Many, indeed, were the warm friends of L. N. Cobbledick. An analyzation of his life work shows that the high regard in which he was held was the logicial sequence of a life of activity, integrity and honor. He possessed in large measure a sense of that growing community spirit which is manifest throughout the country and which is but a keener, stronger recognition of the brotherhood of man and the obligations of the individual to his community.
A native of California, Mr. Cobbledick was born in Oakland, February 15, 1867, his parents being James and Isabelle (Newsom) Cobbledick, the father a native of England and the latter of Toronto, Ontario. James Cobbledick came to San Francisco about 1849 by way of Cape Horn and was one of the pioneer residents of East Oakland, settling there at a time when there were but two houses within a radius of several miles. He engaged in the wholesale hardwood business and was also a builder of fancy carriages and stage coaches. In addition he operated or was interested in many of the pioneer stage lines in and around the Bay cities, at a period which long antedated the construction of railroads. In politics he was a strong republican, and was a factor among the political leaders of the embryo town. Fraternally a Mason, he became a charter member of the Brooklyn Lodge, and in his life exemplified the principles and beneficent spirit of the craft. He was also a charter member of the Mountain View Cemetery Association. His religious faith was evidenced in his membership in the Seventh Avenue Methodist church, in the work of which he took a very active and prominent part, as did his wife, who was a recognized leader not only in church circles but also in the social life of the community. They were the parents of eleven children. The death of James Cobbledick occurred in 1904, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years, while his wife survived him until August, 1912.
L. N. Cobbledick, having attended the Franklin grammar school, continued his education in the Oakland high school, and with his entrance into business circles became connected with the Whittier-Fuller Company, with whom he remained until twenty-three years of age as a most trusted employe. On the 1st of March, 1890, after nine years' experience in the paint and glass business, he embarked in business on his own account, opening his first store at No. 358 Twelfth street, Oakland. In this general business of paints, oils, glass, wall paper, etc., he continued until 1906, in which year he closed out all departments save the glass. He then enlarged his activities in that line and after that confined his attention solely to handling glass and mirrors. The business is now conducted under the name of the Cobbledick-Kibbe Glass Company and is one of the leading concerns of its kind in Oakland, while the mirror silvering plant is one of the largest on the coast. The company also has a department given to the exclusive manufacture of leaded art glass and the trade along this line is also extensive and gratifying. Mr. Cobbledick was president of the company, which until his death was known as the L. N. Cobbledick Glass Company. His keen business discernment and unfaltering energy proved the salient features in the attainment of substantial success, and his plans and methods constituted the foundation upon which later prosperity has been builded.
In his political views Mr. Cobbledick was a republican and from early manhood took an active part in politics and in civic affairs. He was an officer in the Clinton Improvement Club, which organization did much toward improving and modernizing East Oakland. The vast amount of effective work which he did in that connection attracted the attention of Mayor Mott and the people of his community, and he was induced to become a candidate for the city council in ward 7. He won by a large majority and served throughout the life of Oakland's last city council. When the new form of government was established he was appointed a member of the civil service board for a term of two years. At the close of that period, in July, 1913, he was reappointed for a term of six years. Throughout the period of his active connection with civic affairs he maintained a remarkably helpful attitude toward movements for the public benefit, and the drastic measures which he introduced and carried forward will ever be remembered. Very soon after his election to the council and even before this time he labored incessantly and untiringly to have the marsh between Eighth street and Lake Merritt filled in. He also labored just as earnestly for the abolishment of the old wooden bridge on Eighth street and the reopening of that street as a thoroughfare. Although he was strongly opposed in many measures, his work was ultimately successful and its value has been proven by time. He was one of the prime movers in forwarding the plan of building the immense auditorium on that newly built site to fill the long-felt want of Oakland for such a building.
