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GENEALOGY
OF THE
CURRENT and HOBSON
FAMILIES
in
TWO PARTS
BY
ANNIE E. CURRENT
"Honour thy father and mother; which is the first command- ment with promise, that it tn ay be well with thee and thou may- estlive long on the earth." — Ephesians, 6, 23.
"A people that take no interest in the achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything- worthy to be remembered with interest by remote generations." — Macaulay.
HARE O. WATERS, NEW CASTLE, IND. 1906.
HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY
QRtGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
PROVO, UTAH
PREFACE.
In undertaking this work, I was conscious that it should have been done by one more competent to gather and arrange the material comprising such a volume. But, having at hand much of the records and biographical sketches of the preced- ing generations, I began to search for more, thus renewing correspondence with absent relatives and forming some new acquaintances who all readily responded, expressing their interest in the work and a readiness to do the part assigned them. So, instead of the undertaking becoming wearisome it was rather fascinating, leading me on till it extended far beyond my original plan.
I hope my friends will overlook all imperfec- tions in composition, rhetoric and otherwise, and appreciate the history as it relates to facts, as I have good authority for all the dates and records. None of our ancestors or their desdendants have been illustrious as individuals, though each gen- eration have, in their time, when great national issues were at the crises, performed their part on the side of right, and some have even attained to historical importance. None have been noted for
any kind of crime, and with few exceptions, all have belonged to the predominant class of our nation, the common people, and are remembered chiefly for their religious principles, temperance and heroism.
The Current ancestral record, I obtained of B. F. Current, secretary of the Current Reunion; the Jones sketches and record, of Prof. Clement R. Jones and Mrs. Sarah Whitehair. The chapters duly credited to the authors. In asking each family to write their chapter, I gave no limit, which accounts for the difference in the length of the chapters. I must mention the help of my dear niece, Mrs. Almina Williamson, in copying a part of the manuscripts when I was so weary and weak. We are especially favored in having the printing done by one of the family, Mark O. Waters.
The family records and life sketches that have been transmitted from generation to generation would soon become obliterated by decay and for- getfulness, if they were not put in print. I feel that I have placed within the reach of many, the records of their ancestors that they could have obtained perhaps in no other way.
A.nnie E,. Current.
Redkey, Indiana, August 15, 1906.
INTRODUCTION.
One need not explain why he writes about those he loves. It is a common thing to write of such as have occupied positions of rank and trust among men, but, alas, how true do the words of Ike Marvel, in his "Dream Life," often prove, "I care not how worldly you may be, there are times when all distinctions seem like dust, and when at the graves of the great, you dream of a coming country, where your proudest hopes will be dimmed forever."
But love never dims. It abides forever and grows brighter at its own reflection. To make a place in your hearts for those whom the woi Id, in its mad career, forgets or over-looks, is one object in writing this volume, of lives fitly represented by the couplet in Gray's Elegy:
"Full manj' a flower is born to blush unseen And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
It takes a hero to be a common man; to forego ambitious desires and live only to be useful. And we trust the perfume given out by the lives, as re- corded on these pages may float in gem't° zephyrs
upon your life and fill all your days with sweet in- cense of hope, love, courage, and an humble, holy ambition. But we are not necessarily confined to the common, in dealing with the lives of our an- cestors. Some of them have been recognized as out of the ordinary and have been "remembered by what they have done," as will be seen by read- ing the life sketches and incidents herein noted. Our ancestors were the ancestors of a president of ithe United States and there was an adage concern- ing one of our family and name — "Hobson's choice," which years ago had become so popular- ized that Webster, the great lexicographer, found for it a place in his standard dictionary. Should the struggles and triumphs of the many families herein represented, be written, that history would be stranger than fiction, and dearer to the hearts of those who are united by ties, even remote ties of kinship, than the large volumes of praise and laudation of some political poltroons, whom the public, in many cases, would utterly despise, wrere they acquainted with their inner lives and the means they used to attain such prominence.
There are heroes in private life just as great as any that occupy the prominent pages of history In fact it is almost an impossibility for one to rise
in the scale of public approbation unless, some- way, perhaps thousands, boost him by the sacri-
fices of their own ambitions, and by their devo- tion to the necessities of a common life. The un- der-current of the great deep ocean bears upon its bosom the upper waves, which rise in their pas- sions and dash themselves to pieces by their own rising.
The ancient character and origin of our ances- tors have much of interest even to the general public, but naturally much of this kind of infor- mation is obtainable onl}- in broken bits, mere fragments gathered here and there, from man}' sources. This makes it impossible to give an}T- thing like a connected history of our ancestors over the sea, or prior to their settlement in Amer- ica, but this we know; they lived a simple, pious life, doing good to all that came to them and liv- ing in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The plain life of a plain people, as they were, could not but bring its own reward, so they gradual^ grew to affluence and high standing. The absence of display, pretense and ostentation gave them a cnarm, reliability and sturdiness that won them a name and a place among their neighbors and fel- low citizens. These characteristic features have been noticeable throughout the different genera- tions so that their advice is often sought and no
one that comes to them goes away without assist- ance of some kind, and in the hearts of the living today there pulsates a strong desire for universal
peace, and an unconquerable faith in the brother- hood of man, and a tenacious determination to dare "beat the swords into ploughshares and the spears into pruning hooks."
The incidents in the history of these pioneers and their descendants, if given in detail, would be interesting indeed, but would fill volumes. Be- ing led by the angel of peace, for Christ's sake, to emigrate to America, to plan, plant and build, until a land for freedom was instituted, and then again led them westward to reclaim the wilder- ness and cause it to blossom as the rose.
Some of our kindred and name have had their share in the victories of the battle-field, and have directed victorious armies and battleships in action and thus placed on the scroll of history, be- yond question, their bravery and fidelity to their country, as did the service of General Hobson in resisting and driving out the force of troops in that historical "Morgan's Raid" through Indiana and Kentucky; and Lieut. Richmond Pearson Hobson, in the sinking of the Merrimac, in the mouth of the harbor at Santiago, in the face of the Spanish fleet and forts; also others of equal and greater renown, even as far back as the Hobsons of the Scottish clans, in the early days of the Scotch monarchy.
How glad we would be to make mention in
these pages, of others, of our more remote kins- folk, but space will not permit. Perhaps others may take up the pen where we leave off; this is at least our hope, until all our families, scattered the world over, will learn to sing together, with hearts throbbing in unison:
"God bless the hearts that beat as one
Though continents apart, We greet you brothers, face to face
We meet you heart to heart."
