REv. ALvrN ALoNzo CoBER, D. D. THE COBER GENEALOGY of PENNSYLVANIA, IOWA AND CANADA by REV. ALVIN ALONZO COBER, Ph. M., D. D. Of Rochester, N. Y. WITH INTRODUCTION by REV. PETER COBER Of Kitchener, Ontario uRemember the days of old, consider the years of many genera­ tions: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee"-Deutfronomy 32 :7. THE BERLIN PRESS, BERLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, 1933. PUBLISHER'S STATEMENT The writer of this page wishes to inform those who are inter­ ested in the Cober Genealogy that the author, Rev. Alvin A. Cober, D. D., has had no pecuniary 1notive in publishing this volume. Those who are personally acquainted with him know that he has devoted several years of his time to this work., and that he has spent a considerable amount of his money for stationery, postage and travel without any prospects of reimbursement. Were it not for his interest in his ancestry, for his loyalty and devotion to his relatives, and for his willingness to render free services to all his friends and to future generations, we would not ha,~e at our command to-day these family records which we prize so highly and which will in­ crease in interest and in value as the years go by. Knowing that sales will be limited, it was necessary to have the book published as cheaply as possible. While cloth binding would be more desirable a paper cover has been used as a matter of economy. The book is offered for sale at $1.50 in the United States. In Canada the cost will perhaps be 20% more on account of tariff and money exchange rates. ~fay we ask those who read this announcement to assist in the distribution of these books in order that enough copies may be sold to cover at least the cost of printing. Additional copies may be ordered from the author or from his sister., Mrs. Henry vV. Menges, Berlin, Pa. ALVARO B. CoBER Berlin_, Pa. CONTENTS I. Preface . Page 9 I I. Introduction . Page 13 III. History and Environment of the Peter Cober Family ......................... Nos. 1 to 11 IV. History and Environment of the Nicholas Cober Familv.. Nos. 11 to 22 V. Descendants of Nicholas Cober: 1. Elizabeth . No. 11 2. Rachel ...... ·................. Nos. 22 to 483 See Also. Nos. 1882 to 1935 3. Peter . Nos. 484 to 859 4. Magdalene . Nos. 860 to 971 5. ~I ary . Nos. 972 to 1040 6. Catharine . Nos. 1041 to 1228 7 • .1t.J.~:r argaret . N·os. 1229 to 1351 8. Nicholas, Jr.................... Nos. 1352 to 1514 9. Susanna ...................... Nos. 1515 to 1578 10. Jacob ........................ Nos. 1579 to 1780 11. Barbara . Nos. 1781 to 1935 IV. Descendants of Elizabeth Cober ...... Nos. 1936 to 1944 VII. Descendants of Veronica Cober. No. 1945 VIII. Descendants of l\Iargaret Cober ....... Nos. 1946 to 1948 IX. History of the Peter Cober, Jr. Family Nos. 1949 to 1954 X. Descendants of Peter Cober, Jr.: 1. Jacob ........................ Nos. 1955 to 2102 2. John ......................... Nos. 2103 to 2248 3. Samuel . Nos. 2249 to 2321 4. Peter III . Nos. 2322 to 2398 5. Jonathan ..................... Nos. 2399 to 2498 XI. History of John Cober . No. 7 XII. Descendants of Catharine Cober ...... Nos. 2499 to 2506 XIII. Descendants of l\Iary Cober .......... Xos. 2507 to 2508 XIV. Descendants of Susan Co her. Nos. 2 509 to 2 514 XV. Index. Page 277 PREFACE ,vhen the writer began to study the Cober ancestry he had no thought of publishing his findings. His investigations at first were purely personal, affording an interesting and pleasant pastime. It was only when materials increased and multiplied that considera­ tion was given to some method for the preservation of the data col­ lected. His first thought was to make several copies, one to be placed in the archives of the Historical Societv of Pennsvlvania at Harrisburg, and others to be distributed amo;g persons ~ho might be interested in the records and who would preserve them. Later, relatiYes who were more optimistic about financial support than the writer, suggested that the materials sought and assembled should be put into substantial and permanent form. Accordingly it was de­ cided to print them in the volume which is herewith sent forth. As to the scope of the records to be included in the publication, the writer was at first concerned only with the relatives in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. When he discovered that there are cousins in Iowa and Canada, he began to inquire about them also. The discoveries were so interesting and so vital a part of the relation­ ship that they were also made a part of the present