Oklahoma Pioneer Mittie Stephens Cobb enjoyed family, home and garden. Mittie's 1941 Journal shares weathered pioneer experiences and every day life in Arapaho, Oklahoma. Mittie and Rufus "Dad" lived west of Arapaho with daughter Mary and son Frank and owned the Cobb Store in Arapaho. Cecil and Lena Cobb, Fannie and Richard Bland lived nearby. George, Jack, Loys Cooper, Randall and Mildred Shankland moved out of state and stayed in touch by letters. Mittie turned 73 years in 1941 outliving three of her children, Rexie, Rollie and Harvey.

It was serendipity

to have Mittie's Journal to read and share in 2008. The calendar days of 1941 are the same as 2008. Richard received the Journal from his mother, Fannie, and gave the Journal to his cousin Betty in spring 2008. This great-granddaughter first had it in hand in July 2008. For a few weeks it was transcribed to email for family. Mittie's Journal blog began October 12, the anniversary of the day Mittie and Rufus landed at Gip, Oklahoma 1892 in open prairie. Check out that Journal entry. It is a blessing to share this Journal with others. To stay in the matching year the remaining Journal days appear in the Journal Archive as they are posted. Thanks for stopping by. The 1936 journal and part of 1937 is also available for transcribing. Work in progress.

December 25, 1941, Christmas Day

Bright sunshine but strong south wind is a little disagreeable for me to get around in. Fanny come at 10:30 A.M. and is helping Josephine and Mary cook Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The Gas stoves are burning in all the downstairs rooms making a Cheerful glow with their warm rays. Dad, Frank, Dick and Richard are down town waiting to be called for Dinner. I am sick but have a joyous Spirit to greet others even if I am not able to do any manual labor. Fanny brought a load of gifts and lots of her home produced and canned vegetables, a quart of strawberry preserves and for me a lovely bottle of perfume. Grace is here with the children. She is helping the girls with dinner. A beautiful card from Essa saying she wished me to be well again and that Sewell was safe. She was happy that he is at Honolulu. Mildred's card was joyously written about her Christmas blessings. A card from Guy Pafford with a lovely costly lace handkerchief. Cecil and Lena come with a armload of gifts and supply of canned and cooked foods for dinner, money gift for Mary and a nice handbag for me. I'm like Mildred rejoicing receipt of tokens of love and friendship. The girls all spent the evening at Clinton after they brought the children and I home from a good matinee. The girls of Grace's stayed here all night. Richard and the girls played games until they were tired and sleepy and then I sent them upstairs to bed. Fanny called for Richard as they returned from Clinton at midnight. The night was freezing cold but beautiful. The stars sang in their glorified beauty of a Heavenly Creator and Giver of All Good Things. I retired after Mary and Josephine returned after midnight. Thus Christmas Day ended at the Cobb ranch 1941.

January 1941

January 1941
Mittie used "scrapbooking" on daily journal entry.

February 1941

March 1941

April 1941

May 1941

June 1941

July 1941

August 1941

September 1941

October 1941

November 1941

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