There are many lessons for us of the younger generations, in the lives and examples of our an- cestors, for they were all full of noble purpose and high resolve to do the right. They endured the hardships of the early settlers, deriving their subsistence from Mother Earth, with implements now obsolete, and by their stern necessities en- dured privations aed border war-fare with the In- dians, and the crucifying time of the great Civil War, thereby opening up to their posterity a new world, a new government, a new era, and have only left for us, full-handed and equipped, to de- velop "new life" like unto the son of man.
A.. "W. and E,. B. Hobson. July 24, 1906.
INDEX
PART FIRST CHAPTER I— Ancestry 1—24
CHAPTER II, Mary A. and Stephen Hobson _25— 38
CHAPTER III, Rachel and Ha Lake, 39—54
CHAPTER IV, Samuel J. and Eliza J. Current, 55—125
CHAPTER V, James Alfred Current „...126— 140
CHAPTER VI, James and Margaret Waters, 141—152
CHAPTER VII, Emmaline R. and Lewis Bird 153—158
CHAPTER VIII, Sarah E. and Daniel Bird, 159—176
CHAPTER IX, Arah M. and W. J. Hesser, 177—184
CHAPTER X, Emily E. and John Norris, _... .185—187
PART SECOND
C H A PT ER I ,— Ancest ry , _ _ 191—21 1
CHAPTER II, William and Fanny Hobson, 212—232
CHAPTER III, Jose and Catharine Hobson, „.233— 245
CHAPTER IV, Margaret and Emanuel Furst 246—252
CHAPTER V, Jemima D. and Stephen Hobson 253—332
CHAPTER VI, James Rarden Hobson, ..332—336
CHAPTER VII, Sarah and Isaac Weathermon 336—350
PART Fl RST.
The: Current Family,
CHAPTER ONE.
ANCESTRY.
"God's kindness to our fathers shown Their children's children long shall own."
The transactions of former days play an im- portant part in life's role; and while these his- torical records speak to us of the past, revealing something of the brave, sturd}', Christian char- acter of the progenitors of our family, we should emulate their example of perseverance, courage and Christian faith, striving to perform with no- ble purpose the duties of the present. While we of this generation are strangers to the hardships
THE CURRENT FAMILY
of pioneer life, we should not forget how they suffered the deprivations and labors necessary to develop this country from the unbroken forests and swampy lowlands into the fertile ground and healthful dwelling place it is today. The first three or four generations faced the dangers of being torn and eaten by the wild animals or scalped by the savage Indians.
All of our ancestors were agriculturists along with their other trades and professions, and helped to lay the foundation upon which the present generation builds. While we admire their strong characters and independent courage we should be most thankful for the Christian in- heritance transmitted to us through their godly lives and Bible training, coming down from one generation to another through the family altars and, each act our part in giving to present and future generations the same blessed heritage,
JAMES CURRENT.
In the year 1730 James Current was born in the north of Ireland. The date of his coming to America is unknown. He had two brothers who were sailors. The3T also came to this country,
THE CURRENT FAMILY
landing on the eastern shore of Maryland. One brother died; the other returned to his native land.
James was married and had one son, William. His wife died and the record of this marriage is lost. His second wife was Margaret Richardson, who was born in 1737. When he came to this country, James Current settled in north-western Virginia, trading a "gray" horse for thirteen hun- dred acres of land where the city of Grafton, W. Virginia, is now located. He lived to the age of ninetyT-two years on this farm, and died August 15, 1822. Margaret, his wife, died in 1830 at the same place, when ninety-three years old. Their bodies were buried on the Current farm in a cem- etery now called Bluemont Cemetery.
Their long lives prove that the}* were well
suited to endure the hard toil and ever present
dangers of pioneer life. One of Virginia's poets
has written of them:
"Upon their dinted shields no crests; Noglittering orders on their breasts, But IROX in their blood."
"More resolute, honest and upright people could not be found than were those sturdy daring
THE CURRENT FAMILY
Scotch-Irish immigrants who built their rough cabins on the banks of the Monongahela river."
The children of James and Margaret (Richard- son) Current were:
John, Martin, Molly, James and Enoch.
James and Margaret Johnson Current.
James, son of James and Margaret Richardson Current was born March 25. 1773, in Virginia and died in Henry County, Indiana, February 2, 1845 at the age of seventy-three years. He was mar- ried to Margaret Johnson, March 31, 1796. She was born in a blockhouse within a stockade, in Pennsylvania, August 1777, and died in Henry County, Indiana, January 23, 1875, at the age of ninety-eight years. A stockade was an inclosure for the protection of live stock, made of large posts pointed at the top and planted close togeth- er in a line surrounding a strong wooden fort called a blockhouse, where the pioneers in time of danger from Indians, assembled from their homes, taking their stock and valuables and re- maining until the danger was over. Strong men brave patient women and innocent children, in those days lived inconstant dread of the savage yells of the cruel Indians. Those were times also
THE CURRENT FAMILY 5
when the black people were held as slaves, and sold like animals, by their owners. But this was a custom which James Current and his descend- ants believed to be wrong and they never owned any slaves. His father divided his farm of thir- teen hundred acres among his children. He gave James three hundred acres and this son remained with his parents as long as they lived.
In the year 1835 James sold the land and fol- lowed his three sons, Peter, James and John, and two daughters, Nellie and Mary, to Henry County Indiana, they having settled there during the two preceding years. All of his children that were in Virginia, except the youngest daughter, came to Indiana with their parents.
One marked trait of the Currents was, and is,
their respect for their ancestry. The command,
"Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee," includes a promise that was
fulfilled to many of them. They were so bound
by the ties of consanguinity, they verified the
old Scotch term "clannish" though liberal and
friendly to others. Settling on adjoining farms they lived thus a number of years till the
THE CURRENT FAMILY
younger generation sought homes of their own, the head of each family usually going with their descendents, who settled near together as the preceding generation had done. The forest fur- nished the timber for their houses and furniture. John had learned the trade of wheelwright, and could make furniture and easy chairs that were a comfort as well as ornament in those homely cab- ins. He also made spinning wheels, reels and looms with which women in those da}rs converted the wool from the sheep's back into cloth for the dresses for women and children and for men's suitings also, which the}r made by hand. Blank- ets and coverlets were made in the same manner. Table linen, towels and sheets and summer dress goods, for both sexes were made from flax and cotton.
James and George W. were blacksmiths, Wil- liam was a shoemaker and all were industrious farmers. Their frequent family gatherings were lively times although always attended with such hard work as "log rollings," "corn huskings," "harvesting," "wood chopping" and other labor for the men and "wool pickings," "quiltings" and "sewings" for the women, and as they worked.
