Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1113 - 1114

 WLLIAM HOBSON, a retired farmer in comfortable circumstances, and now a resident of Wichita, first came to this State in 1878, and subsequently was mostly engaged in agricultural pursuits. A native of Wayne County, Ind., he was born Oct. 26, 1820, and is the son of George and Rebecca (Marshall) Hobson, who were natives of North Carolina. George Hobson was born May 27, 1772, and his wife Rebecca, Jan. 24, 1780.

             The parents of our subject spent the early years of their lives in their native State, where they were married. Soon afterward, however, they removed to Knox County, Tenn., where the father engaged in farming, and in due time found himself at the head of a family of ten children. Of these but five are now living, namely: Sarah, Mrs. Macy, of Randolph County, Ind.; Charles, of Ft. Scott, this State; Jesse, of Kingman County; William, of our sketch, and Margaret, Mrs. Bales, of McLean County, Ill. The parents removed to Indiana in 1814, settling in Wayne County, where most of their children were born. From there, in 1840, they removed to Henry County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father died on the 17th of March, 1846, and the mother May 10, 1857. They were members of the Society of Friends, and possessed the deep religious principles of that peculiar sect. Their children were reared conscientiously in their own religious faith, but being somewhat scattered have not been able to identify themselves with the Quaker Church.

             William Hobson, of our sketch, continued a member of his father's household during his boyhood, but at the age of sixteen years struck out for himself, and going into Tazewell County, Ill., engaged in farming until 1878. He then returned home, and by the desire of his parents, made his arrangements to continue with them during their lifetime. He took charge of the farm and remained upon it until in March, 1878. In the, latter month he came to this State, and located first in Harvey County, where he rented land two years, and then changed his residence to Kingman County. In this latter he pre-empted a farm of 160 acres, which he occupied, however, but a short time, then removed to Wichita, where he was engaged in the real-estate business until 1885. Thence returning to his farm, he occupied it until the spring of 1887, when he returned to the city and took up his abode where he now lives.

             The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Malinda Millican, and they were married at the home of the bride in Henry County, Ind., Sept. 18, 1845. Mrs. Hobson was born Sept. 9, 1821, in Grainger County, Tenn., and is the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Russell) Millican, natives of North Carolina, and the father a blacksmith by trade, in connection with which he also carried on farming. He spent his last years in Flat Rock, Ind., and lived to be ninety-four years old, passing away about 1882. The mother died about the year 1857.

             The parents of Mrs. Hobson had thirteen children, but ten of whom are living: Edith, Mrs. Chenny; John R.; Hannah, Mrs. Koons; Polly, Mrs. Hedrick; Malinda, Mrs. Hobson; Jane, Mrs. Bland; Matthew, David; Esther, Mrs. Messick, and Keziah, Mrs. Allen. To our subject and his wife there have been born six children, of whom five are living: Minos R. married Miss Mary A. Hodson, who is the mother of four children—Orlando, Ellis, Adella and William L.; they reside in Kingman County. Sarah J., Mrs. Castellar, of Wichita, is the mother of three children—Frank, Elma and Burt; Marcus F. married Luella McConnaughey, and they have four children—Robert, Nettie, Bertha and Edna; Eli T. is engaged in printing in Wichita; Elizabeth, Mrs. Beauchamp, is the mother of two children—William B. and George; these last mentioned are residents of Wichita.

             Mr. Hobson, while a resident of Indiana, officiated as Justice of the Peace, holding his position under Govs. Ashbel P. Willard and Oliver P. Morton. After becoming a resident of Kansas, he was in 1886 elected to the same office in Kingman County. In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Hobson united with the Christian Church, of which they both continue members. Our subject, when a young man of twenty years, occupied himself four terms as a teacher in the public schools of Henry County, Ind. He is a gentleman of good education, and while a resident of Henry County settled up several large estates, one of these representing $60,000 worth of property. This latter had been in the courts several years on account of the blunders of untrustworthy officials, but Mr. Hobson was fortunate in extricating it from its entanglement, to the great satisfaction of the heirs. He has been progressive and public spirited, giving liberally toward the building of the Christian Publishing House at Dayton, Ohio, and the Union Christian College, at Marion, Sullivan Co., Ind. He votes with the Republican party.

[ Home ]