Melvina "Mellie" (Norman) Farra/Ferra Boblett was born July 13, 1877, in Rossville, Vermillion County, Illinois, to Jefferson Manley and Martha Ellen (Westfall) Norman.  She married Levi Farra on March 12, 1893 in Lawrence County, Tennessee.  Their children were Ollie, born June 10, 1894; Leslie, born in 1896; Norman, born March 30, 1899.  Millie and the children were enumerated on the June 1900 census in Guilford Twp., Tuscola County, Michigan.  No additional record of son Leslie has been found after the 1900 census.  Her other children were Winnie (Farra) Burchett, born February 3, 1901; Homer, born on July 17, 1903; Martha (Farra) Haining, born November 6, 1905; and Mary E. (Farra) Wells, born February 27, 1908.  Missouri birth records indicate these children were born in Byesville, Guernsey County, Ohio.  Sometime before April 1910, the family moved to Maricopa County, Arizona.

On May 15, 1918, in Phoenix, Arizona, Mellie married Samuel M. Boblett, Sharlot M. Hall’s cousin, and had two more sons: Fay Ross, born September 2, 1919 and John Clayton, born May 13, 1922.  The Bobletts lived in the town of Massicks, Yavapai County, Arizona.

Mellie became good friends with Sharlot Hall and worked with her on the restoration of the Governor's Mansion.  After Sharlot's death in April 1943, Mellie served as guide to the exhibits for the Prescott Historical Society Museum – later named the Sharlot Hall Museum.

Husband Sam moved into the Arizona Pioneers’ Home, arriving on December 22, 1938.  When the 1940 census was taken the enumerator noted Millie’s address as 1001 Simmons Highway, Prescott, where she was living with sons Fay and John, daughter, Martha, and son-in-law Owen Haining, along with their two daughters, Yone and Mardell.  Sam died on June 20, 1942 and was buried at the Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery.

On February 26, 1952, Mellie passed away in her home located at 1101 Iron Springs Road.  Funeral services were held in the Ruffner Funeral Home with the Rev. Mr. Atwood officiating.  Sharlot Hall Museum Library and Archives has an oral history given by her granddaughter Yone Haining Gendreau.                                                                                                                                                             
Note: Samuel Boblett also married and divorced Minnie J. Bargemann.  The two Mrs. Bobletts are sometimes confused. Please see the “Boblett” Surnames Vertical File for additional information.

Donors: Mr. & Mrs. Ed Englund & Navy Mothers
Photo Located: Ludwig Studio Photographs Collection, PC-51
Updated: 5/3/2018, D. Sue Kissel