THE CURRENT FAMILY
their cheerful voices kept time with busy hands.
Peter and George were Methodists and on Sun- da}^ there were class meetings and preaching services at the home of Peter. Others of the fam- ily were Baptists, and after William moved to Jay county the Primitive Baptists held services at his home.
The children of James and Margaret (Johnson) Current were:
Peter; (See sketch further on.) Nellie, born November 12, 1799; married John Jones September 23, 1823, died October 12, 1867. Her husband died October 20, 1838. They had six children. John, born October 25,1802; married Mary Norris February 19, 1829, died July 24, 1881. His wife was born December 24, 1803 and died January 9, 1875 They had nine children. Susannah, born November 11, 1804; died Novem- ber 20. 1806. Mary, born April 14, 1807; married William Lake Nov. 10, 1831 ; died Nov. 16, 1882. Her hus- band was born August 9, 1811; died June 14 1846. They had five children. James, born October 26, 1809; married Mary Pow-
8 THE CURRENT FAMILY
ers December 18, 1834; died May 30, 1895. His wife was born October 14, 1810; died September 11, 1899. They had seven chil- dren. Abraham, born October 25, 1812; married Eliza- beth Lake, May 22, 1833; died February 20, 1886. His wife was born Nov. 28, 1813 and died Feb. 12,1891. They had eight children. William P., born May 15, 1815; married Rebecca Lake,(sister of the two Lakes mentioned above, and Ila Lake, another brother, mar- ried Peter Current's daughter Rachel) July 29, 1835. He died January 19, 1904. His wife was born December 1, 1818; died Oct. 13, 1893. They had twelve children. George W. born Feb. 6, 1818; married Elizabeth Lewellyn, April 19, 1838; died May 6, 1880. His wife was born Feb. 22, 1818; died March 1902. They had eight children but only three lived to maturity. Nancy, born Sept. 24, 1820; died in Kansas in 1902. Her husband, James Keener, is also dead.
They had ten children. Nancy was the youngest of the family of James and Margaret (Johnson) Current and was the only
THE CIRRENT FAMILY
one of the family that remained in Virginia, not joining the western emigration until many years later. "The circumstances under which Nancy chose to remain in Virginia were quite romantic. She started to Indiana with her people, in a cov- ered wagon. They were accompanied for several miles on the way by a number of the friends and relatives on horseback. Among those friends was her lover, and when the time came for the two parties to separate, the one to continue on to the new country, the others to return to their Virginia homes, Nancy bounded from the wagon and young Keener drew her up behind him on the horse and they sped away to the settlement where thev were married."
Brief SKetcK of Jones Family.
(Ancestors of Rebecca, -wife of Peter Currentl
The earliest ancestor of the Jones family of whom we have any knowledge is Mrs. Samuel Lewellyn. She was probably born in Delaware between 1700 and 1710, though neither date nor place can now be fixed definitely. We only know that her oldest son Jacob Jones, was born in the year 1732, near Wilmington, Delaware and was
|0 THE CURRENT FAMILY
left fatherless at an early age. The mother after- ward married Samuel Lewellyn and lived in Lou- don county, Va., until about 1770 when they went across the mountains and settled on Cheat river and established the old Lewelhm ferry in Monon- gahela county, where the Pennsylvania railroad now crosses the river.
JACOB JONES.
Jacob Jones, born in 1732 and left fatherless al- most from his birth, was adopted by a wealthy planter near Wilmington and lived with his foster parents until he became of age. In his earty man- hood he married Dinah, or Diana, Stanton, a young lady of the same neighborhood, three years younger than himself. Jacob, always fond of hunting and "a dead shot" early developed those pioneer traits which distinguished his career. Some time after his marriage he moved to Va., near where his step-father, and his mother, re- sided and about 1770 moved with them into the wilderness across the Alleghany mountains Un- like his step-father, he settled on the west side of tte Monongahela river on Dunkard Creek, near the present town of Pentres, W. Va, This was known then as the Indian side of the river and
THE CURRENT FAMILY M
the place he selected was then on the extreme frontier. They started out in life poor and cast their lot in the wilderness across the mountains from the scenes of their }Touth; they brought with them nothing, but at the close of their lives they were well-to-do and were loved and respect- ed by all. Their adventures, struggles and hard- ships if full}- described would require volumes. Fights with Indians and hunting expeditions are still being told over and over again, but the}T left as a legacy to their children something far better than the land which they pre-empted, or tales of adventure — purity of character, strong, vigorous healthy bodies, piet}T, honesty and frugality. These are the traits which have made their chil- dren and their children's children leaders and bulwarks of society in the communities in which
the}T have lived and still live.
The assetts of those times, however, consisted in adventure and the bare necessities of life. Con- stant vigilance wras the law of life and the rifle was as essential as any article of apparel. Always in danger, they suffered from three well-organ- ized raids of the Indians, 1774, 1777 and 1778.
In the outbreak of 1774 the settlers were warn-
12 THE CURRENT FAMILY
ed by scouts of the approach of the Indians and most of the people were sent to fort at Morgan- town, about seventeen miles away. Jacob Jones' wife was not in condition to travel. The children were sent to the fort and the father and mother resolved to stay in their cabin and, if necessary, die together. A scout by the name of Morgan who was watching the approach of the Indians, again warned them that the Indians were almost upon them and practically forced Jacob and his wife to set out for the fort. After proceeding for about five miles, Dinah gave birth to William Jones. Morgan carried the new-born babe and the rifles, and Jacob, his wife, and the march to the fort was resumed. The rest of the journey through an untrod and unbroken forest and through creeks and rivers, may be left to the imagination. During the year 1775 or 1776 a fort was built on- ly a short distance from their home on the old Stattler farm, now owned by L. R. Shriver, and during the outbreak of 1777. the families resided at the fort and the men and children, who were old enough, went out in armed squads to cultivate their crops. On the evening of July 13, 1777, a party consisting of Jacob Farmer and his daugh-
THE C LJRRENT FAMILY 113
ter, Susie, Jacob Jones and his oldest children, Mary, aged twelve, and John aged eleven, Alexan- der Clegg, Nathan Worley and John Marsh went to the home of Jacob Farmer, expecting to hoe corn on the morrow. The house was surrounded by a band of twenty Indians and an attack was made about daylight on the morning of the 14th. Nathan Worley and Jacob Farmer were killed and Susie Farmer and Mar}T and John Jones cap- tured. Jacobjones escaped by rushing out past the Indians, running first over the bank of the stream and then alono- the waters' eds;e under the protection of the bank. Three Indians fol- lowed him and finally forced him to leave the stream. He then ran up the hill along the fence of the clearing. The Indians at first hoped to catch him alive but finding that they could not do this without endangering their own lives, they each fired at him. One shot passed through his ear, another hit his belt and a third passed be- tween his legs. His escaps was almost miracu- lous as he later stated that as he left the house no less than fifteen Indians shot at him. On the hill Jacob met Marsh who had gone out before the attack to hunt game for breakfast. Together
U THE CURRENT FAMILY
the}7 saw the captured children being dragged by the Indians up the hill on the opposite side of the creek. Jacob started to follow but was re- strained with difficulty by Marsh, knowing that if Jacob had shot an Indian the children would have been killed before their eyes. In the mean- time Glegg had also escaped by running into the stream and had carried the news to the fort where he was soon joined by the other survivors. The militia attempted to follow the Indians, but nothing came of the pursuit.
