CASHIER.
Mark H. Cobb, the Cashier of the Mint from 1871 until the present time (1885), was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, in 1828. In 1861, Hon. Simon Cameron, then Secretary of War, appointed him Chief Clerk in the War Department, he having previously been his private secretary. After Mr. Cameron’s resignation as Secretary, Mr. Cobb, at the solicitation of the late Col. John W. Forney, accepted the position of Enrolling Clerk of the United States Senate in 1862. In 1871 he was appointed to the responsible position of Cashier in the United States Mint.
Albion Cox, first assayer of the Mint was appointed April 4, 1794. His commission, signed by Washington, until recently, hung upon the walls of the assay office. But little is known of Mr. Cox, save that he was an Englishman by birth, and a good officer, as appears from the following report to the Secretary of the Treasury made by Director Boudinot, under date, December 3, 1795. He says: “The sudden and unexpected death of the assayer, Mr. Albion Cox, on Fryday last by an apoplectic fit, deprived the Mint of an intelligent officer, essentially necessary to the future progress in the coinage of the precious metals. Until this officer is replaced, the business at the Mint must be confined to striking cents only.”
He therefore held office about a year and eight months.
Joseph Richardson, second assayer, was appointed December 12, 1795. He belonged to an old Quaker family distinguished for ability and character. Mr. Richardson fulfilled the duties of his office with credit and honor. He died in March, 1831. A water color portrait of him, dressed in plain Quaker garb, hangs in the assayers’ room. He held office over thirty-five years.
John Richardson, son of the preceding, was appointed assayer March 31, 1831. Finding the office not congenial with his tastes, and so subjecting him to undue responsibilities, he resigned April, 1832, holding office only a little over a year.