HOBKIRK, Joseph 1819-1904

HOBKIRK, COOPER, DUNCAN

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 11/3/2008 at 09:33:58

Mitchell County Press
March 9, 1904

JOSEPH HOBKIRK

Joseph Hobkirk was born March 1, 1819 in Howdenburn, Roxburgshire, Scotland. He died at the home of his son, Wallace five miles southeast of Osage, February 29, 1904, thus in one more day he would have reached the age of four score and five years.

In 1842, he with his mother, one sister and two brothers came to America and settled in Deleware county, N. Y., and began at once to clear up a farm in the timber country and provide a home.

After more than two years toil he yielded over all that he had and came further west to Wisconsin, settling at Waupon.

Here and at Rossdale he remained for about ten years, part of the time engaged as a clerk in a
store and later engaging in mercantile business for himself. Later for about 14 years he was a farmer, living near Utica, Wis.

In 1869, he moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, bought a farm and settled in Rock township, being one of the earliest settlers, where he lived until about thirteen years ago, when he came to Osage. After two years residence occured the death of his wife, since which time he has found a comfortable home with his son Wallace who with his family had cared for him with true devotion and affection.

Until her death some eighteen months ago, his daughter-in-law had been to him as a daughter and since his granddaughters have tenderly ministered to his wants.

In 1848, at Beaver Dam, Wis., he was united in marriage to Almira Jane Cooper. They were the parents of three children, two sons, Robert of Lyle, Minn., and Wallace of Osage, Iowa, and one daughter, Mrs. Anna Duncan of Kenawick, Washington.

There are living, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They were a source of great comfort to him and just a few monments before his death he summoned one of the little ones to him to give her a parting handshake.

Mr. Hobkirk was of a genial temperment, of unusual vitality and vigorous constituion. He was a great reader well informed as to current events and almost to the last was alive to the issues of the day. He took an active interest in politics and for almost all of his entire 14 year residence in Utica he served as Justice of the Peace.

He also served in this same capacity in Rock township. He possessed many qualitites of his ancestors who were the sturdy type of old Scotch Presbyterians. He has read his bible again and again and seemed to find much comfort especially in these years in mediating upon those noble passages of the Bible which he had learned in youth.

Relatives present at the funeral besides his son Robert and family from Lyle, Minn., were a nephew,Frank Hobkirk of Waupon, Wis. and a niece Mrs. Mary Barnes of Wells, Minn.

The funeral services were held at the home of his sone, Wallace J., on last Tuesday, conducted by Rev. D. I. Coon and the body was laid to rest beside that of the wife in Osage cemetery.