MORRIS HOBLITT
George Shannon and Morris Hoblitt located claims on sections 13 and 14, but did not build on them. Mr. Shannon afterwards went to Iranistan, at which place he was the first blacksmith.
Morris Hoblitt traded his land with John R. Kirk for a tract near Wiota, which he afterwards sold to Mr. Finch. Morris Hoblitt was born in Logan county, Illinois, in the spring of 1832, and was the son of Timothy B. and Barbara (Bickel) Hoblitt. He received a common school education in Logan county, and then commenced the study of medicine. He attended medical lectures at Rush Medical college, Chicago, in 1861 and 1862 and graduated at that institution. When R. D. McGeehon and George Shannon came out to Cass county to locate in 1852, Mr. Hoblitt came with them. He first located on section 14, but afterwards traded this land with John R. Kirk, for a farm in Franklin township. He went back to Illinois to study medicine, receiving his medical education as before stated. After graduation at Rush Medical college, he returned to Grove City, and commenced the practice of his profession. He soon came into prominence there through his skill, and gained the reputation of being one of the most successful practitioners in the county. He was married in 1855 to Josephine Haughey, a native of Ohio. They had one child--Effie, who is now living in Hardin county. He died May 17, 1864, and his wife died a short time previously. Mr. Hoblitt was a brother-in-law of John R. Kirk and R. D. McGeehon, then and now prominent citizens of this township and county.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 833-834.
