Grandma was a real inspiration for beginning my family research. She would often spend hours telling me stories of her siblings, parents, and the 'olden times'. This would 'spark' a growing curiosity and desire to know more that would just not go away. Therefore, this never-ending endeavor and this project to LEARN MORE began!The picture on the right is the way that I remember Grandma. She was 75 when I was born. Since our birthdays were only 3 days apart, we would often celebrate together. My father, Earl, in the picture to the left - taken in the 1920's, was the youngest of 9 children.
Minnie was the second child born to G. W. Mears and Fanny (Boon) in Coleman County, Texas. She appears on the 1880 Throckmorton Co., Texas census at age 3 with her two sisters, Frances and Mary 'Bessie'. It was shortly after this that she moved with her parents to the Wilbarger - Hardeman -Foard Co., Texas area where she would remain until the mid 1930's.
She married Willie Allan Cox, s/o Sol Cox and Emily Painter, about 1896 persumably in Foard Co., Texas or vicinity. They had one daughter, Clara born in 1897, before divorcing. Minnie's Marriages
On September 12, 1900 in Foard Co., Texas. Minnie married my grandfather, Jesse William Jobe (see picture on the right), s/o Caleb Jobe and Martha Emily Brewer.
In 1900, Jesse, who is 27, is living next door to his parents in Precint 2 of Foard Co., Texas. Minnie and her daughter, Clara, are listed in the 1900 Wilbarger Co., Texas Census. Then in 1910 Minnie and Jesse are listed on the 1910 Wilbarger Co., Texas Census.
See Jessie's site for more photos.
Life on Farm in Foard Co., Texas
1901 - 19191904 - Grandma Minnie with her mother, Fanny (Boon) Mears and sons, Cale and Walter
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1906 - Cale, Clara, Annie, Walter
1909 - Cale, Walter, Annie Bill
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1914 - Grandma with 7 of her children
Bill - Cale - Ernest - Minnie holding Viola (baby) - Clara - Annie - Walter
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1913 - Bill, Viola Ernest
1917 - Bill, Cale, Clara, Annie, Ernenst, Walter, Viola
In April 1919, when Daddy was 3 months old, Grandpa Jesse Jobe died in the flu epidemic that quickly spread across the U.S. and worldwide - killing thousands. Tragedy - Flu Epidemic Strikes
Jessie was buried at the Thalia Cemetery with a Woodman tombstone. His parents, son Walter and father-in-law, G. W. Mears, would also be buried at Thalia.
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After Jesse's death, she struggled to survive and bring her family to maturity. In 1929, she would lose her son, Walter. These were lean tough times, but she survived and the family was fed and clothed. From listening to the many stories, I've never heard of anyone doing without any of the necessities - food, water, love or shelter. Young Widow - Struggles to Surive
1919 - 1935
Move to Grandpa G. W. MearsAfter her parents seperated, Minnie's father lived with them.
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1919 - Grantma with 7 of her children
Back - Annie, Clara, Bill, Daddy(baby), Grandman Minnie
Front - Earnest, Mary, Viola1919 - Viola, Mary, Earnest, Daddy (baby)
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1919 - Mary, Earnest, Earl 'Daddy'
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1925 - Probably Taken at Great Grandpa Caleb Jobe's Funeral
Cousin Mary Cook, Cousin Liter Cook, Aunt Annie, Grandma Minnie
Children: Auntie 'Viola' - Aunt Mary - Earl (Daddy)Aunt Annie and Grandma Minnie
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1928 - Grandma Minnie, Daddy, Aunt Clara, Aunt Minnie
During the depression about 1936 after G.W.'s death and the farm was sold, she moved to Garner in Parker County, Texas with some of her children. Daddy, the youngest, was now 17. It is known that Cale, Viola, Annie and my father came with her. Aunt Clara and her family would later move to the area also. Grandpa Mears died in 1934, the farm was sold, and most of Minnie's children were now married. It was time to move nearer to the urban areas. Move to Parker County, Texas
1934-1955
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1948 - Grandma with Uncle John Jobe
1950 - Grandma and Daddy
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1950 - Grandma with 5 of her children
Cale, Annie, Grandma, Mary, Viola 'Auntie', Daddy
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1954 - Grandma - Ready for Church
1952 - Christmas at Grandma Jobe's House
Me - My Mother - Uncle Tex Ellis with arm arount Aunt Annie - Aunt Clara holding my sister, Marian - Grandma - Uncle Earl Spoon - 1st cousin Lois Jobe
Ever since I knew Grandma, she lived with her daughter, Annie (Jobe) Spoon, who had also become a widow in 1963. For the next 9 1/2 years these two widows continued to live together in Weatherford. As long as she was able, she would attend the Methodist Church. Move into Weatherford
The Way I Remember
1955 - 1972Grandma and Aunt Annie had a garden in the backyard and had several peach trees. Weatherford is famous for its peach festival and visiting Grandma Jobe would not be complete without 'their famous peach cobbler' and cornbread. They would often be checked in on by Uncle Cale who lived a few miles away in Garner, and Aunt Clara, Viola 'Auntie', and my father who lived in Tarrant county. Most weekends and holidays would find Daddy, my sister and I visiting Grandma Jobe's. My mother worked for telephone company as long distance operator and would therefore be workng.
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June 1970 - Grandma and me
Christmas 1971 - Grandma holding my siamese kitten
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1970 - Grandma Minnie, Aunt Annie (Jobe) Spoon, Gt Aunt Mae (Mears) Gunn
At the time of her death in August 1972, she was almost 96 and had continued to live at home until the last couple of weeks. She died only a few days before I moved to Canada. True Pioneer
Dies in Parker Co., TexasGrandma was buried at Memory Gardens of the Valley on the Mineral Wells Hwy in Parker Co., Texas. I was very blessed to have spent so much time with her.
--b. August 2, 1908 Wilbarger Co., Texas
--d. June 1, 1974 King City, Monterey Co., California
--cremated
--m. Emelia A. 'Emily' JACK
--November 9, 1940 Reno, Storey Co., Nevada
----b. October 3, 1903 Los Angeles, California
----d. March 23, 1980 Santa Clara Co., California
------d/o William Fredrick Jack and Daisy M. BROWER