A Serendipitous Visit to the Genealogical Society's Library

When I was a young girl I found a small family tree in my parent's wedding bible that had been filled out for a few generations. I looked at it often and it really sparked my curiosity. It wasn't until I married and had children, though, that I developed the urge to learn as much as I could about my family history. That was in the late 1980s and early 1990s and I lived in a small town without easy access to a research library. It would be several years before online research was a thing. I tried to fill in as much as I could on some blank pedigree charts but that's as far as I got.

Fast forward almost ten years, past a failed marriage and the beginning of my life with husband #2 in a new city more than 100 miles away.

One morning after I settled into my new home, I read an article about the local Genealogical Society in the newspaper. It gave the address and library hours, so the following Saturday morning I took some "me-time" and went to check it out. It wasn't a huge library, but it was the first time I'd ever visited one devoted to genealogy research. I wasn't sure what I'd find, but I knew that my paternal grandparents were from the area so I decided to see if I could find them, or their parents, in census records. I can't remember now which years were available in the library, but I know for sure I saw the 1920 census. There they were, the names from the bible I'd seen as a young girl. It was easy. Then I discovered the Obituary Files. Members had been retrieving obituaries from the newspaper for years and years and saving them in alphabetical files. The files also included burial information for local cemeteries. Jackpot. I found so much new information so quickly.

Those obituary files led me to the graves of my paternal grandmother who died when my dad was a boy, my paternal great-grandparents, and, to my surprise, the graves of a set of 2nd great-grandparents! From their obituaries, I was able to add new information to my pedigree charts and fill in family group sheets. For the first time since moving, I felt like I really belonged in this city.

My interest in genealogy was always present, but when I found my ancestors in the library that day, it ignited my passion for researching my roots. I joined the genealogical society soon after that first visit and have attended numerous meetings, workshops, and seminars over the years. With more and more records available online, I don't need to go to the library to hit the jackpot anymore, but it will always be a special place for me. 

Mrs. Ernest Powell and the Hartshorn Home Economics Club

The Hartshorn Home Economics Club of the 1940s was part of the County Extension Service. Hartshorn, in Texas County, Missouri is an Ozarks farming community. Members of the club were women who lived in the area and met regularly to discuss topics and share ideas to make their lives as homemakers easier. They took on special projects to help those in need, primarily poor children in the vicinity. One of the most active members at that time was was my great-grandmother, Julia Mildred (Davis) Powell. You'll see her mentioned in the newspaper articles below as Mrs. Ernest Powell.

Julia died in 1963, three years before I was born. If I could travel back in time to meet one of my ancestors, she is the one I would first like to meet. And I would love a chance to sit in at some of the Hartshorn Club meetings of her time. 

Julia was born, lived and died in the community of Hartshorn, Missouri. Besides her involvement in the Hartshorn Club, she was a 4-H leader, worked as Postmaster and grocer (both were in the same building), helped her husband on the family farm and raised eight children. Born in 1894 to Joe and Clemmie Davis, Julia was brought up on her parent's farm. She learned from her mother the basics of home economics and was already a capable homemaker when she married Ernest Powell in 1919. By 1939, when she begins appearing in news articles with the club, she has more than 20 years of experience to share with the other members. She also still has 7 children at home, the youngest one only 3 years old, and these meetings would also allow her some welcome adult time with her female friends.

Julia (Davis) Powell, far left, photographed in about 1920-1921
with Helen Farrow, Cory Hensley, and her younger sister Alta Davis. 

In November of 1939, the group spent the afternoon discussing Club work. The next meeting would feature a demonstration on making home-made toys for children.

23 Nov 1939, The Houston Herald, Page 2

Julia hosted an all-day meeting on January 2, 1940. Unfortunately, bad weather kept the attendance low that day as the group worked making undergarments for the children of unemployed parents. They also reported that a completed quilt had brought in $10.05 at a raffle, the money to benefit children in need.

11 Jan 1940, The Houston Herald, Page 4

The next mention of Julia in a club article was regarding the meeting on March 5th, 1940, where the group worked on piecing a quilt.

21 Mar 1940, The Houston Herald, Page 4

The June 18th meeting was again hosted by Julia. Roll call was answered by "Courtesies that should be taught to children in the home." Followed by the making of fly traps and plans for the next quilt to benefit the cemetery.

4 Jul 1940, The Houston Herald, Page 6

The May 20, 1941 meeting was also held at the Powell home and fly traps were once again on the agenda. 

29 May 1941, The Houston Herald, Page 7

On October 6, 1941, Julia hosted a meeting to add new members and elect officers for the following year. The meeting was closed by singing "The Little Brown Church in the Vale."

