Charles A Corbett Sheboygan Press February 19, 1915
DEATH OF CHARLES CORBETT
Charles A Corbett, one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Sheboygan county, died at his home in Plymouth, Thursday afternoon after an illness of several weeks. Although the details of the funeral have not been completed, the services will be held from the late home Saturday afternoon and will be in charge of Rev. Skidmore of the Plymouth Congregational church.
Mr. Corbett was born November, 21, 1840, in Benson, Vermont, and when a youth of 15 years came to Sheboygan County with his parents when they purchased a farm in Greenbush in 1855. He received his education in the district schools but spent most of his time assisting with the farm work and became an expert agriculturalist.
On June 1, 1861, Mr. Corbett enlisted in Company B, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the regiment which owned and carried "Old Abe" the famous eagle through the war. Mr. Corbett served in many important engagements of the great Civil War, remaining in service for four years, six months and twenty-two days.
In a battle at Lake Chicoth, or Old River Lake, Arkansas, in June 6, 1864, he lost a leg and was confined in several hospitals until Nov. 22, 1865, when he was honorable discharged at Madison. Returning to Greenbush it was impossible for him to continue as a farmer so he entered a business college in Milwaukee for a term and then opened a general store at Forest, Fond du Lac County, where he was appointed postmaster. About a year later he sold his business in Forest and returned to Greenbush when he established another store and conducted it for fifteen years and then retired from business.
In 1896 he removed to Plymouth for a short time then returned to Plymouth for a short time then returned to Greenbush but in 1898 again returned to Plymouth where he lived ever since. Mr. Corbett took an active interest in civic affairs for years. He served as clerk and chairman of Greenbush and also served for one term in the assembly. He had been a member of the Odd Fellows for forty-seven years and was a charter member of the H P Davidson Post GAR at Plymouth and its commander for three terms. Mr. Corbett is survived by his wife and three children, Adison of Hilbert Junction; Mrs. S. M. Keyes of Owen; and Carl, a druggist in Plymouth.
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CHARLES A. CORBETT
A highly honored veteran of the Civil war, who was for many years identified with the commercial interests of Sheboygan County, is Charles A. Corbett, who is now living retired in Plymouth. He was born in Benson, Rutland County, Vermont, on the 2Ist of November, I840, and is a son of Peter and Melinda (Adams) Corbett. The paternal ancestors were Scotch and upon their arrival in this country they located in Vermont and later they became residents of the state of New York where Peter Corbett was born in I798. In his early manhood he went to Vermont, where he was married in 1822 to Miss Adams, who was born and reared in that state, her birth occurring in I802. In I855 they came to Sheboygan County, the father buying a farm in the vicinity of Greenbush which he cultivated during the remainder of his active life. The mother passed away on the homestead on the 18th of March, 1879, but the father survived her until June 22, 1882. Their family numbered eleven children, ten of whom lived to attain maturity and of these three are still living. Charles A. Corbett was a youth of fifteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Wisconsin in 1855. His early years were passed in very much the manner of those of other lads who were reared in the country at that time. He obtained his education in the district schools, during which time he also assisted with the work of the farm, and by the time he had attained his maturity he was a skilled agriculturist, having a thorough knowledge of the practical methods of caring for the crops and tilling the fields. On the first of June, I86I, he enlisted in Live Eagle Regiment, Company XB, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and went to the front in defense of the Union, remaining in the service for four years, six months and twenty-two days. He participated in many notable conflicts, including the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Corinth, Island Number Ten, New Madrid and Iuka, and he also took part in many skirmishes. In an engagement at Lake Chicoth, or Old River lake, Arkansas, on June 6, 1864, he lost a leg and was taken to the hospital at Memphis and Jefferson barracks, Missouri, and later was removed to a hospital at Prairie du Chien, and from there came to Madison, where he was honorably discharged on the 22nd of November, 1865. Upon returning to civil life it was impossible for Mr. Corbett to resume agricultural pursuits, so he went to Milwaukee and spent nine months in the Spencerian Business College, thus qualifying himself for the practical duties of a commercial career. At the expiration of that time he opened a general mercantile store in Forest, Fond du Lac county, this state, and soon thereafter he was also appointed postmaster. He engaged in business there for about a year and then returned to Greenbush and started a store which he successfully operated for fifteen years. At the expiration of that period he withdrew from active work and lived retired in Greenbush, where he had built a