The children were taken westward across the Ohio. Susie Farmer was unable to keep up with the warriors and was tomahawked and scalped, the other children being witnesses of the bloody scene. On the way John devised a plan to es- cape, but was dissuaded by Mary who told him that they could not find their way back and even if the}7 could they could not cross the big river.
John and Mary were adopted into different families of the Wyandottes and lived near San- dusky, Ohio. After arriving at Sandusky the children were made to run the "gauntlet" which they did successfully to the gratification of their captors. On the whole the children were treated
__ THE CURRENT FAMILY [5
as kindly as the Indians' method of living would admit and their hardships were probably no greater than those which the Indians had to un- dergo themselves. Mar}r was especially obedi- ent and, consequently was held in high esteem, but John never became reconciled and was always planning to escape. Finding at last, after five 37ears of persuasion, that he could not induce Ma- ry to join him, John's desire to get away became so great that he left his sister, ran away and final- ly reached Detroit. Here he entered the family of a Doctor Harvey where he was treated as a son given as good schooling as the times afforded, and as much knowledge of medicine as the Doctor could give. John started for England to complete his medical course and got as far as Montreal when a desire to see his people if any were yet living, caused him to return and go to Pittsburg instead. Jacob Jones, learning of this fact went after him and took him home. In all John was away eleven years, five at Sandusky and six at Detroit.
Mary remained with the Indians for ten 3-ears during which the members of the family which adopted her, all died. She made her way to De-
H> THE CURRENT FAMILY
troit and was taken into the family of General McCoombs. Three }ears later she married Peter Malott and settled first on Grosse Isle and then at Kingsville, Ontario. The marriage was a most happy one and their many descendants are among the most prosperous and respected citizens of that community. Peter Malott died in 1815 and Mary or 'Aunt Polly' as she was familiarly known still longing to see her people, set out in 1817 to visit Virginia. She crossed the lake to Cleveland and went the rest of the way on foot. A remark- able family reunion thus occurred after a separa- tion of forty years. On her return two of her brothers accompanied her as far as Cleveland, all on horseback.
It is now the custom of the Jones family to hold its reunion every third year with the Malotts at Kingsville, Ontario,
Returning to the further experiences of Jacob Jones, Sr., after the capture of his children, he moved his family to a safer position on Cheat river, but he, himself served in the militia on the frontier until the close of the Revolutionary war, when the militiamen were replaced by regulars. For some time afterward he lived on Cheat Bot-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 17
torn, now Tucker county, W. Va. where be had a grant of land. In 1794 he obtained a grant of land near Knottsville, W. Va., where he spent the remaining years of his life in peace and comfort. Both Jacob and his wife died in the summer of 1828, aged, respectively,96 and 93 years. In 1904 the family reunion was held near the spot where this remarkable couple was buried and a monu- ment erected over their graves was dedicated to their memory.
The children of Jacob and Dinah Jones, in the order of their birth were: Mary (Malott), John, Benjamin, Samuel, William, Jacob Jr., Rebecca (Powers), and Martha (Powers).
Mary married Peter Malott and had the follow- ing children: Joseph, Mary, Anne and Peter and two who died in infancy. She was born in Dela- ware or in Loudon county, Va., in 1764 and died in Kingsville, Ontario, Oct. 16, 1845.
John Jones was born in Delaware or Loudon county in 1766 and died in 1850.
SAMUEL JONES.
Samuel Jones, father of Rebecca, wife of Peter Current, and son of Jacob and Dinah Jones, was
JS THE CURRENT FAMILY
born on Dunkards Creek, Monongahela county, Va.,Jan. 16, 1772. He married Rachel Lewellen, a half cousin, Mar. 13, 1794 and lived on Three Fork Bottom near what is known as 96 water station of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. Their old house is still standing. They had twelve
children, two d}ring in infancy, un-named. The others were all daughters named as follows: Mary, born Sept. 24, 1795; married Noah Warder. Rebecca, born July 4, 1797; married Peter Current- Nancy, born July 19, 1799; married George Bryan. Dinah, born July 28, 1801; married Thomas Gough. Martha(Patty) born Nov. 9, 1803; married Peter
Dragoo. Arah born Nov. 8, 1805; married Frank Gough. Sarah born Nov. 30, 1807; married first to Joshua
Boyles and second to John FAurbee. Elizabeth (Betty) born Nov. 17, 1811; married
Daniel Gough. Abagail, born Dec. 21, 1813; married Uriah Jones. Matilda, born April 7, 1815; married Anthony
Shroyer.
Samuel Jones was class leader at the old Knottsville Methodist church for forty years. Their home was a spiritual power-house where,
THE CURRENT FAMILY 19
at the family altar, several of his children were converted and shouted praises to God. On that memorable night in 1833, when the stars fell, light- ing up the universe, Samuel Jones was awakened about three o'clock in the morning and, seeing the phenomenal sight, he, like all who saw it, thought it was the ending of the world or the time of the promised return of Christ. He awoke all his family, calling them to prayer. He made such soul-searching supplications that his youn- gest daughter, Matilda, was converted. When her father arose from prayer and walked back and forth shouting "glory, glory to God," she with the rest was ready to join him in praising God, and they were a whole family ready to meet the judg- ment without fear.
Samuel Jones moved to Henry county, Indiana in 1838 and died of paralysis in 1840, at the age of sixty-eight. His wife, Rachel then went to Dela- ware county, Ind., making her home with her daughter, Matilda Shroyer, until 1866, when she
followed her husband to their home above. She lived to the age of ninety-one years, having been
born January 5, 1775.
NOTE— For further history of the Jones Family see "A Brief Sketch of the Early History of the Jones Family," by Prof. C. R.
20 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Jones of Morgantown, W. Va. Prof. Jones is the family historian and authority for most of the foregoing facts concerning the Jones family.
