One of Wagoner’s most prominent and representative citizens is Joseph B. Cobb, who was born in Bradley county, Tennessee, on the 21st of February, 1863, a son of Joseph B. and Evaline (Clingan) Cobb, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Samuel S. Cobb, to be found on another page of this work.
Joseph B. Cobb was but seven years of age when he came to Indian Territory with his parents, locating in what is now Wagoner county, and he was reared and received his early education in the common schools of this community. In due time he enrolled as a student in the Cherokee Male Seminary at Tahlequah and after putting his textbooks aside he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm, remaining under the parental roof until he was thirty years of age. In 1890 he was elected to the Cherokee council and he served as a member of that body for two terms. In 1893 he moved on his farm, six miles southeast of Wagoner, which he improved and engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1914. In that year he rented his farm and came to Wagoner, in order to give his children better educational advantages. He has since resided here and recently purchased a modern home on McQuarrie avenue.
Since taking up his residence here Mr. Cobb has lived a retired life for the most part but be has taken quite an interest in political affairs and for one term served his fellowmen as county commissioner. He is a stanch supporter of the republican party and is conversant with all the important questions and issues of the day.
On the 18th of January, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cobb and Miss Lilly Johnson, a daughter of Monroe and Mahala (Ballou) Johnson. Her parents were natives of North Carolina and located in Indian Territory in 1872. Her father engaged in farming on an extensive scale and was one of the representative agriculturists of the community at the time of his demise. To Mr. and Mrs. Cobb five children have been born Evelyn is a typist and is associated with a large concern in Lafayette, Colorado ; during the World war Florence was active in war work in Washington, D. C., as a member of the woman’s auxiliary of the navy department, and she is now employed as a typist in that city. She is an expert comptometer operator; Isabelle is engaged in teaching in Wagoner county; Joseph J. is living at home and working for the gas company; and Thomas, the youngest member of the family, is attending high school in Wagoner. He is fond of all athletics and is one of the star football players on the Wagoner high school team.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church, of which they are consistent members. Fraternally Mr. Cobb is identified with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Cobb is always interested in matters of progressive citizenship and is a cooperant factor in many projects for the general good. He has many friends in the county, most of whom have known him since boyhood, and he is readily conceded to be one of the most popular residents of Wagoner.