John Cobb (pioneer) facts for kids

John Cobb (born May 19, 1814 – died November 13, 1893) was an American pioneer. A pioneer is someone who is among the first to explore and settle a new area. John Cobb was born in Kentucky and moved many times with his family across the Midwestern United States. Later, he led his family on a long journey across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains to California in 1850–1851.

Even in California, he moved often before finally settling in a place now called Cobb Valley in Lake County, California. He was the first European settler in that area. Today, his name lives on in Cobb Mountain and the small town of Cobb, California, both located in Lake County, California.

John Cobb's Early Life (1814–1832)

John Cobb was born on May 19, 1814, in Henry County, Kentucky. This area was close to the Ohio River. His father was a farmer.

When John was a child, his family lived in Indiana for six years before moving back to Kentucky. At age 16, John's family moved to Jefferson County, Indiana.

John left home when he was 18 years old in 1832. He moved to Vigo County, Indiana. There, he started a business using a keelboat to transport goods between towns on the Wabash River. He traveled on rivers, selling crops like corn. He also bought horses for his work.

Life in the Midwest (1835–1850)

In 1835, when John was 21, his father passed away. This meant John became the head of his family. He went back to Madison, Indiana, where his mother and siblings lived. He moved them to Tippecanoe County, where he continued farming and using his keelboat until 1836.

Next, John moved with his mother, two sisters, and brother to Bloomington (now Muscatine, Iowa) in Iowa Territory. They lived near the Mississippi River. He farmed and traded there for three years. In 1839, his mother passed away while visiting her mother in Madison, Indiana.

John returned to Iowa later that year. He then decided to move to Texas. On his way, in Arkansas, he became very sick with a serious illness that affected his joints. This illness left him with a slight limp for the rest of his life. He returned to Iowa in 1841.

In 1843, John moved to Quincy, Illinois. On April 18, 1844, he married Jane Ann Leypold. They had two children, but sadly, both passed away in their first year. His wife, Jane, died in 1848. On August 17, 1848, John married his second wife, Esther K. Deming. They would have six children together. Their first son, John Jr., was born in Illinois in 1849.

The Journey West (1850–1851)

In the spring of 1850, John and Esther Cobb, with their young son, began a long journey. They traveled across the plains in an ox cart, heading for California. They reached Salt Lake City on August 17, 1850. They stayed there for several months because Esther Cobb was not well.

While in Salt Lake, John Cobb became involved with the Mormons. Later, he would even perform weddings in Lake County as an elder of the Latter Day Saints church. Their second son, George, was born in 1851 in the Utah Territory.

In the spring of 1851, the family continued their journey. They crossed the mountains and arrived in Ringold, near Placerville, California, on July 1, 1851.

Settling in California (1851–1893)

When they first arrived in California, John Cobb tried mining for a short time in Ringold. Then, he bought a grocery store and ran a boarding house. In September 1851, he sold his businesses and moved to the Napa Valley in Napa County, California. There, he rented a farm near Calistoga, California. After farming for a year, he sold his crops.

In September 1852, the family moved north to Oregon. Their third son, Joseph, was born there in 1852. However, in August 1853, they returned to Napa County and rented another farm.

Finding Cobb Valley

In 1853, a special agreement with Native Americans was changed. This opened up a large area of land for new settlers in what is now Lake County, California. John Cobb was one of the first to take advantage of this chance.

In October 1853, he traveled north towards Clear Lake. He found a perfect place to settle in what is now called Cobb Valley. It was named after him because he was the first settler there. In November 1853, he brought his wife and three young sons to the valley. They planted an orchard and a garden near Nutmeg Creek.

Life as a Settler

In 1854, John Cobb was elected as the County Assessor for Napa County, serving in 1855. His daughter Mary was born in Cobb Valley in 1854. His fourth son, Thomas, was likely born there in 1856.

Once a year, the family made a five-day journey by oxcart to Napa. They would sell extra farm produce like butter, cheese, and chickens. They also bought supplies they needed. In 1857, Cobb was elected as a road overseer for Clear Lake Township.

Later, John Cobb sold his properties in Cobb Valley. Records show that Thomas Standiford bought them in 1858. Cobb then moved south to the Middletown area, where he continued farming. His last child, Hester, was born on July 8, 1858.

Returning to Lake County

By 1860, the Cobb family had returned to Lake County. In 1861, Lake County was officially separated from Napa County. John Cobb was hired to manage two large ranches, Rancho Guenoc and Rancho Collayomi. He moved with his wife and younger children into an abandoned building called the Stone House. He farmed there for about three years. He also leased out parts of the ranches to other settlers and encouraged them to buy land when they could.

For two years, he moved to nearby Healdsburg, California in Sonoma County so his children could attend school. After that, he returned to Little High Valley. He spent about four years improving his 520-acre farm there.

In 1868, official records described John Cobb as 52 years old, 5 feet 10½ inches tall, with a sandy complexion, blue eyes, and gray hair.

Cobb returned to Healdsburg for about 18 months while his younger children finished their education. Then, he came back permanently to Lake County. In Little High Valley, John Cobb built a mill, continued farming, and established a large orchard and vineyard. He lived there for the rest of his life. His adult sons also bought nearby land, and eventually, the Cobb family owned most of the small valley.

John Cobb passed away on November 13, 1893. He is buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Lower Lake, along with his wife Esther, son William, and daughter Hester.