seeking info on COLEMAN K. SOBER

[Bob Roberts]

Recently discovered in my photo files is a very nice large detailed portrait engraving of an early Parker Notable from Pennsylvania named COLEMAN K. SOBER. Editor Austin Hogan says he would like to publish his illustration and biography in Parker Pages. I have researched him on the internet and have a good chunk of textual information describing his full and interesting life, much spent in the outdoors. He was a shooter of no small acclaim with both shotgun and rifle. To flesh out the article we’d love to include any actual photograph(s), carte de visite, and/or any citation(s) from the period shooting press that any of the membership might provide of or on this man.

Should you have anything to contribute I can be reached at: bobr@robertstock.com

Attached as a tickler is a cropped bit of the larger engraving:

[Bill Murphy]

I have no idea of how much information you already have, but la84foundation.com has many hits on his name in their search function.

[Bob Roberts]

Bill,

Thanks for the tip. I’ve found several interesting bits on Sober, but still trying to nail down his date of death. As I’m sure you know, once you start looking at these old sporting publications all sorts of wonderful things show up. Right next to a long 1901 account of Sober’s experiences related to the Passenger Pigeon, I noticed this:

“The New Century Club, of West Chester, Pa., made a stir last week by attempting to stop the annual pigeon shoot of the West Chester Gun Club. At a meeting of the club the following resolution was unanimously adopted after a spirited denunciation of the "heartless killin" of birds: "The women of the New Century Club, learning of the great shoot of live birds, to take place. In West Chester, enter their protest against making a target of live birds, and ask In the name of humanity that these Innocent, helpless creatures be saved from such cruelty."

We will venture to say that not one of the women of the New Century Club ever saw a live-bird shoot, and therefore, are not capable of judging whether or not it is the "heartless killing" of "innocent, helpless creatures." We will also venture to say that a number of the women of the New Century Club, at the time they made the "spirited denunciation," were waring on their bonnets the heads, trunks and feathers of some of our most beautiful song birds, which had been ruthlessly slaughtered to gratify their vanity. Let the women of the New Century Club hold a spirited meeting, denounce all song bird killing and pass a resolution forbidding the wearing of song bird feathers on their hats. Then they will be doing something.”

Sporting Life 1901 V36/N25