nice residence. In I896 he removed to Plymouth, but a few months later he returned to Greenbush. Subsequently, however, he permanently located in Plymouth, purchasing his present residence property in 1898. Since withdrawing from commercial activities, Mr. Corbett has participated quite prominently in local politics and in 1889 was elected to the state assembly, serving for one term of two years. Upon his return to Greenbush he was elected chair- man of the town, discharging the duties of this office for three years and at one time prior to that he had served for five years as town clerk. While living in Greenbush he purchased an interest in a drug store in Plymouth and his elder son and a nephew conducted it for a number of years under the firm name of Corbett & Corbett. Later Carl Corbett, the younger son of our subject, acquired his cousin's interest and he has since taken in another partner, the enterprise now being conducted under the name of Corbett & Ackermann. In 1870 Mr. Corbett was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Lewis, whose birth occurred on January I4, 1847, in the state of New York. Her father, Benjamin Lewis, was also a native of the Empire State, whence he removed to Wisconsin with his family in 1855, settling in Dodge county and in 1868 engaged in farming in the vicinity of Greenbush. Two sons and one daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Corbett, as follows: Adison, who is living at Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Estella, the wife of Dr. S. M. Kyes, of Weyauwega, this state and Carl, who is engaged in the drug business in Plymouth. Mr. Corbett has been a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity since 1868, his local affiliation being with Greenbush Lodge, No. 78, I. O. O. F.; he is also a charter member of H. P. Davidson Post, No. 212, G. A. R., and served as commander for three terms. He is now chaplain of the Post and has thus served for eight years. In politics he is a republican and is conservative in his views, and has always been stanchly loyal to the principles of the grand old party. Mr. Corbett is a highly estimable citizen and has always taken an active interest in all movements affecting the welfare of the community, and in the discharge of his official duties has ever manifested the same conscientious fidelity that characterized him when a soldier on the battlefields of the south.
HISTORY OF SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, 1912

Greenbush Pioneers
Sylvester Corbett went from here to Ripon. In 1855, when Mr. and Mrs. Peter Corbett and seven children arrived in Greenbush, they found an active and thriving settlement. The Wade House, the Baptist and Methodist Churches, schools, general stores, saw and grist mills, blacksmith and wagon shops, in full operation and with with many young and eager boys and girls attending school in the winters and the boys working on farms in the summer months. They settled on a farm one and one-half miles southwest of the settlement. This farm bordered on the Mullet River with the house on a high hill overlooking wooded land in all directions. Here, Peter Corbett, with the help of his boys, farmed until his death in 1882. Mrs. Corbett passed away in 1879. Their son, Alexander, and his wife lived with and cared for them several years before their deaths. In time, the old house was sold. Of this large family, only one, Lester M., remains. When the Civil War broke out, four of the Corbett boys, Charles, Henry, James and Lester, enlisted for the service, as did nearly all the young men in the settlement and community. Charles A. Corbett was twenty-one years old at this time June 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company B. 8th Wisconsin Infantry. He participated in the battles of Corunth, Inka, New Madrid, Island, No 10, Jackson, the siege of Vicksburg, Farmington, and the Red River Expedition. In june 1864, at the battle of Lake Chicoth, Arkansas, he was shot in the right knee and suffered two amputations above the knee. He was cared for at Memphis and Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and later at the hospital at Prairie du Chien. From there, he want to Madison and was given his honorable discharge November 22, 1865. Of course, it was not possible to return to farming. Mr. Corbett went to Milwaukee and took a course in the Spencerian Business college. Returning, he bought a building in the east portion of the town of Forest and operated a general store. His influence made it possible to establish a post office here, known as Banner, and he was appointed the first postmaster. He only kept this store one year but returned to Greenbush and opened a store, at first with his brother Jerome, and later alone. Charles A. Corbett and Miss Mary Jane Lewis were married June 23, 1870. Mrs. Corbett's parents, Benjamin and Betsy Burdick-Lewis, were native of New York state. Her father was born at Petersburg April 3, 1794, and her mother at Volney June 24, 1802. Some years after their marriage, they settled at Horcon and came to Greenbush in 1868. Benjamin Lewis died in 1875 and Mrs. Lewis in 1882. Their place of burial is the Brick Church Cemetery at North Greenbush. For fifteen years, Mr. and Mrs. Corbett successfully conducted the store, sparing no energy for the success of the venture and yet finding time to take an active part in the social life about them. Mr. Corbett