Lieutenant Edward J. Cobleigh was born 22 Mar 1837 in Northfield, Vermont to George H. Cobleigh, born about 1792 in Vermont, and his wife, Electy, last name unknown to author. Edward was enumerated on the 1850 Northfield, Washington County, Vermont Census with his parents and siblings, George, Caroline, Martin, Dennison and Charles. He was next enumerated as a Boarder on the 1860 Chicago Ward 2, Cook County, Illinois Census in the household of Nancy Bishop of Vermont who owned a Boarding House, as age 23 and shown as a Pedler. In 1870, he was enumerated on the Harrison County, Iowa, St. John Township, as age 32, a Railroad Baggage Master, after having married Georgianna A. Woodward on 28 Mar 1865 in Lowell, Massachusetts, and having one daughter, Lillian Gertrude Cobleigh, born 19 Dec 1867.
Georgianna A. Woodward was born 16 Dec 1842 in New Hampshire to Jacob Andrews Woodward, born 10 Apr 1811, in Lyndeborough, Hillsboro City, New Hamphshire, and his wife, Julia Bowen of Holderness, born 02 Apr 1809 and died 27 Nov 1878. Jacob died 20 Jul 1846 in Lyndeborough, Hillsboro City, New Hampshire. He was the son of Daniel Woodward and Lucy Burnham.
In 1880 Edward was living in Missouri Valley, Harrison County, Iowa with his age shown as 42 and occupation as American Express Agent. Georgianna was shown as 39 years old and Lillian 12. They had two boarders in the household, David Richardson, 50, born in New York and Ethan Daget, 39, born in New York.
By 1900 Edward and his family were back in Evanston Ward 2, Cook County, Illinois, shown as age 63 and married 35 years. Georgianna was and Lillian, 32. There was a Dress Maker, Louisa C. Heldt, living in the household with them, age 33, born in Illinois.
By 1910, the family was still in Cook County, Illinois, Ridgeville Township and Edward was shown as age 73 and occupation was Sewing Machine Agent. Georgianna was 67 and their daughter, Lillian was still home at age 42.
Internment records show his date of death as 13 June 1912.
(Researched and written by Glenda McWhirter Todd)
Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit
can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.