Peter and Rebecca Jones Current.
Peter Current, son of James and Margaret Johnson Current, was born in Monongahela coun- ty, Va., January 27, 1797. He married Rebecca Jones Feb. 6, 1817 She was born in the same county July 4, 1797. Her father was Samuel Jones son of Jacob and Dinah Jones. With the teach- ing and example of such parents Peter and Re- becca Current, made their start in the Christian life and they had daily worship in their home. After going to Indiana there was no church near them and they opened their home for religious meetings and for a few years it was the place for the regular class, prayer meetings and preaching services for the Methodists and each of the nine children were converted, married Christians and erected family altars.
In 1833 Peter with his brother James, then un- married, and sister, Nellie Jones, severed the ten- der ties that bound them to the place of their
THE CURRENT FAMILY 21
birth, set out to found for themselves a new home in Indiana, traveling thither in an emigrant wag- on then called a 'wilderness carriage," now known as a "canvasback," in the west.
Their father, James Current, and Peter's father- in-law, Samuel Jones, accompanied them on horseback for the double purpose of seeing them safely through and to "spy out the land." One looked after the comfort of the women and chil- dren and the other would ride ahead seekingsuit- able shelter for the nights, there being few "tav- erns" and farm houses were far apart. But they managed to find suitable shelter for the delicate ones while the stalwart men and boys slept a- round camp fires or in the wagons. They were nineteen days on the road.
After seeing their children settled the fathers returned to their Virginia homes with such glow- ing reports of the opportunities open to settlers they so fired the whole family with the spirit of emigration that, two years later, Peter Current's father, with all his sons and daughters except one were settled on farms close together making a "Current settlement" in Henry county, Indiana. The Jones family came a few years later.
22 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Peter Current remained in Henr}- county until 1854 when he bought a farm in Jay county, Ind., adjoining a farm purchased the year previous by his son, Samuel. His other son, Alfred, the same year, bought a farm a mile distant. His brothers John, George W., and William P. all had farms within two miles of his. So another 'Current Set- tlement" was formed, this time in Jay county.
Here, Rebecca, the beloved wife of Peter was stricken with apoplexy and passed away April 11, 1866, at the age of sixty-nine years. She was en- gaged in making garden about five o'clock in the evening when she was paralyzed and was never able to speak.
In 1870 Peter went to Nebraska with his youngest daughter, who though married had al- ways lived in her father's home, there to spend the remainder of his days on earth. Previous to this, four of his children had gone to make their homes in Nebraska, where for nearly a year he lived, enjoying the presence of children and grandchildren. Here he entered into a deeper Christian experience. He had no fears of the "dark valley" as he passed to his home be}rond.
Concerning his last days, his daughter Bmaline
THE CURRENT FAMILY 23
Bird has contributed for this history the following-: "Our dear father, Peter Current, came to Nebras- ka in April 1869, and died March 15, 1870. For nearly one short year we had the privilege of his society. He enjoyed his life here so much and thought we had such a beautiful country. His health was almost perfect for a man of seventy- three years. He was able to walk two miles and did so several times from the home of one daughter to the home of another, accompanied by the little grandchildren, and all had such a happy time with him. But first of March 1870. he took cold which terminated in pneumonia, or lung fever and caused his death. The short time he was with us he formed many friendships. Shortly before his sickness there had been revi- val meetings in which he took an active part. On Sunday morning before his death on Tuesday, he seemed to have a glimpse of heaven. He saw such beautiful forms passing through the room. He suffered great pain but was patient through it all. His funeral was preached b}T Rev. Max- field, from these words of Scripture: 'For before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God,' Heb., 11:5. And now thirty-five
24 THE CURRENT FAMILY
years have gone since thattirne and two of the four sisters who eared for him in his last sickness have gone to meet him and dear mother, with the host of other loved ones. The last scene of that sickness is still vivid in n\y memory and I ex- pect it will remain until I am permitted to see him again, in the Glory world."
E. R. Bird. Mt. Pleasant, Nebraska, August 1, 1905.
The children of Peter and Rebecca Current Mary Ann (Hobson), see Chapter II. Rachel (Lake), see Chapter III Samuel Jones, see Chapter IV James Alfred, see Chapter V. Margaret J. (Waters), see Chapter VI. Emaline R. (Bird), see Chapter VII. Sarah Ellen (Bird), see Chapter VIII. Arah Matilda (Hesser), see Chapter IX. Emily E. (Norris), see Chapter X.
THE CURRENT FAMILY
25
CHAPTER TWO.
MARY A. and STEPHEN B. HOBSON
By REV. G. A. HOBSON.
Mar}' Ann, daughter of Peter and Rebecca Cur- rent was born in Monongahela county, Virginia,
November 16, 1817 and moved with her parents to In- diana in 1833; was converted and uni- ted with the M. E. Church in early life; she married Stephen B. Hob- son, October, 2). 1843; moved to Missouri in 1814, to Nebraska in 1856, to California in 1894; died at San Fernando Cal-
STEPHEX B. AMD MART -A. HOBSO". ltOmiaJUlV J.1 JULM".
26 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Mary Ann was possessed of rugged, vigorous elements of both mind and body which, owing to her early surroundings and training, developed a strong, practical personality characterized by determination and independence in youth, dilli- gence and endurance in middle life, and in old age ripening and mellowing into restful patience and wholesome resignation.
The spirit cast in this human mould was fitting, the chief characteristic of which was a sense of loving loyalty to Him who gave it. This made her religious life easy, so easy that she had little patience with doubters and little charity for changelings. To her faith, speculations in relig- ous things was simply impossible. In harmony with this, her religious expression, always posi- tive, generally buoyant, sometimes ecstatic, made it easier for others to believe than to doubt. The experiences she recited, the Scripture quotations she made, the songs she sang, all these testified to her strong hold upon eternal verities. Had any one asked her, "Are you a Christian?" her answer would most likely have been, "Why, of course!" as though it were an economy of soul
THE CURRENT FAMILY 27
power to have confidence in God, rather than to put confidence in princes.
The following was written by her daughter, Mrs. Matilda Bates for the occasion of her mother's eightieth birthday anniversary which they cele- brated Nov. 16, 1897, at her home at San Fernan- do, California:
MARY A. HOBSON.
"Thou shi.lt come to thv grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."
