Baseball Team, ca. 1905. Cobb and Nichols School, Dresden TN

The American College and Private School Directory, vol. 8, 1914, listed the Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, TN as a non-sectarian school.  Charles H. Cobb (husband of Marion Moran) and J.W. Nichols were the principals.

This photo of the baseball team dates to about 1905.  I don't know the names of any of the players, perhaps someone will recognize a relative, but the two men in suits are J.Walter Nichols (left) and Charles H. Cobb (right).

Charles H. Cobb was the son of Thomas D Cobb and Elizabeth Adeline Johnston.  He was born June 27, 1876, in Tennessee.  He lived most of his life in Union City with some time spent in Dresden. In 1900 he was teaching school and living at home with his father and a sister, Birdie.  Cobb and Nichols attended Vanderbilt University together. About 1904 they formed the Cobb and Nichols School in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, July 29 1904
Miss Pearl B. Matthews of Trenton has been elected to Conduct the primary dept. of Cobb and Nichols school here in Dresden.

Cobb married Marion Agnes Moran, youngest daughter of J.W. Moran and Sophia Gunn, October 3 1905 at the Methodist Church in Dresden.

Dresden Enterprise, June 1 1906
The Dresden Dramatic Company had receipts amounting to $67 at Greenfield last Friday.  The money will be applied to payment of a new piano at the Cobb and Nichols School building.  They performed at Huntingdon Monday to a full house also.

Dresden Enterprise, June 8, 1906
Miss Pearl Mathews, primary teacher at Cobb and Nichols, gave her students a picnic which was hugely enjoyed by the little fellows.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 3 1906
The Cobb and Nichols School of Dresden, Tenn.
Every citizen of Dresden is justly proud of having in this community an institution so ably managed, doing a class of work so superior, possessing an unexcelled faculty, as the Cobb and Nichols Training School, Chas. H. Cobb and J. Walter Nichols, principals.  Both these young men are graduates of Vanderbilt university, where they were specially prepared for training school work, and that is just what their school here is--a training school in the fullest and most complete sense of the term.  This has been clearly demonstrated by the work of this school during the past two years and today we are rejoiced to say to the public that the outlook for a successful opening this fall is most encouraging.
The pupils that have gone out from the Cobb and Nichols school are its best advertisement, if any it need other than its high-class, thorough work.  The boys and girls who come to Dresden to attend school are taken care of by the faculty and are admitted into the best homes of our town; they are made to feel welcome and at home, as it were, and the faculty sees to it that they do not loaf around the streets neither night nor during the day.--Dresden Enterprise.

The Hickman Courier, Aug 10 1906
The students of the Cobb & Nichols School are required to stay in their rooms at night to study, nor are they allowed to loiter on the streets during day.
The Cobb & Nichols School is a training school, pure and simple, no catchpenny methods, no (ab)normal courses.

In 1907 Charles and Marion Cobb had a child, daughter Carolyn Elizabeth Cobb born April 27 1907.

From Volume 8, Vanderbilt University Quarterly:
'04--Charles H. Cobb, B.A., who has been for three years with J.W. Nichols, of the same class, in the Cobb and Nichols School at Dresden, Tenn., has entered upon the practice of law in Union City, where he has become junior partner with Judge Swiggart in the firm of Swiggart and Cobb.

Cobb continues practicing law but by 1930 is listed as the proprietor of a rain coat factory.  His wife Marion committed suicide in 1934.   In 1936, Cobb married Ottis Leone Luton. Their son, Charles H Cobb Jr, was born in 1937.   Charles Sr died in 1951.

Fountain Park, St Louis Missouri "Lest Ye Forget It" 1908

Fountain Park, St. Louis
Lest ye forget it----

Postmarked August 7 1908

St Louis MO

To: Mr. James Moran

Dresden, Tennessee

It seems to me, that you forget old friends-very soon- or is it just some old friends?  It is well to remember in drinking through life that any old booze is better than new.

Yours for health,

K

I doubt we'll ever know who "K" was but it seems to me that he's reminding Jim Moran III that old friends are better than new.  But I could be wrong!

The fountain of today differs significantly from the fountain of yesteryear:

The land for Fountain Park belonged to John Lay (1795-1857).  Before his death he made provisions for his family which included platting the land which would be developed into a neighborhood known as Aubert Place located about 4 miles west of St. Louis. Later the park's name was changed to Fountain Park. A good history of the development can be found at the National Historic Register.

The fountain had been donated by John A Scudder and originally placed in front of the Merchant's Exchange building about 1890 with the fountain gracing a hall.  The hall was later remodeled and the fountain moved to Fountain Park in 1903.  At the dedication ceremony the fountain was christened "Scudder Fountain" in honor of John A Scudder.   In the August 2 1903 St Louis Republic the fountain was  describe as follows: " Then Charles Spalding, the 6-year old son of George M Spalding of No. 4933 Fountain avenue, and Dorothy Dodd, the 5 year old daughter of R P Dodd of No 4900 Fountain avenue, turned on the water, and five streams simultaneously issued from the fountain, falling first into the upper basin, above which is the figure of a woman pouring water from a pitcher, and then overflowing into the second basin, above which are the images of four children blowing water out of shells.  After filling the second basin, the water overflowed into the lower basin, which is 16 feet in diameter."

However, just a year later a Park Commissioner's Report said it was a failure as an outdoor fountain due to flimsy construction which is entirely possible since it had been originally housed inside of John A Scudder's home and then in a hall of the Merchant's Building.  By 1915 the fountain and base had been entirely reconstructed but in 1908, on the postcard, it looked magnificent.  

William Minor Lile Letter November 1911

William Minor Lile seated

University of Virginia Law Library

University of Virginia

William Minor Lile was the first Dean at the University of Virginia Law School at Charlottesville, Virginia.  He was the Dean when James H Moran III, class of 1899, attended Law School. 

Lile was born in Alabama in 1859, the son of John A Lile and Louisa C Minor.  He married Maud Carson.  He began his tenure at UVA in 1893.  In addition to being the first Dean of the Law School he is considered the Father of the Law Library.  He was the founder of the Virginia Law Register and helped initiate the Virginia Law Review. He retired in 1932.  At his death in 1935 he was interred at the University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium.

Jim Moran must have kept in touch off and on with the Dean after his graduation in 1899.  He thought enough of Lile to tell him of his upcoming marriage to Virginia Shumate in November 1911 and to send him notices regarding his participation in local plays.  

Dean Lile thought enough of Jim to reply.

University of Virginia 

Charlottesville

Department of Law

Office of the Dean

Nov. 11, 1911

My dear Mr. Moran:

I have received the official notice of those delightful plays of yours, which you were kind enough to send me, and I cannot refrain from sending you a brief of congratulation. 

I am not a little gratified that you thought of me in the midst of your happiness.  I had lost sight of you, and have been wondering what had become of you. I hope you will bring your bride Virginia word(?) and give us an opportunity of knowing her, and of renewing acquaintance with you.

Sincerely Yours,

Wm. Lile

J.H.Moran, 99'