John B. Cable - Poet of Warren's Past

John Bryant Cable

Extracted from John B. Cable's Obituary

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John B. Cable was born May 11, 1855 at Cable Hollow in Pine Grove Township, Warren County, PA. He was born the son of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Adelia (Wetmore) Cable. He passed away at 8:45 o'clock May 9, 1937 at St. Vincent's hospital, in Erie, Pennsylvania where he had submitted to a major operation. He was just 2 days from his 82nd birthday. He attended school at Cable Hollow as a boy, later he was enrolled as a student in Warren. He attended the Luce Writing College at Union City, Pennsylvania following his schooling in Warren and he became one of the most artistic penmen in the section. It was as a poet that he gained most distinction. Although he followed an active business career, he found time to pen hundreds of poems many of which were published In the Warren Evening Mirror, a local newspaper, and in book form. Unpublished poems that he had written would fill three good-sized books. One of his books most widely circulated was "The God I See And Other Poems," published by the Roycrofters, at their book shop in East Aurora, N. Y. Another is "The Teacher's Old Chair." In the 1880's, Mr. Cable formed a partnership with the late F.M. Knapp in the sale of fire insurance, the company later selling to William Mitchell. Mr. Cable then took over the agency for the Travelers Insurance Co., of Hartford, CT, a position that he filled with remarkable efficiency and success for forty-five years. During the time of his association with this insurance firm, he won five special prizes, two of them Tiffany awards. He then engaged in the oil business, for a time as producer for the South Penn company, but later disposing of his last holdings in the local field. He was married January 13, 1887, to Suzanne Foss, and with the exception of a year and a half their entire married life had been spent in Warren, Pennsylvania. They resided about a year in Wichita, KS., and six months in Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Cable was a lifelong student of the Bible. He possessed of an affable personality and he enjoyed the admiration of all with whom he came in contact. While he was always deeply devoted to his home, his love for children and animals was reflected in many of his poems. From the time of the advent of automobiles his principal hobby was motoring, his trips taking him to many of the far corners of the country. In the years prior to his death, he had been wintering in Florida, where had enjoyed touring through such places as St. Petersburg, Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando.

From the Book of Biographies, 1899*

* Thanks to Warren County Historical Society
dipbw.JPG JOHN B. CABLE is one of the most prominent citizens of Warren, Warren County, Pa, and is widely known as special agent for one of the large life insurance companies of this country and as a gentleman of splendid business abilities, with an enviable reputation for honesty and integrity. He was born in Pine Grove township, Warren County, Pa., May 11, 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Sallie A. (Wetmore) Cable. His father was born near Albany, N. Y., in 1812, and came to Pine Grove, Warren County, in I832. He was a farmer by occupation. He died in 1875. The mother of John B. was born in Hanover, Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1820, was married to Thomas Cable in 1838, and died in 1880. The subject of our sketch was the fifth of a family of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cable, as follows: Maria, born in 1845; James, born in 1848; Charles, born in 1849; Hannah, born in 1852; John B., born in 1855; W. L., born in 1857; Clara A., born in 1860; Florence, A., born in 1862; George W., born in 1864, and Thomas, Jr., born in 1866. The subject of this review attended the district schools in his native county, working on his father's farm in summer. At the age of twenty-three years he took a course in penmanship and drawing at a college in Union City, Pa., and subsequently taught writing and drawing in various parts of this state. He removed to Warren when twenty-five years old and engaged in business as an insurance solicitor in the office of Cable & Knapp, which firm continued nearly two years, when James Cable sold his interest to Mr. Knapp, his partner. In a few months John B. Cable bought an interest from Mr. Knapp, and the firm became Knapp & Cable. Three years later the firm bought the insurance business of J. H. Mitchell & Co., which business was conducted successfully for three years. Mr. Cable then sold out and went to Wichita, Kas., where he also engaged in business as an agent for fire insurance companies. He returned to Warren in 1889, and again went into business, associated with his brother, W. L. Cable, the firm being quite successful as insurance agents. Soon thereafter Mr. Cable was appointed district agent for the celebrated Travelers' Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn., when he discontinued the fire branch of his business and devoted his entire time and energy to life insurance. He still retains the position as district agent for the company named. He is furthermore interested in oil, in the manufacture of lamp black, and also owns extensive vineyards at Dunkirk, N.Y. In politics Mr. Cable is a Republican, but has never sought office. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Epicopal Church. In 1885 Mr. Cable married Susie V. Foss, daughter of Mrs. N.K. Lehman by a former marriage. The couple have no children.

John B. Cable's Diploma *

* Thanks to Debbie Forbes for access to this diploma.
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The Diploma reads as follows:

This diploma is presented to J.B. Cable, student in Spencerian penmanship. To whom it may concern: This certifies that Mr. J.B. Cable has taken a thorough course of instruction in Spencerian penmanship during which course he has manifested the close application of the earnest scholar and the proficiency of one competent to conduct writing clafses. Writing departments in schools and all such as may extend to him their patronage. His knowledge of the Art of Writing and the System includes Principles, Theory, Oral and Book Instruction, Blackboard and Crayon Explanations, Medium Businefs, Bold businefs, Corresponding, Ladies Epistolary, Ladies Italian Record, Old English, German Text, Engrofsing Text, Backhand, Off Hand Flourishing, Bird, Pen, Swan Drawing, Etc., Etc. His wisdom to the art and accomplishments induce me to believe he will prove himself a competant teacher and artist in the Art of Arts. Dated Union City, Erie County, Pa. Tuesday, October 4, 1881. Signed Mr. Luce, Principal and Mrs. E.S. Luce, Assistant. Luce's Writing College.