16 Oct 1941, The Houston Herald, Page 3

The meeting on October 21, 1941 was opened with a roll call answered with "How to Avoid Home Accidents."  The ladies pieced a quilt for Mrs. Smith, the hostess, and Julia reported on Achievement Day.

30 Oct 1941, Page 7

A training meeting on December 1st, 1941 was held for Extension Club officers, including Mrs. Ernest Powell, Vice-President of Hartshorn Club.

25 Dec 1941, The Houston Herald, Page 6

Articles about the Hartshorn Club continued after this one, but I didn't find another where Julia was mentioned by name. She may have stepped back for a time, or just not been as active, because of so much happening in her family. She had three sons serving in the war, one daughter had just been married and two more soon would be wed. I do know that she stayed involved in the community and maintained many friendships for the rest of her life. My mother once told me that her grandmother Julia's funeral had the highest attendance of any funeral ever held in Hartshorn. That speaks volumes about her character, doesn't it?

Newspaper articles found on Newspapers.com.

Nyleta (Powell) Cobb 1926-1987

Nyleta wasn't given a middle name by her parents, Ernest and Julia (Davis) Powell, when she was born on May 1, 1926, in Hartshorn, Texas County, Missouri. She wasn't named after a grandmother, an aunt, or any other family member alive or dead. The name was more common in Australia but very rare at that time in the United States. It makes me wonder how Ernest and Julia, a farming couple from the Ozarks, came up with the name for their second daughter, my maternal grandmother.

Growing up, Nyleta was called by the nickname Tooter. Given to her as a child when she was working really, really hard to learn to whistle, the name stuck with her throughout her life among family and close friends. When I was a little girl, I thought her real name was Tooter because that's all I'd ever heard her called. I discovered her "real" name when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My dad had filled in the simple family tree in the front of my parent's wedding Bible, my first genealogical discovery!

Nyleta (Powell) Cobb, wedding portrait taken in Dec. 1944

My grandparents were married in Kansas City, Missouri in December of 1944. Leroy Cobb was born in 1927 in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri and was only 17 when they were married, requiring the consent of his parents, Kay and Hattie Cobb. Nyleta was 18 and considered "of age". In the Spring of 1945, Leroy enlisted in the Navy. He was discharged a year later and the young couple settled down to begin their family. They lived in downtown Kansas City in a home with Roy's parents. It was there that daughter Louise came in 1947, followed by Julia in 1949, and Ronald in 1952. Nyleta worked some odd jobs during that time to supplement the family income. She packed tomatoes at the City Market and worked for her Uncle Joe Fisher at his downtown restaurant.

Leroy and Nyleta Cobb, about 1950,
at a Cobb family gathering.

In 1956, Leroy and Nyleta bought a home of their own in the Gladstone area of Kansas City. It was a small home, but even after son Randall came that year, it was roomy enough for their family of 6. When I was little, my grandma worked in the Farmland cafeteria. I think it was mostly a cafeteria for the Farmland employees, but I remember going with my mom to have lunch at Grandma's work. She worked there until she retired.

Nyleta Cobb with her daughters, Louise and Julia.
Taken in Hartshorn at her parent's home about 1951.

My grandmother enjoyed having her family near. She loved to host everyone at her house, cooking meals to feed as many as could cram around her big dining room table. In the 1970s and 1980s, three of her four children moved their families out of state. My grandma really hated that her kids were so far away, but the worst was that they took the grandchildren with them. Our family vacations were always to my grandparent's house to visit, and they made trips to see us, too.

Leroy and Nyleta Cobb, 1981
at my parent's house in North Bend, WA

Nyleta was diagnosed with cancer at age 59 and died two years later after a long, tough struggle. She was as special as her name was unusual, and is so fondly remembered by her family.

Great Aunt Ernestine - an artist who lost her vision

Edna Ernestine Allen Dvorak (1908-2005) was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and artist. Born in 1908 in the farming community of Outlook, Washington, Ernestine was immersed in the arts from a young age. To entertain themselves, she and her siblings were encouraged by their parents, Elam and Rena Allen, to be creative. They learned to play instruments, sing, write poetry, draw, and paint. After graduating Salutatorian of her Kiona Benton High School class, Ernestine made the decision to pursue art studies at the Derbyshire School of Fine Arts in Seattle. She also studied poetry writing under the tutelage of Lucile V. McCurtain, publishing several pieces in literary magazines. A charter member of Artists United and a member of the Seahurst Workshop Gallery in Burien, Ernestine created many marvelous paintings and won numerous awards. Ernestine's husband, Don Dvorak, worked behind the scenes in movie theaters, running the projectors to bring the movies to the big screen for viewers. Ernestine and her children were always among the first to see the newest films. It's fair to say that Ernestine's life revolved around the world of art.

