Chattahoochee County GaArchives Biographies.....Cobb, Mrs. Martha (Patsy) Hill unknown - unknown
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 4, 2004, 12:52 pm

Author: N. K. Rogers
MRS. SETH COBB

    "Aunt Patsy Cobb" (Mrs. Seth Cobb) was so well known for her decided
personality and her many beneficent acts that a history of the county would be
incomplete without a sketch recording some of her characteristics.

    Family tradition says that she was a cousin of the illustrious Ben Hill who
"lived to vindicate in the Congress of the U. S. the conduct of the South during
the war, and to silence the slanders that impugned our honor." Once when he was
to make one of his famous speeches in Columbus, Ga. he sent his cousin, Mrs.
Martha (Patsy) Hill Cobb a message to be present. As he did not see her, he
inquired later (presumably in a letter) why she failed to come. Her reply was,
"I have been accustomed to gentlemen calling to see me."

    Descendants say she was the daughter of Isaac Hill who was a brother of John
Hill.

    Her personal dignity is something recalled by her grand daughters, Mrs. Meta
Cooksey, Mrs. Emma Blau and Mrs. Emma Robinson, when they described her as a
rather tall old lady with fair skin, wearing black and white caps with curls
made of same material as the cap and a double niching of lace around her face—-a
fichu over her shoulders—a black silk apron always worn even with light colored
dresses, she can be visualized even though the only photograph known to be in
existence can not be found now.

    In summer she liked to have meals served in the yard, where she always had
pretty flowers. But her name is linked inseparably with the orchards of peach,
cherry and apples— especially the latter, which were so attractive to the school
children of that day. She usually had some of Mr. Huff's pupils boarding in her
home-—some of them well known later in the professional and commercial life of
the world.

    She was noted for extreme neatness, in her person, her premises and her
housekeeping. When she went to see the sick her first advice was, "Give them a
bath."

    "Aunt Patsy" knew the medicinal value of many roots and herbs and had a
medicine chest in which she kept such for use. She was a good nurse and aided
the doctors, for she had the requisite self control as illustrated when one of
her sons was slowly dying. Each day he would ask her to tell him when death was
coming. One day she had to say, "Now Jimmie, the death messenger is coming." She
was of such a strong nature that she could with composure assure him there was
nothing in the way—no pain—just a little weakening of the heart.

    She was a valued member of Mt. Olive Church where so many, whose influence
has extended through the intervening generations, listened to the Word of God
propounded by men whose literal belief in all its inspiring and terrifyng truths
left no place for the entering wedge of doubt. The faith of these people created
that intangible legacy still a blessing to their descendants. Soon after the
negroes became free and before the establishment of separate churches for them,
a faithful old colored man whose membership was at Mt. Olive, was passing Aunt
Patsy's a few days before the annual meeting when the communion service was
held. Upon being reminded of this meeting, the old negro demurred about coming,
since few of his color would be there. On the appointed day, after the members
had washed the feet one of another—as part of the rite—Aunt Patsy took a basin,
placed a towel upon her arm and singing a hymn walked to the back of the church
where old Ike sat and washed his feet. Those who were present said there was not
a dry eye in that church.

    If the northern abolitionists whose concern about the welfare of the negro,
could have witnessed this, and could have observed the ordinary routine of life
in the South during slavery days, they might have felt rebuked for their violent
and harsh criticism.

    A proud people who voluntarily humble themselves for conscience' sake and
for the sake of performing their duty, may be trusted to treat all human beings
justly and kindly.

    After the civil war when death had claimed several of her children and
others had removed to distant states, two grandsons, Pack and Tom Brooks were
the chief support of her old age. They were the beneficiaries named in her will
and all the memories of Aunt Patsy preserved through them and others let us see
her as one who had a happy outlook upon life, left nothing to chance, but
directed all resources, no matter how limited, to the best possible use.

    A granddaughter tells this story: A relative living in a malarial section of
south Georgia had several sick children, whom she wished to have under Aunt
Patsy's care for a few days. So she, with these children, made the journey in a
buggy and after, spending several days at Aunt Patsy's spoke of going home the
following Sunday (first of the week preceding this Sunday when she reached this
decision). Now, Aunt Patsy had other plans—she liked to make Sunday a day of
rest and to attend church services—so she tactfully suggested the advantages of
going on Saturday; and did this successfully without seeming inhospitable. When
their departure was finally affected on Saturday morning this granddaughter
remembers Aunt Patsy standing watching them out of sight with a far-away look in
her eyes and saying, "They have made me glad twice, when they came and when they
went."

    The keynote of her life seems to have been managing adverse difficult
circumstances so there could be rest and gladness and tranquility of spirit.

    Her adaptability to life's mutations is a heritage passed on to her
descendants and noticeable even in her great granddaughters but in one
granddaughter, Mrs. Meta Cooksey, to a marked degree.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF CHATTAHOOCHEE COUNTY, GEORGIA
By N. K. Rogers

Dedicated to

KASIHITA CHAPTER U. D. C.

and all worthy descendants of the County's first settlers.

Copyright 1933

by N. K. ROGERS

PRINTED   BY
COLUMBUS  OFFICE  SUPPLY CO. COLUMBUS, GA.




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