Della Halley Cobb
My grandparents, Frank and Angeline Raynor, with Uncle Lewis, came to Medicine
Lodge from Houston, Missouri, traveling by wagon due to Grandpa's health and
"consumption". My mother, Myrtle Raynor Halley, came soon after in 1911 bringing
my brother, Lloyd Halley, and myself.
Uncle Bert Raynor had come ahead of all of us and was working at Kling in the
Gyp mines where a cousin of Grandma's, Richard Wilson, was section foreman on the
railroad at that time.
We lived in the old Opera block at Medicine. Times were hard for the family
and all worked. Grandma Raynor worked out much of the time, as well as doing
laundry. Mama went to work at the Grand Hotel and also cared for the two children
of George Horney, Thelma (Sweet Skinner) and young George. Uncle Lewis, known
for his "fiddling" ability, many times dressed up as a darky and played music on
the street corners for a few coins, as well as playing for gatherings and socials.
We lived going to the Chatauquas as special treats, and Grandma would manage
to have the 10 to 20 cents it took to go to the movies on Saturday night, returning
home with a large bag of puffed wheat or rice to enjoy a bowl with some milk.
Grandpa Raynor died on July 29, 1913, and is buried in the Medicine Lodge
cemetery, although the exact location of his grave is not known.
Harry Roy Millar came to Medicine as a carpenter and contractor, building many
of the older homes in the area. He courted my mother, and they were married Sept.
10, 1914, and because of his work we moved to Belvidere in 1916. He died August
16, 1957. Mama spent the next few years as housekeeper for Father B. Groome, the
Catholic priest at Greensburg and Medicine. She retired to her home here and died
in 1973.
James Dallas Cobb (Ty) worked for the Santa Fe railroad as Agent in 1921 at
Medicine. During this time he became a Mason and member of Delta Lodge until his
death. In 1922 Ty bid in the Atgents job at Belvidere, where I met him. We were
married on August 16, 1924.
Four children were born to us, Margaret Ruth Turnbull, Sept. 24, 1925, living
at Belvidere; James Franklin born December 6, 1926, died in a railroad accident at
Blackwell, Oklahoma, May 3, 1975; Donald Eugene born April 18, 1928, and now
employed by Clarke Water Service out of Medicine Lodge, and living at Haviland;
Martha Josephine Donner, born on February 13, 1930, living at Wichita.
Ty died December 14, 1970, after 37 years as Agent at Belvidere.
Our connections with Medicine Lodge have remained many through the years. Harry
my stepfather, and Uncle Lewis played for dances in Barber County many, many times.
Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 135
Submitted by: Della Halley Cobb