HOBBS, Joseph - 1914

HOBBS, BRYANT, CAVE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 18:00:39

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

JOSEPH HOBBS.

Joseph Hobbs, one of the most progressive and successful farmers of Cherokee county and one of the most extensive landowners in this part of Iowa, was born in England, March 14, 1858. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Bryant) Hobbs, also natives of England, where the father worked as a gardener for a number of years. In 1880 the parents emigrated to America, locating in Jackson county, Iowa, where all of the mothers relatives, the Bryants, lived, their ancestors having located there in very early times. Mr. and Mrs. James Hobbs thereafter made their home with their sons for a number of years, the mother dying in 1889 and the father in 1891.

Joseph Hobbs was fifteen years of age when he and his brother located at Sterling, in Jackson county, and began working as farm hands, continuing at that occupation for seven years. They saved their money and at the end of that time were able to buy sixty acres of land which they developed and improved for one year. It was, however, not large enough for two and accordingly Joseph Hobbs sold his interests to his brother and rented another farm, upon which he continued to reside for four years. At the end of that time he came to Cherokee county and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 18, Amherst township, paying twentyeight dollars an acre for land which is now worth over two hundred and twentyfive dollars. Since that time he has made other purchases and is today a large landholder, owning six hundred and forty acres in Amherst township and six hundred acres just over the line in Plymouth county, one hundred and sixty acres in Clay county, South Dakota, and threequarters of a section in Beadle county, in the same state. He is in all essential respects a selfmade man, for he has labored earnestly to attain the great prosperity which is now his. When he and his brother reached Savanna, Illinois, they were absolutely penniless and were obliged to sell some pet pigeons in order to get money enough to take them across the Mississippi river. They walked from Sabula to Sterling, a distance of seven and onehalf miles, and there worked tirelessly for many years thereafter. Success has finally crowned the efforts of Joseph Hobbs and his career furnishes a splendid example of the value of earnestness, perseverance and determination. In addition to general farming he buys and sells stock and at one time fed six hundred head of cattle. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers Elevator Company of Marcus and a man of recognized business ability and discrimination.

On the 29th of March, 1881, Mr. Hobbs was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Cave, a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Bryant) Cave, natives of England. The father went to Jackson county, this state, at an early date and engaged in farming there until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs became the parents of five children: Minna B., at home; Chester R., who is operating one of his fathers farms; and Howard, Orville and Everett, all at home. Mrs. Hobbs passed away in May, 1906, after a years illness.

Mr. Hobbs gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served for three terms as trustee of Amherst township. He has been a member of the school board and also served as road supervisor. He has lived upon his present farm for the past twentyeight years and during that time has contributed in substantial measure to the growth and development of Cherokee county, which numbers him today among its most representative, valued and useful citizens.

and at one time fed six hundred head of cattle. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers Elevator Company of Marcus and a man of recognized business ability and discrimination.

On the 29th of March, 1881, Mr. Hobbs was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Cave, a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Bryant) Cave, natives of England. The father went to Jackson county, this state, at an early date and engaged in farming there until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs became the parents of five children: Minna B., at home; Chester R., who is operating one of his fathers farms; and Howard, Orville and Everett, all at home. Mrs. Hobbs passed away in May, 1906, after a years illness.

Mr. Hobbs gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served for three terms as trustee of Amherst township. He has been a member of the school board and also served as road supervisor. He has lived upon his present farm for the past twentyeight years and during that time has contributed in substantial measure to the growth and development of Cherokee county, which numbers him today among its most representative, valued and useful citizens.