"Far away in the Old Dominion near the Monon- gahela river, lived Peter Current and his fair gen- tle wife, Rebecca. On November 16, 1817, a tin}r daughter came to gladden the home and was given the name Mary Ann. The warm Virginia sunshine fell softl}^ about the little house and the air was sweet and rich with fragrance; so the babe grew apace as the da}^s and months swept into 3'ears and sisters and brothers were added to the household band. While the parents' hands were busied in loving toil, the hills re-echoed the song halloo and laughter of children's voices, as they builded mimic castles among the rocks, or twist- ed the world-famed laurel bloom into wreaths for tiny heroes or made fairy wands of the slender
28 THE CURRENT FAMILY
sour-wood branches. So the happ3T childhood days quickly passed and when Mary Ann was near sixteen, her parents decided to go west to the untried wilderness of Indiana, and in the vir- gin forests to hew them out a home wherein to shelter their beloved. In this new land Mary grew to womanhood, and early gave her heart to Jesus. It was in a little prayer meeting in her father's house that God's converting power came to her. She had before that joined the church, in which she holds her membership today. As eld- est daughter she shared the mother's daily duties and her deft .fingers drew the shining threads from the silvery flax-covered distaff, or changed soft, fleecy woolen rolls lying across the big spin- ning wheel into finest, smoothest knitting yarn. Other days, mounted on the high loom seat, she wove piles on piles of blankets, and coverlets as cannot now be bought at any price; and web on web of whitest linen. So when the youthful Stephen came a-wooing, her oaken chest was filled with splendid dowry, her own handiwork for "she had laid her hands to the spindle and distaff."
Stephen B. Hobson and Mary A. Current were
THE CURRENT FAMILY 29
married October 20, 1843, and moved to the terri- tory of Missouri, believing that it would come in- to the Union as a free soil/There they built a home, made them fields and gathered flocks and herds about them; but when slavery over-ran the young, new state they resolved to migrate again rather than live where the land echoed the groans of a race in bondage. In 1856 they removed to Nebraska, an infant territorj" numbering a few hundred inhabitants. Here they again made them a home and planted orchards and vineyards and "grew with the county" until now they love the very name, Nebraska. Here they saw three children grow up, settle in homes of their own, and children's children become men and women. The eldest son was given, for four happy years but for nearly half a century has been a dweller in that land where no sorrow comes. From a few villages scattered along the banks of the muddy Missouri river, they witnessed a great state de- velop which counts its people by the thousands. Nearly fort}T years Nebraska was a synonym for home and it caused many a heart to pang to leave it for another abode. In June 1894, the swiftly- moving train carried them away from the beauti-
30 THE CURRENT FAMILY
ful hills and thrifty vales they had so long called their own, and now they dwell beneath the fair Southern skies of California, where evergreen boughs and sweet orange blossoms bring glad premonitions of the better home beyond.
"Eighty years old is Mary today, as she sits be- side me! Eighty years of toil and bereavements, of happiness and joy; all mixed and mingled is the web of life. Eighty years to love and serve the Master; eighty years of help and cheer for humanity. Oh, Mary, mother mine, what a long blessed life! Thou, indeed, hast measured the Father's promise, 'With long life will I satisfy Him and show Him my salvation.' " STEPHEN B. HOBSON.
The subject of this sketch was born of Quaker parents, George and Deborah Hobson, in Wayne county, Indiana, Feb. 12, 1822: was converted when a little boy while listening to Quaker preaching; was reared to manhood in Henry county, Ind.; married Mary Ann Current Oct. 20, 1843; moved to Andrew county, Missouri in 1844: to Cass county, Nebraska in 1856; to California in 1894; died at San Fernando, Cal., April 2, 1900.
In religion he may not have been so exhuberant
THE CURRENT FAMILY 3[
as his wife but he was as hopeful, faithful and tenacious. It would have been a nine days' won- der to have seen Stephen B. Hobson backslide. With him religion became a habit which domina- ted all his other habits. He joyed more in want- ing to do right and to be right than in anything else and was more hurt and humiliated over the consciousness of wrong committed than he was in its confession. Such confidence had men in the purity of his intentions that even infidels, while they were living, respected his opinions and when dying sent for him to say prayers.
Such traits of character as this pair possessed may have, yea, must have, made it easy for their children to be religious; certain it is that all who lived to maturity sought to live the Christian life, from childhood. Though the family lines have diverged, some going here and some there, the mother's faith and the father's prayers, have kept the family one. By and by the prayer that for the mornings of more than fifty years ascended from their altar, "make us an unbroken family in heaven," shall be answered, the family lines shall converge, our weary steps shall incline toward the root of our tree, at the thought of "going
32 THE CURRENT FAMILY
home," our pace shall quicken, and soon, very soon, our lingering feet shall overtake them, and "so shall we be with the Lord."
ANCESTRY of STEPHEN B. KOBSON.
George Hobson, age not known.
George Hobson, son of George, age not known.
Stephen Hobson, son of George(2), age not known.
Ann Hobson, daughter of Bringly Barnes and wife of Stephen.
Stephen Hobson, son of Stephen(l) and Ann Hobson, born Feb. 15, 1763; died Aug. 26, 1803. Rachel, daughter of Thomas and E Vestal, wife of Stephen (2), born June 10, 1766; died Oct. 1, 1848.
George Hobson, son of Stephen(2) and Rachel V. Hobson, born June 5, 1791; died Dec. 22, 1865. Deborah, daughter of William and Elizabeth Marshall; wife of George(3), born July 23. 1793; died Sept. 15, 1862.
vStephen B. Hobson. son of George(3) and Deb- orah Hobson, born Feb. 12. 1822; died April 2, 1900. Mary A., daughter of Peter and Rebecca Current, born Nov. 19, 1817; died
THE CIRRENT FAMILY
33
July 11, 1904. They were married Oct. 20, 1843.
DESCENDANTS of STEPHEN B. and MARY HOBSON.
Ivebeeca Matilda Hobson.
Peter C. Hobson, born April 23, 1848. Died Nov- ember 18, 1852. George Alfred Hobson. Samuel Lee Hobson.
Rebecca Matilda and Jacob Bates.
Rebecca Matilda, daughter of Stephen B.
and Mary A. Hob- son, was born April 29, 1845. Married Jacob Henry Bates November 9, 1865. He was the son of Leander and Mary ( De Gauno ) Bates, born March 4, 1837.
REBECCA MATILDA BATES.
34 THE CURRENT FAMILY
DESCENDANTS
Walter Lee Bates, born August 14, 1866, died September 9, 1866.
Alfred Bates, stillborn, January 5; 1869
Milton Irving Bates, born January 5, 1869; died Feb. 1,1890.
Carrie Luella Bates, born Jan 8, 1871.
Roscoe Hobson Bates, born May 29, 1874; died Jan- uary 28, 1876.
George Wilbur Bates, born Nov. 27, 1877.
