lawyer, soldier, politician, Congressman, b. Crawford County, Ill. In 1842 he moved to Wisconsin, where he engaged in lead mining. After serving in the Mexican War, he returned to Wisconsin, was admitted to the bar, and set up a law practice in Mineral Point. A Whig and later a Republican, he served for several years as district attorney for Iowa County. He served in the state senate (1855-1856) where he gained the sobriquet "Honest Cobb" because of his refusal of a bribe when the federal railroad grants for Wisconsin were being distributed during the special session of 1856. He was adjutant general of Wisconsin (1855-1858), and state assemblyman (1860-1861), serving as speaker during the session of 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Cobb recruited, and was commissioned colonel of, the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. While serving in the field, he was elected as a Republican to represent the 3rd Wisconsin district in Congress (1862), resigned his commission, and took his seat in the House in Mar., 1863. During the Congressional recess in 1864 he returned to Wisconsin, recruited the 43rd Wisconsin Regiment, and was again commissioned colonel. He was brevetted brigadier general in Mar., 1865, and left the service in June. While serving with the 43rd, Cobb retained his Congressional seat. He was re-elected three times, serving from Mar., 1863, to Mar., 1871. In 1871 he moved to Lincoln, Neb., where he practiced law, became a prominent businessman, and served as justice of the Nebraska supreme court (1878-1892). Biog. Dir. Amer. Cong. (1928); Wis. Mag. Hist., 5; Milwaukee Sentinel, July 6, 1905; WPA MS; A. B. Cobb Papers.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Amasa Cobb Papers for details.

View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.

Learn More

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.

[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]