of Man was the soul of his very own religion ; and especially to those Masonic Brethren with whom he was more intimately connected, meeting them often in sacred council, and whom he tenderly loved, (Efjt a iWemoir of fHg Jatfjer is respectfully dedicated. E. W. C. 982259 PREFACE. EXCEPT of those who, by their prominence and suc cess in political, literary, or philanthropic work, have " made their names as familiar as household words," the stories of real life are little known. There can hardly be found a person who has reached maturity, however obscure, who has not passed through some experience, overcome some obstacle, or fought and con quered in some battle, the narration of which would encourage and uplift another. In every cemetery, however humble, sleeps some " mute, inglorious Mil "some of his s blood." ton," Cromwell, guiltless country All honor to the great and good who have gained eminence by a heroic struggle with penury and ob less admiration are due to scurity ; but no respect and those who, in the quieter walks of life, if only in the circle of their own homes, cheerfully perform their daily duties, and with patient heroism overcome their " daily temptations. Modest footprints on the sands of " time mark many a brave and noble life. To his family and immediate friends, the life of Mr. Cobb seemed deserving of a memorial, and they felt 5 6 PREFA CE. that it could not be prepared by a stranger s hand. The work has been necessarily slow and of long dura tion; the greater part of two years has been devoted to it, but it has been a work of love and enjoyment. In preparing this memoir, the prevailing desire of the compiler has been to make Mr. Cobb, as far as possible, tellthe story of his own life, and portray his own char acter. With this end in view, all quotations, letters, and sketches have been gathered, which in any way were identified with his own life, or which helped to reveal some personal characteristic. In fulfilling this desire, and in establishing the correctness of dates, his diaries, which he often said might at some time prove useful, have been invaluable. The endeavor has been to make the arrangement of this material as simple as to be to refrain from ; for possible ; impartial ; eulogy many who will read the book know how free from imperfections he was. He had his weaknesses, who of us have not? but of wilful faults he had none. To the many kind friends who have expressed their interest, and have rendered valuable assistance in the work, thanks are extended. With this brief introduction, the memorial is pre sented to the reader with the hope that it may be found the of this sweet and noble life useful ; that story may bear a lesson of love and duty to many hearts. E. W. C. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. ANCESTRY AND BIRTH. PAGE Genealogy. Ebenezer Cobb. Marriage of Parents. Birth. Christening. Name 11 CHAPTER II. BOYHOOD AND EDUCATION. Removal to Maiden. Anecdote of Boyhood. Farm Work. His Father s Confidence. Muster-Day. " Typhus " Fever. Visits to Norway and to Hallowell. School Days. Miss Goodwin s School. Master Kelly. Composition. Re moval to Waltham. High School. Preparation for Col lege. The Printing Office. Enlistment in the Navy. Early Influences. The Mother s Care and Guidance. A Son s Devotion , 19 CHAPTER III. NAVAL SERVICE. At Brooklyn. Funeral of President Harrison. Letter Home. Extracts from his Diary. Early Naval Experiences. Visit of his Father. Sailing of the Brandy wine. The Voyage. Lisbon. Cadiz. Mahon. Transferred to the Fairfield. Genoa. Marseilles. Civita Vecchia. Gaeta. Naples. Pompeii. Palermo. Ancona. Trieste. Ragusa. Corfu. Port Lion, Athens. Tripoli. Tunis. " Algiers. Gibraltar. My Old Steel Rule." Discon tentment. Transferred to the Delaware. Homeward Bound. Arrival. Letters 39 7 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. MARRIAGE AND DOMESTIC LIFE. PAGE Back in the Printing Office. Residence at East Boston. His " Marriage. " Life s Brightest Hour." Lines to an Ab sent Wife." Twenty-fifth Anniversary. Love and Care of his Children. Letters. Reverence for Woman. Holi days and Birthdays. Love of Kindred. Love of Home. Love of Music. His Hospitality. Extracts from his Writings. Extracts from his Diary 73 CHAPTER V. TEMPERANCE WORK. The Rechabite. Editorials, Salutatory. Intemperance in the Navy. July Fourth. Consistency. The Adams House. The Rumseller. The Washingtonian. The Waverley Magazine. Temperance Work of Later Years. " Self- imposed Tyrants." Sons of Temperance 91 CHAPTER VI. -THE PERIOD OF HIS ENGAGE MENT WITH F. GLEASON. His First Continued Story. His First Norn de Plume. Work for The Freeman. Work for The Carpet Bag. Invited to edit The Northern Light. Work for The Know-Nothing. Biographical Sketch of his Father. Change of Publishers. Work for Mr. Ballou. Six Noms de Plume. Declama tions and Speeches. Farm Work. Commencement of 4< " Diary. Sale of Farm. My Farming Enterprise . 119 CHAPTER VII. HIS WORK FOR THE NEW YORK LEDGER. His Engagement by Mr. Bonner. The Gunmaker of Moscow. His Contract for Exclusive Service. Extracts from Mr. Bonner s Letters. Col. Walter B. Dunlap. Work on Plots. Extracts from Diary. Orion, the Gold-Beater. Examples of Plots. Suggestions for Plots. Rapid Writing. Extracts from Diary. Summary of Ledger Work. Last Work . 133 CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER VIII. PATRIOTIC WORK. PAGE Anti-Slavery. Free Soil. Know-Nothings. Political Speak ing. Captain of the Norway Light Infantry. Stumping the State. Service at Kittery. Anecdote of Vice-Presi dent Hamlin. President of Union League. Close of the War. Hyde Park. Moderator of the Town Meeting when the Women Voted in 1870. Female Suffrage. The Grand Army. First Commander of Post 121. Greeley Cam paign. Letter from One of his Kittery Boys 166 CHAPTER IX. MASONIC WORK. Joined the Fraternity in 1854. Extracts from Diary. Masonic Record. Offices held. Masonic Sketches. "A Reminis cence." "The Templar s Wife." Story of a Sleeve- " Button." The Sign of the Red Cross." "An Effective Token." Extracts from Masonic Novelettes. Extracts from Masonic Lectures. Masonry Subordinate to his Re " ligion. Whence our Brotherhood ?" 183 CHAPTER X. RELIGIOUS FAITH AND WORK. Home Influences. His Mother s Faith. His Father s Influ ence. The Custom of Prayer. Family Discipline. An Old Bible. Preaching. Extracts from Sermons. Broad ening of Faith. Delight in Conference Meetings. Ex tract from a Letter of Condolence. Extracts from his Lecture, "The Rewards of Life." His Faith in Immor tality. Extract from his Letters. Extract from the Memoir of his Father 234 CHAPTER XL MISCELLANEOUS WORK. (RESIDENCES.) His Reading. Favorite Authors. Criticisms of Books read. East Boston. Odd Fellows. Anecdote. Norway. School Committee. Lecturing. Social Pastimes. New York. Newark. Norway again. Chief Engineer of the Fire Company.