Carrie Luella Bates and Elver Boaz, who was born Sept. 14, 1870, were married May 21, 1895.
CHILDREN
Edna Muriel Boaz, born Sept. 29, 1896. Gilbert Leroy Boaz, born Oct 7, 1899. Mary Evelyn Boaz, born Feb. 3, 1904.
George Wilbur Bates and Dollie E. Cresop were married Sept. 20, 1905.
George Alfred and Anna M. Hobson.
George Alfred, son of Stephen B. and Mary A. Hobson, was born March 16, 1851; married Anna Mary Frew, daughtier of John and Eliza Ann
THE CURRENT FAMILY
35
(Gregg) Frew, born March 22, 1848 and they were
married Ma}7 19,
1870.
DESCENDANTS
Stephen Leroy, born
Mar. 19, 1871 Cornelia Matilda,
born Aug. 8, 1872. Maggie Ellen, born
Feb. 19, 1874. Laona Emma, born
January 2, 1876. Eunice Rose, born
July 5, 1880.
GEORGE A. HOBSON
Flora Mav, born March 6, 1882.
Stephen Leroy, son of George A. and Anna M. Hobson, married Maggie Dunfee, Feb. 24, 1898. She was born Oct. 6, 1887.
CHILDREN
Lulu Mae, born September 13, 1899. Alfred Earl, born November 25, 1901. Orval Chester, born March 3, 1904.
Cornelia Matilda, daughter of George A. and Anna M. Hobson, married William Shrader Dec-
36 THE CURRENT FAMILY
ember 25, 1892. He was born Mar.l, 18">7.
CHILDREN
Kennetta Russel, born June 12 1894. Carrol Raymond; born April 6, 1896. Rose Margarite, born August 29, 1897. Lois Alberta, born July 3D, 1899. Bernice, born Februar}^ 15, 1901. Wilbur Malcolm, born October 16, 1902.
Maggie Ellen, daughter of GeorgeA. and Anna M. Hobson, married Charles Leonard Hoevel, son of William and Lucy (Johnson) Hoevel, Mny 9, 1900. He was born Sept. 23, 1880.
CHILD5F.N
Charles Alfred, born Mar. 15, 1901, William Clair, born April 15, 1903. Rex Leroy, born September 7, 190L
Laona Emma, daughter of George A. and Anna M. Hobson, married William Eugene Underkofler son of William B. and Polly (Spotz) Underkofler, August 2, 1905. He was born January 20, 1873.
Sam\iel Lee Hobson and Descendants.
Samuel Lee, son of Stephen B. and Maiw A.
THE CURRENT FAMILY
37
Hobson was born September 20, 1854. Tie was
married to Emma
Susan Allhands,
daughter of Wil-
liam and Susan
(Lin eh) Allhands,
Sept. 5, 1876. She
was born Sept. 13,
1857 and died Feb.
3, 1885.
CHILDREN
Walter Earl, born Sept. 1, 1877.
Edith Pearl, born Dec. 28, 1879.
Edgar Lorain born
SAMUEL LEE HOBSON
Sept. 13, 1881; died August 17, 1882. Ethel Inez, born April 9, 1883; died Sept. 10, 1883. Maude Adele and Mabel Fern, twins, born Dec.
31, 1884. Mabel Fern died August 7, 1885.
Samuel Lee Hobson married second wife, Ella Magney, March 21, 1886. She was born Julv 25, '65.
38 THE CURRENT FAMILY
CHILDREN
Roy S., born November 2,1886. Rea, born May 5, 1888; died Sept. 28, 1892. Clara Alvie, born August 25, 1889. Clay St.Clair, born February 4, 1893.
Edith Pearl, daughter of Samuel ;Lee and Emma S. Hobson, was married December 26, 1896 to George H. Riggle. He was born June 20, 1877.
CHILDREN
Emma May, born September 15, 1899. Claude Earl, born February 1902.
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THE CURRENT FAMILY 39
CHAPTER THREE.
RACHEL C. and ILA T. LAKE.
By MARY J. HELM.
Rachel Current was born in Monongahela coun- ty, Virginia, May 10, 1819, being the second child of Peter and Rebecca Current. When Rachel was thirteen years old, her parents left the old Virgin- ia home and friends to seek a new home in the new state of Indiana, which was at that time in man}r places an unbroken forest, and far away be- cause of the difficulty of traveling over hills and vales of unsettled territory, with no swiftl}r run- ning palace cars to shorten the journe}r from weeks into hours. Her father and mother, with their five children, and such household articles as the}7 could pack with them into the big covered wagon, or "wilderness carriage," with cheerful hearts, journe}Ted weary weeks until they finally reached the place where they decided to make their home.
Here Rachel grew to womanhood. With a nat-
<0 THE CURRENT FAMILY
urally pleasing personality she developed a strong Christian character, diffusing happiness with her sunny smiles and cheer}7 words.
Among the friends of the Currents in Virginia was the family of Jeremiah Lake, they three years later, joining the western emigration, following the Currents to Indiana. There the intimacy be- tween the families was resumed; with the young people it terminated in love and marriage. Ila son of Jeremiah and Polly Baily Lake was born in Monongahela county, Virginia, May 4, 1816, and was married to Rachel Current in June 1838.
Ila Lake had bought a tract of land and built a small log house in the woods and here he and his young wife began housekeeping. Their dilligent labors were soon rewarded and they were able to build a larger and more substantial house. It was not long before the young orchard they had plant- ed began to bear fruit and the patch in the wilder- ness took on a look of thrift and industry. On this farm four children were born to them: Re- becca Lavina, Mary Jane, William Peter and Sarah Emaline Later they sold the farm and moved to Blountsville, in the same county, where Ila engaged in the mercantile business which he
THE CURRENT FAMILY 4[
carried on successfully for a number of years. Here their fifth and last child, John Morrison, was born. In 1867, they moved to Redke}T and soon after, Mr. Lake entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad Company, of which he con- tinued a trusted employee for more than thirty- five years. A few years before his death he re- tired from active business life and gave his time and devoted attention to his wife who had become a confirmed invalid; for five years before her death she was a helpless sufferer from rheuma- tism and dropsy. The devotion of these two sweethearts, who had been all in all to each other for more than sixty-five 3-ears was beautiful to see. Though she suffered intensely she was always bright and uncomplaining.
Ila Lake died December 28, 1902, after a short illness and his stricken wife on December 19, the following year. Their youngest son had taken them into his home a few months before the fath- er was taken away, and here the mother remained and was lovingly cared for until she followed her husband to the home beyond.
