Louisa Byars Taylor1

b. circa 1846, d. 8 February 1869
FatherCharles C Taylor1
MotherEllen (?)1
Birthcirca 1846 Louisa Byars Taylor was born circa 1846 in Smyth County, Virginia.1,2 
Childhood  Louisa and her older sister Sally were raised by William B. Byars and Sarah (Taylor) Byars at their home in Glade Spring, Virginia [Sarah was probably their aunt]. The Byars enjoyed considerable wealth; prior to the Civil War their home and farm was tended by 17 slaves.3,4,5 
Marriage23 Nov 1864 Louisa married, as his second wife, Thomas Nelson Cobbs on 23 Nov 1864 in Washington County, Virginia.1 
Death8 Feb 1869 Louisa died on 8 Feb 1869, probably in Lynchburg, Virginia. The records of the Diuguid Funeral Home of Lynchburg contain an entry dated Feb. 8, 1869 for costs charged to Thomas N. Cobbs "for metalic case and box for wife and for express charge to Glade Spring". Thomas's name was lined through and (Wm B. Byars') written above it. However, a brief obituary appeared in the Lynchburg newspaper on the 9th stating that Mrs. Sue B., wife of Capt. Thomas N. Cobbs died at Glade Spring on the 8th.6,7 
  Two years later Thomas married Louisa's sister Sally. 

Related Links and Images:

The William B. and Sarah (Taylor) Byars home known as Woodburn (where Louisa and her sister Sally grew up)8
Louisa's burial location has not been previously identified. It is likely this small stone in the William Byars Cobbs Cemetery, situated on land formerly belonging to William Byars, represents Louisa's final resting place. Other stones appear to represent her husband as well as her son William (who also has a large marker and for whom the cemetery was named).
Other interments in Cobbs Cemetery

Family

Thomas Nelson Cobbs b. 1830, d. 1895
Child
Last Edited22 Oct 2011

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 64. Thomas Nelson Cobbs, 34, wid, b. Bedford Co. VA, resid WCV, Soup. RR, s/o John L. & Judith Cobbs marr L. Byars Taylor, 19, sgl, b. Smyth Co., VA, d/o Charles C. & Ellen Taylor; 23 Nov. 1864.
  2. [S2619] Anne Leyden, "William B. Byars," e-mail to D. Powell, 15 Jan. 2011.
  3. [S367] Wm B. Byars household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 137 stamped, dwelling 1003, family 1003, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2008, image 139 of 289. Household includes: Wm B. Byars, 34, farmer, real estate valued at $8,000; Sarah C. 32; Sally Taylor 5; Louisa Taylor 3; all b. VA.
  4. [S234] William B. Byars household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 455 (added script), dwelling 647, family 632, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2005, image 93 of 361. Reported data includes: William B. Byars, 43, farmer, owns land valued at $42,850 and personal property of $24,640; Sallie, 42; Sallie Taylor, 15 and Louisa Taylor, 13; all b. VA.
  5. [S1308] William B. Byars, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 8 (original script), line 7, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 17 slaves including 12 males and 5 females.
  6. [S2621] Diuguid Funeral Home burial records, Lynchburg, Virginia, online at http://www.gravegarden.org/diuguid/index.php
  7. [S2619] Anne Leyden, "Sue's Obit," e-mail to D. Powell, 25 Jul 2011. Anne transcribed an obituary from the Lynchburg Daily Virginian dated 9 Feb., 1869, p. 3, col. 3 which read: "Died. At Glade Spring, Washington County, VA on the 8th inst., Mrs. Sue B., wife of Capt. Thos. N. Cobbs, aged 21 years and 8 months."
  8. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  9. [S1020] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1892-1905, p. 26. Wm B. Cobbs, 29, b. Washington Co., VA, living Glade Spring, VA, s/o Thos N. & Lou, farmer; marr Augusta S. Hundley, 25, b. Louisa Co., VA, d/o Jno W. & V.M. Hundley; 26 Jun 1895.