Amasa Cobb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Honorable
Amasa Cobb
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| 6th and 9th Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court | |
| In office 1890–1892 |
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| Preceded by | Manoah B. Reese |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Maxwell |
| In office 1884–1886 |
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| Preceded by | George B. Lake |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Maxwell |
| Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court | |
| In office 1878–1892 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Gantt |
| Succeeded by | Alfred M. Post |
| 5th Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska | |
| In office 1875–1876 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel W. Little |
| Succeeded by | Robert D. Silver, Jr. |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district |
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| In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1871 |
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| Preceded by | A. Scott Sloan |
| Succeeded by | J. Allen Barber |
| 13th Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly | |
| In office January 9, 1861 – January 8, 1862 |
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| Preceded by | William P. Lyon |
| Succeeded by | James W. Beardsley |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 15th district |
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| In office January 10, 1855 – January 14, 1857 |
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| Preceded by | Levi Sterling |
| Succeeded by | Lemuel W. Joiner |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Iowa 2nd district |
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| In office January 11, 1860 – January 8, 1862 |
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| Preceded by | Levi Sterling |
| Succeeded by | John H. Vivian |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 27, 1823 Crawford County, Illinois |
| Died | July 5, 1905 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California |
| Resting place | Wyuka Cemetery Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Political party | Republican |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | |
| Unit | Army of the Potomac |
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| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Amasa Cobb (born September 27, 1823 – died July 5, 1905) was an important American politician and judge. He served as the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court two times. He was also the Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska. Earlier in his life, he was a United States Congressman for Wisconsin for eight years. He also led the Wisconsin State Assembly as its Speaker. During the American Civil War, he was an officer in the Union Army.
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Amasa Cobb's Early Life and Career
Amasa Cobb was born in Illinois in 1823. When he was 19, he moved to the Wisconsin Territory. There, he worked in lead mines. He later served as a soldier in the Mexican–American War.
After the war, he studied law and became a lawyer in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He worked as a district attorney (a public lawyer) from 1850 to 1854. In 1855, he was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, serving until 1856. During this time, he was also Wisconsin's adjutant general, a high-ranking military leader for the state. In 1860, he joined the Wisconsin State Assembly. He became its Speaker (the leader of the assembly) in 1861.
Amasa Cobb in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Amasa Cobb joined the Union Army. On July 12, 1861, he became a Colonel of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He fought with the Army of the Potomac in many important battles.
One notable event was at the Battle of Antietam. Cobb took command of a brigade (a large group of soldiers) after another general moved to a different unit. In the fall of 1862, while still fighting, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. His last battle with the 5th Wisconsin Infantry was the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Even though he was a Congressman, Cobb returned to military service. On September 29, 1864, he became the Colonel of the new 43rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. His regiment was sent to Nashville, Tennessee. They guarded important supply routes and a railroad depot in Johnsonville.
On November 4, Cobb's soldiers fought off an attack by Confederate forces. This was during the Battle of Johnsonville. For the rest of the war, his regiment guarded railroads and supply lines in Tennessee. Cobb briefly led a larger group of soldiers under another general. He and his men left the army on June 24, 1865, and he returned to civilian life in Wisconsin.
After the war, on January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson honored Cobb. He was given the honorary rank of Brevet Brigadier General of volunteers. This was for his brave service in battles like Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, and Antietam. The United States Senate approved this honor.
Life in Nebraska
In 1871, Amasa Cobb moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. He started practicing law there again. He was appointed mayor of Lincoln in 1873.
Later, in 1878, he became an associate justice (a judge) of the Nebraska Supreme Court. He served in this role until 1892. For the last four years of his time on the court, from 1888 to 1892, he was the Chief Justice of Nebraska.
Amasa Cobb passed away in Los Angeles, California, on July 5, 1905. He was buried in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Images for kids
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Amasa Cobb's signature
See Also
- List of Wisconsin State Assembly Speakers
- List of Wisconsin State Senators
- List of United States Congressmen from Wisconsin
- List of Mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska
- List of Justices of the Nebraska Supreme Court
