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.

Mary Catherine

This photo is identified by writing on back as "Mary Catherine Sarver, wife of George W. Stephens."

Mary Catherine wears a key on a chain that looks like a Phi Beta Kappa key. Women were not eligible for Phi Beta Kappa until 1875. Mary Catherine died January 4, 1874 in Whitesboro, Grayson County, Texas. The first PBK chapters to induct women were at the University of Vermont in 1875 and at Connecticut's Wesleyan University in 1876.

Mary Catherine died young, age 32. Her only daughter, Mittie, was four and half years old when her mother died. Mittie enjoyed her years at Denison and Sherman, Texas Catholic academies. This was a rare opportunity for a young girl in the West in 1870s. Her father and step-mother encouraged her education. In her later years Mittie wrote about the value of an education, appreciating the educational opportunities of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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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