Born: 1858 (Morgantown, Tennessee)
Died: 1947 (Wagoner, Oklahoma)
Biography:
Isabel Belle Cobb (October 25, 1858 – August 11, 1947) was a Cherokee physician and educator who made significant contributions in the field of medicine. She is best known for being the first woman physician in Indian Territory, leaving behind a lasting impact on the healthcare system and women’s history.
Cobb was born near Morgantown, Tennessee, on October 25, 1858. She was the oldest of seven children born to Joseph Benson and Evaline Clingman Cobb. In her early years, Cobb attended school in Cleveland, Tennessee and displayed exceptional academic abilities. She was recognized for her achievements and received awards during her time there. However, in 1870, when Cobb was just 12 years old, her family relocated to the Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation, near modern-day Wagoner, Oklahoma.
A pivotal moment in Cobb’s life came soon after her family’s move to the Cherokee Nation. Her mother experienced a complicated childbirth, and with no doctors available in the area, a midwife had to be called. Though her mother survived, the incident deeply impacted Cobb and fueled her desire to pursue a career in medicine.
Cobb enrolled in the Cherokee Female Seminary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and graduated in 1879. Wanting to further her education, she attended Glendale Female College in Glendale, Ohio, where she completed her studies in 1881. Cobb’s determination and passion for learning had led her to achieve an exceptional level of education, rarely attained by women of her time.
Upon her return to Indian Territory, Cobb began teaching at the Cherokee Female Seminary. However, tragedy struck in 1887 when the seminary was destroyed by fire. Undeterred, Cobb seized the opportunity to further her medical aspirations and enrolled in the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1888. This institution was only the second of its kind worldwide to offer women the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree. Cobb’s dedication and perseverance paid off, and she earned her M.D. degree in 1892.
Dr. Belle Cobb embarked on an impactful medical career, spending six months interning at Staten Island Nursery and Child’s Hospital in New York. In 1893, she returned home to Indian Territory, opening a medical practice in the rural areas of Wagoner County. Cobb provided medical care primarily to women and children, operating out of a farmhouse on her family’s property. She demonstrated incredible dedication, performing surgeries within the patients’ homes and often refusing payment for her services. Dr. Belle Cobb became a respected figure in her community, known for her tireless efforts to improve the healthcare outcomes of those she served.
Following a remarkable career that spanned several decades, Cobb’s health began to decline after she fell and broke her hip in 1930. She made the difficult decision to retire and focus on her well-being. Despite her dedication to medicine, Cobb never married. However, she displayed her love and compassion by adopting a six-year-old Italian orphan in 1895.
Throughout her life, Cobb remained an active member of the Presbyterian church and participated in various literary societies in Wagoner County. She was highly regarded for her kindness, caring nature, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. On August 11, 1947, Isabel Belle Cobb passed away from natural causes in Wagoner, Oklahoma. Her legacy lives on as a pioneering figure in medicine and a trailblazer for women in her community and beyond.
Awards:
– First woman physician in Indian Territory