never complained, but his personality was of the vigorous type and he took an interest in all about lum??? and away as well. Three children were born to them; Adison, Estella and Carl C. They began thinking of leaving the business. Lots were purchased on the hill just north of the main street, or road, and a brick house built. Here, trees were set cut by Mrs. Corbett and a happy life ensued. In 1898, they sold their property to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Keach. It is the present home of Mrs. Keach and daughter. The Charles Corbett family then moved to Plymouth. During the years from about 1883 until 1898, Charles A. Corbett was active in the life of the community. He had become a member of Greenbush I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 78, in 1868. After their marriage, Mrs. Corbett joined Rebekah Lodge and many happy meetings with neighbors resulted weekly down through the years. In 1888, Mrs. Corbett was elected to the Wisconsin assembly and served two terms. One committee he was active on was the Soldier's Relief Fund. Before going to the assembly, he had served the town as clerk for five years and, upon his return, was elected chairman and served for three terms. He was school treasurer of this district for fifteen years. Adison, Estella and Carl C. "grew up," as the saying is, and attended school in the old school house. The social life of those days was much more vivid than now, both for grown-ups and boys and girls. Estella taught several terms of school and took work at Oshkosh Normal. Her marriage to Sherman M. Kyes of Michigan, was solemnized a few years before the family moved to Plymouth. Sherman Kyes made his home with relatives, the Sumner Melvin family, and was a pupil of Greenbush School, then studying at Oshkosh Normal and alter his graduation teaching in Dakota. Their first home was at Wisconsin Rapids where he was principal of the high school, but not caring to teach longer, he decided to study to be a physician. He went to Chicago and took up the study of medicine. After his graduation, they again made their home at Wisconsin Rapids, then at Weyauwega and Owen, and the past fall, moved to Oshkosh. Dr. Kyes was also in service in the World War. Mrs. Kyes had held many important offices along the line of general helpfulness to her community and is surely following in her father's footsteps. They have two adopted children; Walter, student at Oshkosh Normal, and Mary and one of their own, Helen. The girls are high school students. Their youngest child, Harold, died in infancy. Adison Corbett and Miss Letha Very, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Very of Oshkosh, married and made their home at Waldo, where Adison carried on a drug store. They have resided at Hilbert many years and have a prosperous drug store there. Their family circle includes Charles, Kenneth, Jennie and Warren. Carl C. Corbett and Miss Edna Wheeler of Plymouth married and have always made their home in Plymouth. Carl, for several years, was partner with Alvin Ackerman in the drug store. He sold out and opened a jewelry and optician business, which he carried on until the past year when he sold his business and is now in insurance work. They have four children; Catherine, Wheeler, John and Jean. Miss Catherine is a graduation of the U of W. Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Corbett, when they first moved to Plymouth, lived near the Congregational Church, but later sold this property and moved to a pleasant home on Reed Street to be near their son Carl and family. Here, the years passed happy until Mr. Corbett was taken ill and after several months of suffering, passed away in February 1916 at the age of seventy-six years. I shall quote here from an obituary written at that time: "Mr. Corbett has been prominent in the community and especially recognized as an advocate of patriotic education, having given talks each year on the subject in our high school. He was a charter member of H. P. Davidson Post No. 212, G.A.R. and served for three terms as a commander and as chaplain of the Post for over eight years. Davidson Post and the Odd Fellows Lodge attended the funeral in a body and he was buried with soldier's honors in the cemetery at Greenbush."

"Larger the shadows fall,
Night cometh on;
Low voices softly call,
Come, here is rest for all!
Labor is done!"

After Mr. Corbett's death, Mrs. Corbett sold the property on Reed Street and has made her home with her children much of the time since. At present, she is with her daughter, Mrs. Kyes, and family at Oshkosh. As May comes when earth is once more dressed in tender greens and the birds call from nearby woods, Greenbush Cemetery, Memorial Day, is always the scene of a reunion of the Corbett family over the grave of the father, Charles A. But the years in passing bring joy as well as sorrow, and the visits back to the old home and greetings with old friends are, after all, filled with happy remembrances. If a tear steals softly to the eye, it only means what life means:

"Shadow and sun for everyone,
There's a lamp that God has lighted where the shadowed pathways are,
And it sheds a softened radiance,
like the shining of a star;
There's a haven of sweet refuge
from the deeply bidden pain,
where the heart that long has suffered
seeds God's rainbow through the rain."
The Sheboygan Press - February 26, 1925
Contributor: Ron Kyes (47122500)