Don and Ernestine Dvorak
photo courtesy of Rene Rodgers.

I met my Great Aunt Ernestine only once. My cousin Rene and I arranged a visit to see her in the early 2000's. I don't recall the exact year, but the visit itself is a clear memory. Ernestine gave us a tour of her home, pointing out her artwork as we passed each framed canvas. This tour was from memory; Ernestine was blind. Her sight had faded gradually as she aged due to hereditary glaucoma and she had been blind for many years. When I met her that day, she wore dark glasses and had been listening to the Bible through headphones. There was a stack of religious audiobooks on the table in front of her. It appeared that this was how she now spent much of her time. In her 90s, Great Aunt Ernestine was still sharp as a tack. She shared some stories of her childhood and told me about my grandmother, her younger sister Helen. As a story-teller, she was also a bit of an artist. Adding flourishing details, she animated the tales she told and I can vividly recall them today.

It wasn't long after our visit that Ernestine died. I have often thought of her and the challenge it must have been to lose her eyesight, and with it, her ability to create her beloved paintings. I could still see the pride on her face as she led that tour through her artwork. She could recollect when and where she had painted each one and the awards and recognition that had followed. Newspaper clippings of her accomplishments were lovingly saved in scrapbooks. As Rene and I thumbed through them, Ernestine was following along from memory. When she spoke of her sadness at being forced to give up the hobby she so loved, I said a little prayer asking for my sight to remain until I die.

The first Ambrose Cobb

Generation 1: Ambrose, an oft-repeated name in the Cobb family in America, started with Ambrose Cobbs, born circa 1565 in Eastleigh Court, Lyminge, Kent, England and died between 1605-1607 in Petham, Kent, England. He was my 11th Great-Grandfather. His son Ambrose (1603-1655/56) was the first American immigrant in my Cobb line, arriving in Virginia in the early 1630s.

All Saint's Church, Petham, Kent, England
The burial place of Ambrose Cobbs (1565-1605/7).

Generation 2: Ambrose the Immigrant was the second son of Ambrose and Angelica Hunt, so he wasn't likely to inherit land in England. He had two uncles, his mother's brothers, who were some of the first Jamestown settlers. Perhaps it was their encouragement, coupled with his "second son" status, that led to his decision to leave England. He and his wife, Ann White, with their young son Robert and daughter Margaret, arrived in Virginia about 1634. They had at least two more children after they settled, Ambrose in 1635 and Thomas in 1637.

Generation 3: Robert Cobbs, son of Ambrose and Ann, married Elizabeth Thorpe in Bruton Parish (Williamsburg) about 1655. They had at least five children, one of them to be named Ambrose.

Generation 4: Ambrose Cobbs, son of Robert and Elizabeth, married Frances Elizabeth Pinkett in 1687 in Bruton Parish. Ambrose was one of the founding vestrymen of Bruton Parish Church, a building that still stands in Williamsburg. Ambrose and Frances had several children, one of them was a son named Ambrose. Their son Robert, though, was my direct line ancestor.

Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, Virginia.

Generation 5: Robert Cobb, son of Ambrose and Frances, was born in 1687 in Bruton Parish, Virginia. He married Crosia Frith by 1725. Of their many children, a son named Ambrose is in my direct line.

Generation 6: Ambrose Cobb, son of Robert and Crosia, was born in 1729 in Bruton Parish. He married Sarah (last name may be Howell) and had at least eleven children. One of those was a son named Ambrose, but my ancestor was a younger son named James, born in 1770. Ambrose and Sarah moved to Lincoln County, North Carolina, where Ambrose died in 1797.

Generation 7: James Cobb, my 5th great-grandfather, is the one that broke the Ambrose tradition in my direct line. He had at least three sons, but none carried the family name as far as I can find. James married Sarah Beach in 1790 and died young, in 1805, leaving his widow with several young children to care for. Sarah died in 1823.

The name Ambrose continued, however, in other lines. Vintner, another son of Ambrose and Sarah, named a son Ambrose. Another of their sons, William, named a daughter Ambrosia. I haven't researched all of the family lines, but I would bet that I'd find another Ambrose somewhere along the way.

Note: I have done a lot of work researching the Cobb family from James to the present, but the research into the earlier lines is not my own. Credit goes to Cobb and Cobbs, the Kent Cobb Families, and research done by Robert S. Cobb, which is included now on the Cobb and Cobbs website in its entirety.