Biography - Robert H. Cubley

ROBERT H. CUBLEY

Robert H. Cubley, the popular and efficient ex-Sheriff of Navarro county, is a native of Sumter county, Alabama, born March 27, 1838. He is a son of the Rev. Robert M. Cubley, an able minister of the Methodist Church, well known thirty years ago in east Texas, where he was for a long time engaged in ministerial work.

The subject of this notice was reared in Alabama, having been brought up on the farm and educated in the public schools of Sumter county. He came to Texas in 1857, then in his nineteenth year, and engaged in teaching school in Polk county. He became Deputy County Clerk of Polk county under L. S. McMicken in 1860, which position he held until April, 1861, when he was elected to fill a vacancy in that office caused by the resignation of McMicken. He was Clark of Polk county until 1869. when he was removed by E. J. Davis as an impediment to reconstruction. In May, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army - D company E., Elmo's regiment - and served in the Confederacy three years in the field, being engaged in the defense of the Gold coast and Louisiana border. When he went out of the office of Clerk of Polk county he again turned his attention to farming and school-teaching, and was so engaged for about two years. In 1869 he became Deputy Sheriff of Polk county and held this position, having the principal control of the affairs of the office until 1872, when he resigned and moved to Corsicana to accept a position as teacher in Prof. J. C. Mimm's school of that place. He had been a resident of Corsicana only a short time when, his reputation as a criminal officer having become known, he was offered a position as day officer on the city police force, which he accepted, resigning his place in the school-room for that purpose. For two years he served on the city police force, then became Deputy Sheriff, and later Constable of Precinct No. 1, and again Deputy, alternating in service between these two offices and that of City Marshal until November, 1890, when he was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he now holds.

For over thirty years Mr. Cubley has been in the public service, twenty years of which time he has been a criminal officer. There is probably no man in central Texas better known as such than he is, nor one who has a better record. His name is a terror to evil-doers and his presence always a guarantee of good order. He was the principal officer of Corsicana during the "flush times" of that city, and was for many years her main-stay in the enforcement of the law. His ability as a n executive officer is admitted by all. He is honest and upright, conscientious in the discharge of his duties, and a man who is absolutely without fear. Men who have long been engaged in dealing with criminals, too frequently take on a severe aspect, assume gruff ways and exhibit in their own conduct no little of that "Toughness" which it is their principal business to suppress. There is not the slightest trace of any of this in Mr. Cubley. His manners are as polished as those of the most perfect gentlemen, his conversation as subdued and refined at that of a man of letters, while his heart beats in sympathy with all the world, and not the least with the unfortunate ones whom it is almost his daily work to bring to the bar of justice.

Mr. Cubley belongs to the State Sheriffs' Association and contributes his share to the success of that order. He is a Royal Arch Mason and is also a member of a number of a number of the benevolent orders and takes great interest in their work, furthering their purposes in every way becoming an efficient member. In politics he is a Democrat. In the canvas of 1892 Mr. Cubley ran as an independent candidate for re-election to the office of Sheriff, but was defeated by the Populist candidate.

On August 20, 1861, Mr. Cubley married Miss Eliza E. Augustin, a daughter, of Colonel H. W. Augustin, an eminent old Texas veteran, who helped to win Texas independence and guarded the frontier settlements from Indians forays for many years, and a member of the Texas Congress, and when Texas came into the Union, he was appointed Custom House officer at Sabine Pass. Mr. [Mrs.] Cubley was born in San Augustine county Texas, where her people were early settlers. The result of this union has been ten children, six of whom are now living, most of them being grown: William H., now residing in Dallas; Arthur H., same place; Ella R., Lulu Kirk, Augustin and Maud. Mr. Cubley's private life has been successful. He is greatly devoted to his family, being a man of strong domestic tastes, and having received such training himself in youth as makes the name of home sacred to him and all its associations hallowed.

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