John W Cobb, Jr. and Nancy Jane (Hodge) Cobb

John and Nancy Cobb, my second great-grandparents on my mother's paternal line, were among only three of my second greats missing a photo in my family tree. The only photo I had was of their grave. They are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in West Plains, Missouri and have a beautiful stone flanked by two huge peonies. The cemetery is lovely and not far from the land where they lived and farmed. 

The grave of John and Nancy Cobb at Evergreen Cemetery in West Plains, Missouri.

Last week I was in Missouri for a family reunion. In talking to my Great Uncle Bobby Cobb, he mentioned he had a picture of John and Nancy. What?! I had never known a photo existed. We made plans to head over to his house on Sunday, less than an hour from the reunion location, and take a look at his pictures. Sure enough, he produced the pictures of John and Nancy Cobb and I was able to photograph them. I wasn't able to keep these, but he sent me home with a box of other old photos. I still have to go through them and get them all scanned. For now, though, I am very happy to introduce John W. Cobb, Jr. and his wife, Nancy Jane Hodge Cobb.

John W. Cobb, Jr. 

Nancy Jane (Hodge) Cobb

The frame was originally a two-part frame hinged together and when closed it clasped tight like a case. Now, after so many years, the two sides have come apart and the clasp is broken. Nancy's photo was stuck firmly in the frame and a gentle attempt to loosen it was unsuccessful. I was afraid I would damage it if I tried harder, so it was left as is. But John's side of the frame came apart easily. I was glad because his photo was partially obscured by the frame and I was able to take it out and photograph the whole thing.

John W. Cobb, Jr.

But that wasn't even the best part. Behind this photo was an older tintype portrait of two men.

The man on the left is believed to be John W. Cobb, Jr.
The man on the right is unknown.

My assumption at the time was that one of the two men must be John. The picture was probably the original picture in the frame and the more recent photo had been added later. It makes sense, too, because the photo of Nancy is a younger likeness of her and matches with the time period of this one. Hers could also be a tintype - like I said, I couldn't get that side of the frame open, so I don't know for sure. Looking at the two men and comparing them to the older photo of John (which only kind-of clearly showed the bottom half of his face), I believe the man on the left to be him. I enlarged the photo for clarification.

Close up of the two men in the tin-type portrait.

Closer still of the man I believe is John W. Cobb, Jr., my second great-grandfather.

So, my family, meet John W. Cobb , Jr. and his wife Nancy. They've been added to my family tree on Ancestry and now there is only one "second great" without a photo.

John W. Cobb, Jr. was born on 12 January 1852 in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina to John W. "Jack" Cobb (1817-1880) and Anna Cahoun (Long) Cobb (1824-?). Between 1865 and 1870 the family moved to Grainger County, Tennessee where John met Nancy, daughter of Welcome Hodge (1816-1884) and Isabella (McGoldrick) Hodge (1825-?). John and Nancy married on 2 February 1873 in Grainger County. They were the parent of six children, but only four lived to be counted on a census and reach adulthood. 

• Warrie Glenn Cobb was born in 1883 in Tate Springs, Tennessee
• Anna Belle Cobb was born in 1884 in Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee
• Henry Clay "Kay" Cobb was born in 1885 also in Morristown
• Carrie Love Cobb was born in 1889 in Brinkley, Monroe, Arkansas

By 1900 John and Nancy had settled in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri and they lived there the rest of their lives. John died on 24 August 1923 and Nancy on 26 August 1927.

The obituary of John Cobb in the West Plains Journal, 30 Aug 1923, from Newspapers.com

The obituary of Nancy Cobb in the West Plains Journal-Gazette 1 Sep 1927, from Newspapers.com