Frank G. Cobb Family
By Mrs. W. V. Collins
 

Frank G. Cobb (1886-1968) was born in Osage, Kansas, and was the only son of Lewis G. Cobb, a planter, and Mary Burnside. Frank Cobb was reared in Kansas, and his formal education was completed in the Kansas public school system. As a young man, Frank Cobb worked for the railroad and experienced a near fatal accident involving two converging cars. Shortly after this incident, Frank began thinking about making a major change in his life. His decision was to move south to Texas, and in 1906, he established his residence in Blessing. Lewis and Mary Cobb also came to Texas and settled at Citrus Grove, where they operated a general store. Frank Cobb joined the McCormick-Deering Company of Chicago and was the first representative of the company in South Texas.

In 1907 Frank Cobb returned to Kansas to marry his sweetheart, Anna Dunn, a beautiful, well-educated woman, who was the daughter of Patrick Michael Dunn, an Irish planter of that state, and Anna Kiley. Frank and Anna honeymooned enroute to Texas and formulated plans for their life together in Matagorda County. Frank continued to sell McCormick-Deering implements in the area, and he also expanded his business interests to rice farming, ranching, and a feed store. The Cobbs had five children, all born in Matagorda County.

1. Laverne Letitia Cobb, born in 1910, was a graduate of Our Lady of the Lake College, and married Edgar Coale, the McCormick-Deering dealer in Angleton. The Coales engaged in farming and ranching south of Angleton and had three sons: Edgar, Jr., Chris, and Gerald.

2. Kathryn Alice Cobb, born in 1913, attended Our Lady of the Lake College and The University of Texas. She married William Victor Collins, a Matagorda County rice farmer and rancher. They had three children: Corinne, Claire, and William Victor, Jr.

3. Mary Jean Cobb (1914-1981) attended Our Lady of the Lake College and married R. D. Wright, who was associated with the Security Bank of Wharton. The Wrights had five children: Robert, Mary Anna, Anita, Jean, and Roger.

4. Charles Lewis (1918-1971) was graduated from Notre Dame and the California Institute of  Technology. After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he returned home and married Annie Belle Cornelius. The Cobbs were engaged in farming and ranching in Matagorda County. They had four daughters: Suzanne, Priscilla, Cornelia, and Darla.

5. Genevieve Ann Cobb, born in 1925, attended St. Mary's of the Woods in Indiana. She married Eugene L. Vaughan, who was engaged in the real estate business in Bay City. The Vaughans had nine children: Lee, Sue, Lou, Jim, Tim, Frank, Mary, Anna, and Cathy.

Frank Cobb moved his business to Bay City in 1923, and in 1925, he moved his family also. In addition to the McCormick-Deering Machine Company, he owned several meat markets in Bay City. In the early 1930's, Frank and Anna purchased approximately 1200 acres of land located eight miles north of Bay City. In 1933 the Skelly Oil Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, brought in a discovery well on the Cobb property which led to the development of one of the principal oil fields in the area.

Frank Cobb was an industrious, inventive, philanthropic man. With the inspirational support of his beloved Anna, he established one of the first herds of Brangus cattle and was awarded the Outstanding Cattleman Award by the Brangus Association in 1967. He invented a cattle spraying system that was duplicated and put into use in many areas of the country, including the Kansas City stockyards. He was instrumental in civic endeavors, such as the construction of LeTulle Park, and served on the city council of Bay City from 1928 to 1941. With twenty-five grandchildren of their own, Frank and Anna were enthusiastic supporters of youth activities in the county. Frank Cobb was a leader in the formation and development of the Matagorda County Fair Association. The Cobbs were members of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Frank Cobb was an active member of the Bay City Rotary Club, and never missed a weekly meeting regardless of his schedule.

The Cobbs were referred to as" Anna and Frank" by their peers and as "Mother Dear" and "Daddy Frank" by the young people. They contributed significantly to Matagorda County--always with pleasure and without desire for recognition or reward.

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, 1984, page 97
 

Copyright 2008 - Present by the Cobb Family
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