George Hobson 1821-1901

HOBSON

Posted By: Penny Hobson (email)
Date: 9/3/2005 at 18:05:44

Death of George Hobson

Geo. Hobson was born near Utica in Clark County Indiana, the 21st day of March 1821 and died at the home of his daughter Mrs. Margaret Wilson in Villisca, IA., July 4, 1901, at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 21 days.

He was married to Sarah Maranda Bennett Oct. 6, 1842. Four children were born to them; one died in infancy. (It is possible that the baby was a boy named George L. Hobson who is buried at the Utica cemetery with the John Hobson family. This baby had a small stone. Digging for proof of parents of Sarah Marinda Bennett Hobson, she could be the sister of Martha Bennett Hobson whom this baby is buried next to) The other children are: J. T. Hobson, of Red Oak, IA, Mrs. Margaret A. Wilson, of Villisca, IA., and Mrs. Mary M. Redmon, of Red Oak IA.
Sarah Marinda Bennett, Mr. Hobson's first wife died June 7, 1854, and he was married to his second wife, Elvira Prather Jan. 2, 1855. Four children were the result of this union. Mrs. Rozella Stillinger, of Villisca, IA., Wm. Hobson, of Elliott, IA., Minnie Sterns, of Quincy, Adams county IA., and Edward Hobson also of Quincy. All of Father Hobson's children except the one mentioned as dying in infancy were present at the funeral.

Bro. Hobson was converted and united with the Methodist church at 14 years of age of which he has remained a faithful member to the end. For 35 years he was class leader and steward. He moved to Montgomery county in 1857. It was a sparsely settled country. Long stretches of prairie with wolves and not a house to be seen. All supplies were brought from St. Joseph, Mo. In this new country father Hobson with others began and permanently laid the foundations of Methodism and we have entered into their labors.

Bishop Merrill recently said: It is not given to all men to be great but all may be good. It is better to be good than great. Bro. Hobson was a good man and the Master has said, "well done then good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of the Lord." Father Hobson himself wrote "I have been faithful to the church: I think I have been the means of bringing some to Christ. My work has not been in vain." Servant of God well done. Thy glorious warfares past, the battle's fought, the victory's won and thou art crowned at last.
The funeral was from the home of his daughter Mrs. Wilson, Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. Dudley, the pastor of the M E church, assisted by Revs Newland and Campbell and the ......

Newspaper was probably Villisca, Iowa Newspaper after July 4, 1901.
Some of the article is missing)

Probably Villisca, Iowa Newspaper after July 4,1901
Originally sent by Lee Hobson ca 1970s to Jeanene Lawson.

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... pleasant little cottage on the border of our village, George Hobson died. He had enjoyed his usual good health until a few days before his death, then, returning from Corning, where he had been visiting his nephew, Hon. W. O. Mitchell and other friends, he walked part of the way from the depot to the residence of his son-in-law, Harvey Wilson. A few hours after his arrival he was stricken with paralysis, which occurred on 29th of June. He lived until the following Wednesday morning, when he died as peacefully as a little child goes to sleep. His funeral was from the residence of Mr. Wilson, and was of the simple, old fashion he desired. Uncle George, as his friends loved to call him, was past 80 years old. For 44 years he had lived in Montgomery county, and much of the prosperity, very much of the
improved conditions we enjoy, owe their origin and growth to his forethought and labor.

There are only a few now living, who can go back over those forty-four years and recall the conditions that surrounded the few scattered cabins, separated by miles of prairie, with only the earth beneath and God's canopy overhead. Pioneers of Iowa never took kindly to the sod house. In some way a cabin would be built, and though small and meagerly furnished, it was home.

Elder Campbell said at his funeral, "George Hobson was not a great man-- he was a good man." His presence was a blessing, his friendship a truth. He was born and lived until early manhood in Indiana,
a few miles from Louisville, Kentucky. He knew personally George D. Prentice, editor of the Louisville Journal, a whig newspaper of ante-bellum days, which he used to read. It was the predecessor of the now Courier Journal. Both editor and newspaper are long since gone. He was a Methodist when
Methodism was young, when the ex-ample, yes, and the face of John Wesley were familiar, welcome remembrances.
Eighty years of the 19th century. How little do we realize the extent of what that means. George Hobson had grown to manhood, before there was a railroad or a telegraph in the world. Only three years before he was born the first steamboat was launched. What a wonderful changes he has seen. Like other old men, he gradually withdrew from the active scenes of life, scenes that he once took a keen interest in -- was a part of --saw them going on, progressing without his aid. Was it a melancholy pleasure to him?
Whether a pleasure or a regret, it is he inevitable. When the eye grows dim and the hand forgets its cunning nature provides others to take up what we lay down.
Note: George 's brother Jesse S. Hobson is buried at George and Elvira's head. They share a headstone.