[p. 629] cashier and a member of the board of directors of the People's National Bank of Ellwood City, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1868, and is a son of George W. and Catherine (Feather) Cobler.
The great-grandparents of Mr. Cobler, on both sides, came to America from Germany and no families in Bedford County are better or more favorably known. The grandparents on the paternal side were Isaac and Sarah Cobler, the grandmother's people being among the thrifty early settlers of the community known as Dutch Corner. The grandparents had a family of twelve children, namely: George W.; Susan; John, who served as a member of the Fifty-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War and was wounded; Frank, who served as a sharp-shooter, in the same regiment; Thaddeus and Aaron, both of whom are deceased; Mary; David; Adam, deceased; and the others died in infancy.
The late George W. Cobler spent his whole life in Bedford County. He was born March 9, 1837, and died November 23, 1907. He served during the Civil War as a member of Company C, Two Hundred Tenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. For a number of years he worked as a carpenter, being an expert at his trade, and then purchased a farm which he operated until he retired and moved to Everett, where his widow still resides. He married Catherine Feather, who is a daughter of Jacob Feather, who was an old and respected resident of Bedford County. There were five children born to George W. Cobler and wife, namely: Jacob Stanley, who died young; Samuel, who is a contractor residing at Everett; Minnie, who married a Mr. Steckman; William, who died young; and John G.
John G. Cobler obtained his education in the local schools and the Bedford County Normal School and subsequently took a business course and was graduated from Eastman's Commercial College, in 1882. Had Mr. Cobler followed his own inclination at the beginning of his business career, he would have sought fortune in one of the new communities of the West, but he gave way to filial advice and remained at home. He taught several terms of school and then embarked in a mercantile business in Clearville, Pa., where he continued from 1884 until 1889. On May 14, 1902, Mr. Cobler became cashier of the newly opened First National Bank of Everett, Pa., and it was largely due to his untiring efforts that the institution prospered from the first. During his whole period of residence at Everett, Mr. Cobler was a citizen of prominence. Early he identified himself with the Democratic party and when only twenty-four years of age was elected to the office of justice of the peace in Monroe Township. For a number of years he served in the borough council as secretary, and for five years was postmaster at Everett. He has frequently served as a delegate to both State and Congressional conventions of his party. When Mr. Cobler retired from the Everett bank he came, in the spring of 1907, to Ellwood City, to become cashier of the People's National Bank. Undoubtedly his connection with this financial institution has greatly added to its strength, coming as he did, with the clean record of five years of effective banking experience behind him. At Ellwood City as at Everett, Mr. Cobler has proven himself a most valuable citizen.
Mr. Cobler was married to Miss Annie Baughman, who is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Mortimore) Baughman. The Baughmans are old established people of Bedford County. The family was one of especial loyalty during the Civil War, in which Sergeant George Baughman, father of Mrs. Cobler, with three of his brothers, lost his life. He was an officer of the One Hundred Thirty-first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Cobler have two children: George C. and Mary Alberta. George C. Cobler graduated from the Everett High School, Mercersburg Academy, and the Pennsylvania Dental University, in the class of 1907. He is engaged in the practice of dentistry at Ellwood City. Mary Alberta Cobler graduated from High School and subsequently spend[sic] one year at college. Mr. Cobler and family belong to the Reformed Church. Formerly he was connected with the organization of Sons of Veterans and belongs to the order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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