This by no means comprised the extent of the activities of Mr. Cobbledick in behalf of all that pertained to the welfare, progress, upbuilding and improvement of his city and state. He conceived the idea and secured the passage of laws doing away with slot machines and with closed boxes in saloons and cafes. He was also interested in the measure providing for a board of censorship for all films to be shown in the moving picture houses. One of his hardest fights was forcing the equipment of proper fenders on street cars. He was ever constantly on the alert for ways in which the public might be benefited and municipal progress advanced. He readily recognized a public need and sought at once to meet the need by the adoption of measures or actions as would accomplish the purpose. Never tiring in his efforts to advance the public welfare, Mr. Cobbledick again and again gave his services where the interests of the community were at stake. He was one of the committee selected to investigate the rates of the Peoples Water Company and report upon the same. On the expiration of the franchise of the Southern Pacific Railway for their right of way on Seventh street he was the leader of the opposition, taking the stand that it should not be renewed for fifty years and almost without compensation, but that such a lease should not be given for more than twenty-five years. He was successful in this to quite a degree, for finally the concession was made for thirty-five years, and the company also pays the city a handsome rental, as well as keeping the street in good repair and the maintenance of the lighting system along that thoroughfare. While a member of the city council Mr. Cobbledick represented his ward in most admirable and commendable manner, and although it was the largest ward in the city, he overlooked no point that would help to improve or beautify it. One phase of his work not to be forgotten was his successful effort in securing the building of Hopkins boulevard from Lake Merritt to Foothill boulevard, which furnishes Oakland with a perfect thoroughfare from the heart of the city into the beautiful valleys that lie to the southward of the Bay cities.
Another notable line of Mr. Cobbledick's activity arose from his great interest in poultry. For many years he kept a prize flock of Barred Plymouth Rocks and other pure bred fowl. He was an exhibitor at the Buffalo and St. Louis expositions and many shows of less fame, and on all occasions carried away the highest prizes awarded to poultry. He was also to have been an exhibitor and official of the poultry division at the Panama-Pacific exposition, but death frustrated this plan.
On the 20th of February, 1890, Mr. Cobbledick was married to Miss Florence White, a daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth (Rawlings) White, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Hobart, Tasmania. Mr. White went from his native country to Australia as a young man and there, following sheep-raising and mining, acquired a large fortune. He owned a large estate and palatial home, known as Eurella, at Launceston, Tasmania. Thirty-five years ago he went to San Francisco, and not long afterward came to Oakland, where he established the California Jute Mill Company, which enterprise he successfully conducted for many years, becoming known throughout the coast region as the "Bag King." He died about 1889 and his wife passed away in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Cobbledick had two sons. Lloyd N. was graduated from the Oakland high school with the class of January, 1914. He was president of the student body of the high school and is now a director in the Cobbledick-Kibbe Glass Company. The younger son, Wilson R., is in the branch office of the glass company which is maintained in San Francisco.
The military record of L. N. Cobbledick was a long one for a man of his years and notable in that during his fifteen years of membership in the California National Guard he won many medals for United States army shooting. He was the organizer and captain of the Boys' Brigade of the Eighth Avenue Methodist Episcopal church and also established the Cadet Corps of the First Congregational church, of which he was captain for many years. He was a member of the First Congregational church and of its Men's League. His death occurred February 18, 1914, after a serious operation. He was confined by this for about six weeks and it was believed that he would recover, so that the news of his demise came as a great shock to his many friends and business associates. The funeral was held in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, under the auspices of the Scottish Rite bodies. The pallbearers included Mayor Mott and others of his lifelong friends. Mr. Cobbledick belonged to Rose Croix and Brooklyn Lodges, F. & A. M., to the branches of the Scottish Rite and to Aahmes Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was a past president of Oakland Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West and belonged to the Woodmen of the World and the Oakland Commercial Club. The nature, breadth and variety of his interests showed him to be one of the most forceful and valued citizens of Oakland. Through his important business interests he contributed to its material development and, prompted by his patriotic spirit, he largely promoted the public welfare. His record is that of a man faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 192-198
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/03/2008,
Alameda County Biographies ~
Archive Biography Index ~
Archive Index
This Web page is sponsored on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by Richard S. Wilson. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.