A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA
JOSEPH HOBSON
JOSEPH HOBSON is a member of the firm of Hobson Brothers, dealers in lumber, lath, shingles, sash, doors and blinds. The material welfare of a city depends upon its commercial activity and Albia owes its prosperity and upbuilding to such enterprising business men as Mr. Hobson. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense, having through his own unaided efforts attained the high position he now occupies in the mercantile world, and his life is but another instance of what honesty of purpose and integrity, as combined with perseverance and ambition, can accomplish in this great country of ours.
Mr. Hobson was born in Henry county, Iowa, December 5, 1840, the son of George and Tamer A. (Gibson) Hobson, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Indiana. George Hobson removed with his parents, Joseph and Mary Hobson, to the Hoosier State in an early day, locating near Mooresville, where eventually occurred his marriage to Tamer A. Gibson. In 1837 they removed to Henry county, Iowa, locating in the town of Salem, where the father was for many years successfully engaged in general merchandising. In religious faith both he and his wife were Quakers and were people of the highest respectability, their many noble qualities winning them the high regard of all with whom they came in contact. Mr. Hobson died in 1863, but his wife still survives him, and is now living in Salem, at the advanced age of seventy five years. She is a daughter of Mountillian Gibson, a miller by trade, who later in life followed farming. In the Hobson family were ten children: Eliza J., deceased; Joseph; George H.; Cassius C.; Esther; Hannah
Joseph Hobson acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Salem, Iowa, and later pursued his studies at Howe's Aca demy at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. When his education was completed he began learning the carpenter's trade with Samuel Comer, and later clerked for two years in the drug store owned by his father at Mt. Pleasant. His next service was with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company in the bridge-building department, and he was made supervisor of the Iowa division of bridge-building, which position he held for nineteen years. He assisted in the construction of the pioneer bridge across the Missouri river at Kansas City, Missouri, and was intimately concerned with other incidental work of equal importance. During all that time he was not absent from his duty a month, and his long continued service well indicates his efficiency and trustworthiness— qualities which were numbered among his strong and marked characteristics. In 1860 Mr. Hobson drove an ox team to Pike's Peak and returned in a similar manner, after an absence of about three months, within which time he had carefully canvassed the situation of affairs in that section and had come to the decision that the outlook was not favorable for him. In the year 1863 he gave evidence of his loyalty by enlisting for the service in the late war of the Rebellion, as a member of Company A, Forty-fifth Iowa Infantry, commanded by Captain John A. Edwards. He was mustered in at Keokuk, and after serving the full six-months term of his enlistment received his honorable discharge, in the same city.
On leaving the employ of the railroad company Mr. Hobson came to Albia and entered into partnership with James M. Robb, under the firm name of Robb & Hobson, and purchased the stock of the Kendall Lumber Company. There they engaged in business for four years, when Mr. Hobson purchased his partner's interest. He was then sole proprietor for a time, but in 1889 the present firm was organized, his brother, George H. Hobson, being admitted to a partnership in the business, under the present style of Hobson Brothers. They are doing a large business, carry every thing to be found in their line of trade and have the confidence, good will and patronage of the public.
Mr. Hobson has been twice married. In 1872 he wedded Miss Jane Robb, a daughter of William Robb. She died in 1877, leaving three children: Anna E., now the wife of Z. W. Gibbons; James R., who is his father's assistant in business; and John J., who is yet attending school. In 1880 Mr. Hobson was again married, his second union being with Barbara E. Zear, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and a daughter of Joseph Zear. They have a pleasant home and their circle of friends is limited only by the circle of their acquaintances. They hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Hobson belongs to Henry Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart friend, and he has done effective service in its interests while acting as a member of the School Board for seven years. In his political adherency he is a Republican.
From A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Volume II, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896, pp. 644-645. Transcribed July, 2015 by Conni McDaniel Hall.