Collingwood Clark GRUBB

  General Notes:

Collingwood was a miller who first lived in Pennsylvania before moving to Putman County, Indiana and then on to Brown County, Kansas .He was known in Kansas for his knowledge about apples and in 1873 woman award for a display of 51 different kinds: [William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas -- Jackson County -- Page 1341 --Horticultural Society.-- Taking a high rank among the fruit-growing counties of the State, the fruit growers of Jackson County are displaying a commendable zeal in their persistent effort to encourage and promote the growth of fruit and shrubbery, shade, ornamental and forest trees, and hedging for fencing. At Boston, in September, 1873,in this county had a fine display of fruit; C. C. Grubb, living four miles north of Netawaka, had there fifty-one varieties of apples one exhibition.]

The August 14, 1860 census of Locknane Township, Brown County, Kansas shows Collingwood and his family.

May 1, 1865 Kansas State Census, Locknane Township, Brown County: Collingwood Grubb, 55; Sophia, 49; Rachel, 19; Lydia, 17; Nancy, 15;James, 13; Mary, 11; Martha, 11; Mathias Guwasta??, 28 a teamster from Austria. Rachel is listed as a teacher at___School. The farm had 85 acres improved ground, 280 acres unimproved and 105 acres fenced. Cash value of the farm was $2,500, the value of the personal estate was $1,000 and the implements were worth $200. He had 7 horses, 10 milk cows, 12 other cattle, 26 sheep, 8 swine, $960 total worth of livestock. That year the farm produced 18 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of Indian Corn, 50 bushels of oats, 75 pounds of wool, 5 bushels of Irish Potatoes, 150 bushels of Barley, 200 pounds of butter,25 tons of hay, and 120 gallons of Molasses. The value of homemade manufactures was $100 and the value of animals slaughtered was $120. The average monthly wages to a farm hand with board was $25. the average to a day laborer with board was $1.25 or $1.75 without board. Average daily wages to a carpenter without board was $3.00 as were the weekly wages to a female domestic with board. The price of board to laboring men was $4.00 per week.

March 1875 Kansas State Agricultural Census shows C. C. Grubb (age 65) in Powhattan Township, Brown County, Kansas (Discord Post Office). He is listed as a farmer with $2,000 worth of real estate and $701 worth of personal property. It also lists his wife Sophia (59); James (24) AND his family: Elizabeth (18); and C. C. (1/2) AND a third family living there: A. J. Beamer (24); Mary (Grubb) Beamer (21); H. H. Beemer; and a boy James (10) by another last name Waming?). The same page also lists Samuel Poston; Nancy (Grubb) Poston (26); James; George; and C. C. Poston. The farm information shows 300 acres fenced; value of farm $1,500; value of machinery $25; 666 rods of rail fence; 90 rods of board fence; and 496 rods of hedge fence; 1 acre of wheat; 10 acres of rye; 90 acres of corn; 13 acres of oats; 1 acre of sorghum; 20 acres of prairie meadow; $120 dollars worth of eggs and poultry sold during the year; 400 pounds of butter made; 11 horses; 7 milk cows; 15 other cows; 111 sheep; 7 swine; $256 worth of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter; 640 pounds of wool produced; and 2 dogs.

(Genealogical & Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas 1900)
He (Samuel V. Poston) was married on the 31st of December, of that year, to Miss Nancy Gubb, a lady of intelligence and culture, who was to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate. She was born near Green castle, Putnam county, Indiana, a daughter of C. C. and Charlotte (Webb) Gubb. Her father was born in Delaware, of German parentage, and was married, in Putnam county, Indiana to Miss Webb, who was a native of Kentucky.

They came to Kansas in 1858. Mr. Gubb was an Abolitionist and a warm personal friend of John Brown, who often visited at his home, bringing with him negro slaves whom he was conducting on their way to freedom. Mr. and Mrs. Gubb were members of the Christian church to freedom latter died at the age of sixty-seven years, the former at the age of seventy-seven.

They had six daughters and one son, namely: Mrs. Matilda Wolfley, of Mead county, Kansas; Mrs. Rachel Newton (Newlin), of Brown county; Lydia, the wife of Henry Poston, of Jackson county; Nancy, the wife of Samuel V. Poston; James, who is living on the old homestead in Powhattan township, Brown county; Mrs. Martha Hart, of the same county; and Mrs. Mary Benner (Beemer), her twin sister and a resident of Netawaka, Kansas. The family was one of prominence in the community.

Collingwood moved from Pennsylvania to Batavia, Ohio in 1836 and then to Greencastle, Indiana in 1840. In 1854 he moved to Kansas Territory. He was the second stationmaster/postmaster of the Pony Express/Overland Stage Station/U.S. Post Office at the original town of Powhattan. (family researcher Greg Newlin)


Biographical Sketch from Greg Newlin
Joseph Grubb, father of Collingwood Clark Grubb, was born about 1777 and lived in New Castle, Delaware. He married Sarah Talley who was born December 18, 1781, daughter of Elihu and Lydia Forwood Talley. Sarah was born and died in Delaware. They had six children: Amor, Nelson, Matilda B., Lydia Ann, Collingwood Clark and Joseph.

