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A Tale of Two Olga'scontributed by Kay Starr Schaney While going through some of my grandmothers papers, I became intrigued by the story of the two Olga's. Here and there were little snippets of information regarding "another Olga Brobst" living in the same general area of Northeastern Ohio (Trumbull and Mahoning Counties) where she was living. I have collected what I have of their correspondence and some newspaper articles to present here. It was not unusual for my Grandma (Olga Brobst) Hitchcock, to write a poem to people instead of a "traditional" letter, as you will see here. Olga (Brobst) Hitchcock describes how they metSince various items about Olga Brobst Cornell have been published recently, it has been of great interest to me, also. In the year 1963 Mrs. Olga Brobst Cornell presented me with six of her sterling silver "Graduation Gift Teaspoons" with name and date 1903 inscribed. At that time she had lived in Youngstown and we had never met before. Altho she had seen my name "Olga" in the tribune at different times as Noble Grand of the Rebekah Lodge and she had been assembly president at one time and it was she who instigated and installed Lakeview Rebekah Cortland Lodge. (At that time I was not a member.) After she had seen my name as Olga she came from Youngstown to visit our Rebekah Lodge and Introduced herself as Olga Cornell then mentioned in her continued conversation that her maiden name was Olga Brobst. "Oh how can this be," I said, as my maiden name too was Olga Brobst, I was born in the Western part of Ohio in Defiance County. What a coincidence. Two ladies carrying the same identical first and last names before marriage. The "Twins" (Identical Twins in name only) after many years had met. We have been corresponding with each other since that meeting in 1963. Poem/Letter to Olga (Brobst) Cornell (1963)In the time that you've been waiting T'was so nice to have met you Such a dilapidated building We tried hard to make it pleasant The gift of spoons with your name and date As you know my name is Olga My descendants had a name with a handle As for me I'm just plain Olga. In my family there were eighteen children I was born in Defiance County Ohio I did not know my father's father, I knew my Aunt Sarah, and Aunt Mary Now I've lived yesterday, today and I hope tomorrow Since my father was an only son Olga Brobst Hitchcock Olga (Brobst) Cornell, letter to OlgaPostmarked March 15, 1964 My Dear Olga, It is too nice a day to stay indoors but where can I go without a car. So I shall try to write a few letters that need answering. Then your Mother has a Birthday Tues and I do want to send her greetings from one of the "clan." I wish a very, very, happy day for her . I only know of one other up in that 90+ age and that is Mrs. Elmer Brobst from out near Canfield. So often I wish I had the transportation to to get out to see her. Her husband was a son of Uncle Adam Brobst whom we all loved. Of course she married into the Brobst family but she loved us all the same. Sometime ago I saw an Albert Brobst in Wilkesbarre Penna mentioned in "Sunshine Magazine," but no address so I looked up in my Penna Reb Assembly Book the name of a Lodge Sec. in that city. She wrote me a very nice letter saying Albert Brobst died recently. He was a poet of some standing. She had met him at a Rebekah convention once, he had a daughter, but (she) did not know her name. So she copied 6 names of Brobsts from the telephone book with their addresses. Would you like to write one? Way back when these early Brobsts came to our country, many settled in eastern Penna. Crystal Smeach, daughter of Mrs. Elmer Brobst told me to write to Mr. Clarence Cole Bristolville RFD#1 for Brobst History that she has a very fine one. But up to date I've not had time. You have done very well with your interpretation of the Brobst Coat of Arms. I thank you for it. I shall see what I can do to get it out among the clan. The Spencer Gifts Co. list a lot of families as having a coat of arms. We sure ought to get going. There are so many in Kansas then your branch & the Canfield folks and from the list the Penna Rebekah sent me there seem to many out there. Do give me the name of the Civic Chorus Spring Sing in Packard Music Hall. Maybe I can go by bus although there are very few on Sunday. I'm glad to hear what a busy gal you are! That is fine. You have the ability and the talent, don't let it lie around and gather dust. Will you be going to the Rebekah Assembly which meets in Cleve(land) April 26, that includes all branches of the Order but Grand Lodge and Rebekah Assembly are first. I do not like this combined convention, it just crowds in too much and there is not the time to visit with each other as formerly. My love to you, Warren Tribune Chronicle, Warren Ohio
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