Robert Cobb was born to Dick and Lucy Cobb in Indian Territory, probably in 1852. Little is known for certain about Robert's parents except for their names. The records show that Robert was born into slavery, and we know that he lived among the Chickasaw Indians. It is not clear that he was of Chickasaw blood. Knowing more about Dick and Lucy would, of course, shed more light on the subject. For the time being inquiry on that subject remains a work in progress.
Robert Cobb and his sisters, Malinda and Sally, forever joined the Cobb and Cohee families by all marrying children of Charles Cohee, Sr.; this means that the descendants of Dick and Lucy Cobb are all Cobb-Cohee’s.
Robert and Serena Cohee Cobb settled in Springer, Indian Territory adjacent to the Arbuckle mountains. Neighbors included those with names like Roberts, Cohee, Stevenson and Dinwiddie. Samuel, the first child born to Robert and Serena, arrived in 1873, followed by Elwood, Fleetwood, Penman, Wilman, Robert, Lonnie and Bessie. In his important recollections, "My Life and Era," Buck Colbert Franklin writes of a Cobb daughter, Victoria, of whom no other evidence can be found. And yet, it is hard to believe that Franklin would have been mistaken about the name of the sister of his best friend, Elwood Cobb. So, we are left with another mystery.
Robert Cobb prospered both as a livestock breeder and a farmer, instilling in his sons the same love of the land. More than likely he never learned to read and write. Perhaps his limitations in that respect served as a stimulus to assure that his children as well as others would become properly educated, and it is for that reason he is to be honored and remembered.
Cobb sent his sons to Dawes Academy near Berwyn for their basic educations, and at least two of them, Elwood and Fleetwood, went on to acquire more schooling at higher levels. Most important is the fact that he donated land for and helped fund the construction of the Robert Cobb School. We do not know for sure when classes ceased at the school, but there are people living, who are graduates of the Robert Cobb School.
Robert Cobb and his sisters, Malinda and Sally, forever joined the Cobb and Cohee families by all marrying children of Charles Cohee, Sr.; this means that the descendants of Dick and Lucy Cobb are all Cobb-Cohee’s.
Robert and Serena Cohee Cobb settled in Springer, Indian Territory adjacent to the Arbuckle mountains. Neighbors included those with names like Roberts, Cohee, Stevenson and Dinwiddie. Samuel, the first child born to Robert and Serena, arrived in 1873, followed by Elwood, Fleetwood, Penman, Wilman, Robert, Lonnie and Bessie. In his important recollections, "My Life and Era," Buck Colbert Franklin writes of a Cobb daughter, Victoria, of whom no other evidence can be found. And yet, it is hard to believe that Franklin would have been mistaken about the name of the sister of his best friend, Elwood Cobb. So, we are left with another mystery.
Robert Cobb prospered both as a livestock breeder and a farmer, instilling in his sons the same love of the land. More than likely he never learned to read and write. Perhaps his limitations in that respect served as a stimulus to assure that his children as well as others would become properly educated, and it is for that reason he is to be honored and remembered.
Cobb sent his sons to Dawes Academy near Berwyn for their basic educations, and at least two of them, Elwood and Fleetwood, went on to acquire more schooling at higher levels. Most important is the fact that he donated land for and helped fund the construction of the Robert Cobb School. We do not know for sure when classes ceased at the school, but there are people living, who are graduates of the Robert Cobb School.
Photograph and biography contributed by Hugh COBB
Additional note:
In the Indian Pioneer Papers interview of Eli ROBERTS, he refers to “Aunt Lucy COBB and her son Robert.”
In the Indian Pioneer Papers interview of Eli ROBERTS, he refers to “Aunt Lucy COBB and her son Robert.”