Their son, Collingwood Clark Grubb, was born July 9, 1810 in New Castle County, Delaware. He moved to Delaware County, Pennsylvania. In his early youth, he worked in a cotton factory in Philadelphia for his support as he also was supporting his Mother who was living at the time. In 1826 when he was 16 years old, he commenced learning the cabinet trade in Philadelphia. In 1831, and he commenced age of 21, he commenced the business for himself at Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He married Rachel Ann Bailey in 1835 in Philadelphia. They had two children, Alfred B. Grubb was born in 1836 and Eli B. Grubb born in 1837. They moved to Batavia, Ohio in 1836 and Rachel Ann died in 1837. Collingwood then moved to Putnam County, Indiana and married Sophia Charlotte Webb on October 10, 1838. They moved to Greencastle in 1840 and had eight children: Walter S., Matilda Cummings, a stillborn son, a stillborn daughter, Rachel Ann, Lydia Ann, Nancy Webb, James, and twins Martha and Mary.

Collingwood and family lived in Putnam County, Indiana for 19 years. He united with the Christian Church in Indiana about 1845. On April 14, 1858 they moved to Brown County, Kansas. The trip from Greencastle to Brown County was made overland to St. Louis. At St. Louis they boarded a steam boat for the 3 week passage up the Missouri River to Atchison, Kansas. The balance of the trip was made overland for about 35 miles to his land in Western Brown County. Collingwood bought this land with the idea that it was to be the townsite of Powhattan, Kansas. In fact, it was staked out at the time. There was a fairly large, rough two-story building on the site. It had been planned for a hotel. One room on the lower floor was used as a Pony Express station and Post Office. On June 26, 1858 Collingwood Clark Grubb was appointed post master, a position he held until 1867.

Some years later the railroad came through several miles to the north of the Powhattan community, so his dream of owning a town site was gone. A tornado demolished the building about 1860. The children were blown out into the fields as there was no storm cellar. Soon after this, C.C. built a log house a mile east on another corner of his land in about 1861. He felled the walnut logs from the woods on his land. Because he was considered a fine cabinet maker, he later built on to the original house using he later lumber. The dining room was paneled in very rough walnut.

During his life in Kansas, Collingwood Clark Grubb gave his attention largely to agriculture. He had a large orchard of fine bearing trees on is home place. He was a great lover of birds and flowers. He was charitable and kind to the poor. His home was always open to all strangers and travelers in those early pioneering days always open Kansas frontier.

Collingwood Clark Grubb died March 21, 1886 in Brown County, Kansas. His wife, Sophia Charlotte Webb Grubb died June 21,1883 in Brown County. They are buried in the Netawaka Cemetery in nearby Jackson County, Kansas. Following Sophia's death, Collingwood married Lottie Nugent. She moved to Atchison County, Kansas following Collingwood's death.

Brown County World March 27, 1886:
Death of C. C. Grubb -- Mr. C. C. Grubb died of pneumonia at his home in the southwest corner of Brown County, Kan. last Sunday morning at 7 o'clock a.m. March 21st, 1886. Deceased was born in the state of Delaware July 9, 1810, removed to Delaware County, Penn. In his early youth, he worked at a cotton factory in Philadelphia for his support and also helped to support his mother who was living at the time. support and early age of 16 he commenced learning the cabinet trade in Philadelphia. At the age of 21 he commenced business for himself at Media, Delaware county, Penn. At the age of 27 moved to Ohio, living there but a short time, moved from there to Indiana near Green Castle, Putnam county, living there 19 years. Moved to Kansas in 1857. United with the Christian Church in Indiana about 1845. Since coming to Kansas he has given attention largely to agriculture, a large orchard of fine bearing trees on his home place, trees set out soon after coming to Kansas. A great lover of birds and flowers. He was charitable and kind to the poor; the stranger always found a welcome under his roof. In the early days of Kansas, movers wanting lodging over night, were never turned away. He found great comfort in his days in reading the scripture, especially the first chapter of 2ndPeter. This chapter was read at his funeral, the text for funeral discourse by Rev. D. R. Todd, from the same ch. 4 and 1oth verse. He often spoke of pure and undefiled religion. One particular trait and a good one in his character, no one could charge him with deception, a good an out and out man, so well known in all this section of Kansas he will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends, warm hearted and genial. we trust what is our loss is his eternal gain. D. R. Todd ,Pastor Presbyterian Church Netawaka, Kan.,

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration, 1857, Locknane Township, Brown County, Kansas.

2. Census, 1870, Lachnane twp, Brown, Kansas. ⁴⁸

3. Religion: Members Of The Christian Church.

Collingwood married Sophia Charlotte WEBB, daughter of Richard WEBB and Nancy NEWGENT, on 10 Oct 1838 in Putnam County, Indiana ^33,34,35.^,47 (Sophia Charlotte WEBB was born on 27 Feb 1816 in Shelby County, Kentucky,^33,34,35,37 died on 21 Jun 1883 in , Brown, Kansas, USA ^33,34,35,37 and was buried in Netawaka Cemetery, Jackson County, Kansas ^33,34,35,37.)