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.

Mittie's Early Years

Mittie wrote: I was born at Whitesboro, TX, June 19, 1868 and was educated at Catholic Academies at Denison and Sherman, TX. The building at Denison stands as a beautiful monument of those days of 1884. I visited it fifty years afterwards and recalled many memories of those kind dear teachers, the nuns of the Catholic Church.

Mittie attended St. Joseph's Academy at Sherman and finished school at St. Xavier's Academy at Dennison, TX. The photo is from History of Grayson County, Texas, Volume I.

Mittie's mother Mary Catherine Sarver was raised in Catholic church in New River area, Montgomery County, Virginia. Mary married Pearis Olinger, May 12, 1859 Montgomery County, Virginia. Mary and Pearis were living in Gainsville, Cooke County Texas in June 1860 living next door to Mary's half-sisters Luemma Poff, and Liona Souder and their families. Pearis died during Civil War at unknown location.

Mary married George Wesley Stephens, November 11, 1864 in Grayson County, Texas. George Stephens was a store clerk in Whitesboro, Grayson County, TX. Mittie had two brothers, William, born 1865, and James, born 1870. Mary died January 4, 1874, age 32. George then married Fannie (Fairchild) Edsall on May 7, 1874. Fannie was a widow of a Union soldier with six children, Bart, Henry, C. W., Ben, Icy and Sarah. Mittie was delighted to have new sisters. Sarah was Mittie's age, born August 1868. In 1941, Mittie writes letters and visits with Sarah's daughter Essa Pafford Simmons.

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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