Isabel Cobb

Isabel "Belle" Cobb (October 25, 1858 – August 11, 1947) was a Cherokee physician and educator best known for being the first woman physician in Indian Territory.

Early life and education Cobb was born near Morgantown, Tennessee, the oldest of seven children of Joseph Benson and Evaline Clingan Cobb. She attended school in Cleveland, Tennessee until 1870, when at the age of 12, her family moved to Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation (near modern-day Wagoner, Oklahoma). Cobb was a good student, winning awards while attending school in Tennessee.

Shortly after arriving in the Cherokee Nation, Cobb's mother gave birth to her youngest sister. It was a very difficult delivery, and the family had to call for a midwife because there were no doctors in the area at the time. Although her mother survived the delivery, it left a lasting impression on Cobb and motivated her to pursue a career in medicine.

Cobb enrolled in the Cherokee Female Seminary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and graduated in 1879. She continued her education at Glendale Female College in Glendale, Ohio where she graduated in 1881. At this point in her life, Cobb had received more education than most women of her day. Cobb earned her M.D. degree in 1892.

On March 26, 2016, Mayor Albert Jones of Wagoner declared the day "Dr. Belle Cobb Day." There was an event at the Wagoner Historical Museum attended by many of Cobb's relatives. The declaration from the mayor read in part, "Today, we celebrate Dr. Belle Cobb and pay tribute to her outstanding leadership, perseverance and giving heart...the city of Wagoner honors and commemorates Dr. Cobb for making a definitive mark on history."