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.

Traveled by Covered Wagon

Mittie Stephens Cobb pioneer days: I came to G. County, Oklahoma Territory in a covered wagon. Or rather we had 3 wagons with our household goods, feed and farming implements after my husband gained our homestead in the Run, April 19, 1892. Our family of 5, three children ranging in age from 6 months to 4 years, husband and I with bedding and children in one wagon leading. It took 2 weeks for us to come from Stephens Post Office now discontinued between Healdton and Ardmore, Indian Territory on the main Highway.

Our [Chickasaw Nation] permit for 5 years was obtained from Indian Governor Parker. We were allowed all our improvements of 3 room log house, barns, cribs and there was plenty of timber for these and fence rails and posts, which my husband and hands cut and split. Also the logs for all buildings. There was talk of Oklahoma Territory coming in for settlement soon. We raised lots of cotton, wheat and oats. Thousands of bushels at 15 cents a bushel, 18 bales cotton at 6 and 7 cents. The year's produce netted about 3 thousand dollars - horses & stock, chickens, ducks, and furniture with carpets.

My mother had left me her marble top furniture, which was valuable then as well as now, and 3 trunks of fine quilts, blankets and counterpanes that were made on hand loom.

to be continued

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

tag cloud