volume. This study, therefore, comprises every branch of the Cober relationship which descended from Somerset countv so far as it could be discov­ ered. The regret is that it could not be more inclusive. After pass­ ing through every avenue of approach possible, in search for data, there are still some families wanting and others of which only par­ tial reports could be obtained. There are always natural difficulties in the collection of full and accurate information in such an undertaking. Besides these was the added handicap that the writer was a stranger to most of the families concerned and far removed from many from whom the facts were sought. X o doubt there were some who questioned the motives and purposes of this pretending cousin who was busying himself with their personal and family affairs. In these days of all sorts of swindles the writer can easily understand that there might be in­ credulity, hesitation and refusal on the part of some to release their personal and family history, the release of which might invoh·e them in trouble later on. Perhaps the surprise is, that so much material has been made aYailable under the circumstances. The author is painfully conscious of the fact that the reader will find errors here and there. Sources of accurate information were not always available. l\1aterials honestly gh'en sometimes invoh·ed elements of unreliable tradition. Names and dates sometimes given from memorv were not alwavs exact. In some cases names and ~ ~ dates not written by members of the family were misunderstood and misspelled. In other cases two reports of the same family were given in which names were misspelled and dates were in con­ flict. Frequently the letters, a and o, n and u, e and i, and some­ times the capitals, F, L and T, and M and W, and others even could not be differentiated. To write for more intelligible lettering and numbering meant a reply in from one to six months and sometimes not at all. There are many letters, kindly written, for information, still unanswered. The only thing to do in such cases was to make comparisons with other letters, figures and names, and then make the best guess possible. Some names had as many as four and five different spellings. Names of women were sometimes spelled with masculine endings and vice versa. These facts are not stated in the spirit of criticism; but rather in self defense. They are offered as excuses for any errors or at least some of the errors which may be discovered. If there should seem to be disparity and unfaimess between the biographical sketches set forth, permit it to be said that the writer could present only what folks or their friends sent him. He had no other way of knowing the facts. If anything complimentary has been said of anyone let it be remembered that it is better to place a flower in the living hand than on the lifeless tomb. On the whole the reader will find in this volume an outline of the Cober history which reveals the spirit, character and life of the peo­ ple. It is a great satisfaction to the writer that from the fragments gathered here and there a connected and reliable story, from the original ancestor down to the present generation, has been made possible. All who read this book will find in it a real revelation of facts, many of which no one thought could be ascertained. It is to be hoped that not many years hence some one else, obsessed with the spirit of history will write an account that will be more exhaus­ tfre and complete. A very illuminating and inspiring feature of this volume is the pictures which adorn its pages and give an insight into the person­ dities and lives of those presented, which could not be obtained in any other way. Some of the readers ·would be willing to pay the price of the book to see the faces of the original Peter Cober and -10- his sons Nicholas and Peter, Jr. In fifty or a hundred years from now the faces which appear in this Yolume will be precious to many who may have the privilege to tum its pages. The pictures which appear have been solicited and the regret is that others who have been asked and even begged to send photographs have not respond­ ed. The duplications which appear are pardonable. The picture of Rev. Peter Cober appears four times; but only once with his consent and then only after strong importunity. For the other three appearances he was not consulted. This was the easiest way to avoid an argument. When the pictures of the deed and Peter Cober' s family and the ten men over seventy years of age were taken, there was no thought 0£ using them in a book.