Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

2792 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSHBESCHEL P. COBB. The bar of Savannah is a body of brilliant men andone of its youngest members, Herschel P. Cobb, has, through- sheer abilitywon recognition and in a comparatively short time built up a law practicethat testifies to his industry and perseverance as well as to his sound knowledge of law.Herschel Paschal Cobb was born in Stewart County, Georgia, April 29,1884, and is a son of Abraham J. and Joanna (Peed) Cobb, both natives ofGeorgia and present residents of Savannah. Abraham J. Cobb was born in1850, in Columbia County, and his wife some ten years later, at Butler, inTaylor County. For many years Mr. Cobb prospered as a farmer in StewartCounty, in which section he was influential as a citizen. To Abraham J.Cobb and wife seven children were born, as follows: Hyman S., who isemployed as a salesman at Savannah; George C., who is interested in thegrocery business in this city; Herschel P.; Robert C., who holds a positionwith the Atlantic Coast Line Company; Mrs. Sally Lou Williams, who residesin Alabama; Belva, who lives with her parents in Savannah; and Bernice, whodied in infancy.When Herschel P. Cobb was yet a child his parents removed to Richland,Georgia, and there he attended the grade schools and the high school andstill later enjoyed advantages in a business college at Maeon, to which cityhe then went to make his home. During the following year he satisfactorilyheld a clerical position at Macon and prudently saved his earnings, having-an ambitious end in view, this being the completion of his education in theUniversity of Georgia at Athens. He matriculated in the literary department and passed his freshman year in the midst of congenial surroundings.He then found his resources exhausted but .fortunately his courage anddetermination had not abated and after leaving the literary department ofthe university, Mr. Cobb went to Statesboro, the judicial center of BullochCounty, and became a court stenographer and assistant to the leading lawyersat that point. This addition to his income finally enabled him to return tothe university and to continue his studies, working as secretary to ProfessorSnelling, the dean of the university. He not only proved useful and necessary to his employer but honorably earned the means with which to comfortably complete his course in law. In 1908 he was graduated and receivedhis coveted degree of Bachelor of Law, with virtually concomitant admissionto the bar of his native state. It is not surprising that a young man so determined, self-denying and industrious should have accomplished the end he hadin view and this same determination has been one of the foundation stonesin his professional success. Close application in his clients' interest has beencomparatively easy for him for it has been one of the rules of his life.Immediately after graduation Mr. Cobb started into practice at Statesboro, as junior member of the law firm of Strange & Cobb. His initial successwas encouraging and justified his confidence in himself and he soon beganto look for a wider field of work, finding it in Savannah, to which city hecame after a year of practice in the courts of Bulloch County, in the autumnof 1909. Here he has displayed fine professional qualities, his thoroughnessand accuracy, his quickness of deduction, his persistency have all wonapproval from bench and bar while his faithfulness to his clients hasr madehim many personal friends. He has now a large and important law businessextending into several counties in Southern Georgia and he has appeared inconnection with a number of celebrated cases presented before the courts ofSavannah.At Columbia, South Carolina, on November 11, 1910, Mr. Cobb was unitedIn marriage with Lillian Bigham, who is a daughter of John Bigham and wifeand the youngest of their twelve children. She is a lady of many accomplishments and a favorite in the city's pleasant social life as well as a charmingmistress of a hospitable home. Mr. Cobb owns valuable property at Savan-