Joshua C. Cobb was born in Eddyville, then ( Caldwell County) Ky. on the 7th day of July 1841. His father, Robert L. Cobb, was a native of the same town and his mother, whose maiden name was Cornelia B. Mims, was born in Richmond, Va.  Joshua C. in early boyhood attended the schools of his native village; later he took a course in the schools of Lebanon, Tenn. and at the outbreak of the war was a student in the college of Georgetown, Ky. The first venture of what has been an active business career was made with his father in Eddyville where he engaged in the tobacco trade which has absorbed much of his attention since. From 1867 to 1869 he was the southern traveling agent for the Erie Transportation Company after which he became interested in an extensive firm at New Orleans. He continued in this connection traveling extensively until the dissolution of the firm caused by the death in 1873 of Mr. Gunther a leading member of the firm. Mr. Cobb then became a resident of Paducah, Ky., accociated with Buckner and Terrell in the tobacco trade continuing until 1878 when he became connected with immense wharf-boat and forwarding business which still occupies his attention. Mr. Cobb is a man of systematic business principles and the urbanity with which he treats all with whom he comes in contact makes him deservedly popular. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was married at Paducah, in 1871, to Miss Manie, daughter of Dr. R. Saunders. They have three children; Reubie Fowler, Irvin S. and John S. Cobb.