BIOS: Charles Pythian COBAUGH, Rockwood, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 170/1

Charles Pythian COBAUGH.

Charles Pythian Cobaugh, deceased, who was a prominent and influential citizen 
of Rockwood, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born in 1841 in Taylor township, 
Cambria county, near Conemaugh, the son of Daniel and Nancy (Gochenow) Cobaugh, 
and one of eight children, namely: Charles Pythian, of whom later; David, a 
resident of Johnstown; Philip,lives in Conemaugh; Jennie married (first) Richard 
Clay, (second) a Mr. Davis, of Chicago; Alice married David Moyer, of Conemaugh; 
Susannah, wife of Thomas Grove, of Morrellville; Louisa, wife of John Good, and 
Daniel, who was in the war of the rebellion and was a prisoner in Libby prison 
nine months.
Charles P. Cobaugh, in his earlier days, worked upon a farm.  At the breaking 
out of the Civil war he tendered his services to his country, serving two 
inlistments.  The first was for three months in Company H, Tenth Pennsylvania 
Reserves.  On October 21, 1861, he re-enlisted in Company C, First Battalion, 
Nineteenth United States Infantry, served for three years, and was honorable 
discharged at Camp Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, October 29, 1864.  The 
command to which he belonged was a part of the Western army and was commanded by 
General Benjamin Harrison.  At the close of the war he became fireman and later 
engineer on the Pennsylvania railroad, and accepted a position, nearly twenty 
years ago, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.  He removed his family to 
Meyersdale, and it was during his residence at this place that he had charge of 
the engine on the "Keystone Shifter," a coal train that plied between Salisbury 
Junction and Cumberland.  His next removal was to Rockwood, thence to 
Connellsville and back again to Rockwood, where his family have since resided.  
In 1886, while engaged in shifting in sight of his own home, the locomotive of 
which Mr. Cobaugh was in charge blew up, and he and his fireman, the late Harry 
Dayton, escaped with their lives, as if by a miracle.  For many months after the 
terrible accident the unfortunate engineer was confined to his bed, hovering 
between life and death, occasioned by the great nervous shock and other injuries 
of a serious nature sustained in the awful catastrophe.  He never fully 
recovered from the effects of the explosion, but as soon as he was again able to 
engage in active pursuits he railroaded and rested by turns, his last work at 
the throttle having been performed several years ago on the Confluence helper.  
From that time on he was engaged in the manufacture of cigars and tobacco on a 
limited scale.  Polically Mr. Cobaugh was an ardent Republican.  He was a member 
of the William H. Weller Post No. 549, G. A. R.,; Meyersdale Lodge No. 554, F. 
and A. M.; and of Rockwood Council No. 801, Royal Arcanum.  During his residence 
in Rockwood Mr. Cobaugh identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Charles P. Cobaugh married, June 18, 1866, Rebella Parks, daughter of Joseph 
Parks, who for many years was an engineer on the famous Old Portage railroad, 
and who met his death by an explosion of his engine in 1865.  Eight children, 
five sons and three daughters, were born to them, namely: George P.; Clara B., 
wife of William Millhouse; Grace, wife of George E. Beatty; Lewis D.; Lena M., 
wife of W. A. Shumaker; the three other sons, Joseph W., Charles P. and James 
G., are all deceased.  Joseph W. died from the effects of having his head caught 
between two cars loaded with rails in the Rockwood yards, in 1887; Charles P. 
died in 1892 of typhoid fever; and James G. was scalded to death in 1902 in a 
wreck on the Somerset & Cambria branch of the railroad.
Charles P. Cobaugh died at his home in Rockwood, January 9, 1904, aged sixty-four 
years.  His demise was most sincerely mourned by those who knew him intimately. 
He was a fond parent, a Christian man and an ideal citizen in every sense of the 
term.  The funeral services were conducted on January 11th, in the Rockwood 
Methodist Episcopal church.  Rev. C. L. E. Cartwright, of Scottdale, during 
whose pastorate in Meyersdale Mr. Cobaugh was received into the church, 
delivered a powerful and impressive sermon.  He was assisted in the services by 
Rev. O. E. Rodkey, Rev. W. H. Blackburn and Rev. R. D. Ellis.  Interment was at 
New Centerville.  The services at the cemetery were conducted by his comrades of 
the Grand Army and his brethren of the Masonic fraternity, a large delegation 
from Meyersdale Lodge being in attendance.