Dyar Cobb reminiscences
Collection — Volume: V036
Identifier: V036
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a scrapbook containing a twenty-two page typewritten copy of the reminiscences of Dyar Cobb. Written circa 1880s, Cobb shares his recollections of growing up in Decatur County, Indiana and how early settlers lived and worked. He describes how his family made clothing from flax, raw cotton, deer skins and sheep's wool and notes the destruction of the corn crop in 1822 by an "army of squirrels." He also shares a number of personal stories, including trying to shoot a bear, finding a large number of rattlesnakes in a log, deer hunting with his brother, and traveling to Cincinnati and New Orleans to "sow his wild oats."
Dates
- circa 1880s
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Dyar Cobb was an early pioneer of Decatur County, Indiana. He was born on August 6, 1807 in Green County, Pennsylvania, the second child of Joshua and Nancy Cobb. In March 1819, he moved with his family to Indiana, arriving by flatboat at the mouth of Hogan Creek where the town of Aurora is now located. In the fall of 1820, his father enterered eighty acres of land in what is now Decatur County and moved the family there in December of that year. In November 1830, Dyar married Almira Tremain and they had 12 children, eight of whom died in infancy. He was a farmer and his homestead was located on the Michigan Road southeast of Greensburg. Mr. Cobb passing away at the age of 93 on October 20, 1900.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
"An Aged Pioneer Passes Away." Greensburg Standard (IN), October 26, 1900.
Warner, A. Map of Rush and Decatur Counties, Indiana. [Philadelphia: C.O. Titus, Publisher, . Philadelphia: Worley and Bracher, engr, 1867] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013593162/.
Sources:
Information found within collection.
"An Aged Pioneer Passes Away." Greensburg Standard (IN), October 26, 1900.
Warner, A. Map of Rush and Decatur Counties, Indiana. [Philadelphia: C.O. Titus, Publisher, . Philadelphia: Worley and Bracher, engr, 1867] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2013593162/.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a purchase from the Smith Book Company on 1945/04/13.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2019/11/22 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2019/11/22 by Laura Eliason.
- Title
- Dyar Cobb reminiscences
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