These two had led an ideally peaceful, congenial life. The}T had met all the hardships and priva-
42 THE CURRENT FAMILY
tions of their ear^ life, hand in hand, with a bra- very, born of their strong Christian characters and their devotion to each other. From their youth they were members of the M. E. Church and were earnest Christians and trusted workers in the chureh until age and failing health depriv- ed them of this service.
Rebecca LaKe and William Barnell
Rebecca Lake, eldest daughter of Ila T. and Rachel Lake, was born near Blountsville, Henry county, Ind., May 31, 1841. "I was converted and joined the M. E. Church when a child at a meet- ing held in my Grandfather Current's home. I was united in marriage to William Barnell May 12, 1863. We lived in Delaware county, Ind., until 1869 when we came toJa}T count}-, having bought the farm of my Grandfather Current, which he sold when he left Indiana for Nebraska. William Barnell was born in Rockingham county, Va., January 30, 1821. His grandfather was a native of Ireland, coming to this country in early life and settling On the James river iu Virginia. Wil- liam's parents were James P. and Catharine Bar- nell. James P. was a soldier in the second war
THE CURRENT FAMILY 43
with England; he died in Wayne count}^, Indiana, at near seventy }ears of age and his wife, Cath- arine Barnell died at the age of eighty years in Henry count}', Ind. William Barnell located in Delaware county, after his marriage in 1844 to Miss Margaret Ann Jordan, who died in 1862, soon after the loss of their home by fire, wherein one of their children, (Stout) met his death and James was badly burned. The children of William and Margaret Ann Barnell were: John W., James R., William Jordan, Stout, Catharine M., Araminta A. and Horton.
William Barnell was an earnest Christian. In his young days he was greatly interested in mu- sic and was a beautiful singer. He lived to the age of eighty -five years and still took delight in singing praises to God, spending much of his time during the last year of his life reading his Bible and singing hymns. He often expressed his desire to go to heaven and was ready when the heavenly messengers came for him Mar. 27, 1906. The funeral was conducted by the pastor, using the text "He giveth His beloved sleep." He is asleep in Jesus and, oh, how sadly I miss him." Rebecca Barnell, June 1, 1906.
44 THE CURRENT FAMILY __
CHILDREN of REBECCA and WILLIAM BARNELL.
Orus P., born May 10, 1885.
Olen, born October 7, 1866.
Corela, born May 16, 1868; died October 7, 1868.
Rodolph, born November 21, 1869.
Orns P. Barnell was married to Miss Etta Chalk December 27, 1893. They have one child, Murray.
Olen Barnell was married to Miss Laura Sutton April 3., 1887. Olen died August 26, 1900, leaving his wife and four children. The children are: Elfa, Edna, William and Fannie.
Rodolph Barnell and Miss Rosa Watson were married June 2, 1894. They have two children, Harrold and Ward.
Mary J. LaKe and Thomas J. Helm. By MARY J. HELM.
Mary Jane Lake was born on her father's farm near Blountsville, the second child of Ila T. and Rachel Lake. Her early childhood was spent on this picturesque farm, where with her brother and sisters she enjoyed the wild freedom of country life. When she was still a small girl her father
THE CURRENT FAMILY 45
left the farm and moved to Blountsville and a few years later to Red key. It was here that Mary was married to Thomas Jefferson Helm, youngest child of Jacob and Elizabeth Slick Helm, Decem- ber 31, 1867.
At this time Thomas lived on his father's farm but soon after became employed as agent of the C. C. C. & I Railroad at Farmland, Ind. Here three daughters were born to them, Edna, Mil- dred and Jessie. Edna died in infancy and Jessie in early childhood
In 1880 they moved to Indianapolis where Thomas was still employed by the same railroad company. He here received several promotions, but finally his health failed so he was compelled to seek a different climate, going to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1890. His health improved and he accepted the position of General Superintendent of the Sante Fe Southern Railway Compan}', which position he held for some years. It was here, in 1895, that their daughter, Mildred, was married to Joseph Coolidge Kilbourne, son of Major Charles Kilbourne of the United States Army. Mr. Helm became interested in building railroads and was the chief promoter of the Santa
46 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Fe, Central and Albuquerque Eastern railroads which were not completed, however, until after his death.
Although Mr. Helm's health was so greatly benefited by the climate of Santa Fe, it did not agree with his wife and she was forced to make yearly pilgrimages to a lower altitude. These pil- grimages usually took the form of visits to her parents in the far away Indiana home. It was while making one of these visits to her parents, that her husband died very suddenly, of pneumo- nia, November 22, 1902.
After her husband's death, Mary spent some time in Indiana with her brother's family, help- ing care for her aged mother, who had become a helpless invalid. A year later her mother died and then Mary went to make her home with her daughter in Columbus, Ohio, where she still lives.
Joseph and Mildred Kilbourne have two sons, Joseph Coolidge, Jr., born in Portland, Oregon in 1896 and Thomas Helm, born in Portland, Ore- gon, in 1897. January 31, 1906
THE CURRENT FAMILY 47
William P. and Mary Lake.
William P., the first son born to Ila T. and Ra- chel Current Lake, was born near Blonntsville, Henry county, Indiana in 1847.
The family moved to Blonntsville, when he was in his sixth year. He remained with his pa- rents until he was eighteen years of age, assisting his father as clerk in his general store. Then he took employment as a clerk with the firm of An- drew & Petty. Having acquired the knowledge of keeping railroad books, he was appointed freight and ticket agent for the Bellefontaine & Indian- apolis Railroad, (now the Big Fonr).
In 1868 he was united in marriage wfth Miss Mary Dangherty, daughter of James L. and Mary Dangherty, of Mnncie, Ind. She was born in Del- aware county, Ind. After their marriage they moved to Indianapolis and he began breaking on freight trains on the same road- Tiring of this, they moved to Redkey, Indiana, and en- gaged to work as a carpenter. While there, their two children were born, Elf a in 1870 and Guy V. in 1872. In 1873 they moved to Logansport, Ind., where he entered the service of the P. C. & St. L. Railroad, now the Penns3'lvani a Lines. Step by
48 THE CURRENT FAMILY
step he worked his way up until he became a pas- senger conductor, having served on all the five divisions of the road centering at Logansport.
Severing his connection with this Company, he was tendered a similar position on the New York & New England Railroad, which was accepted and he went East and ran between Boston, Mass., and Hartford, Connecticut. Not liking this posi- tion he returned to Logansport, and accepted a similar position on the Wabash Railroad, where he remained until his eye sight failed so much that he was compelled to retire from the railroad service. They then moved to Muncie and en- gaged in business where he is at present one of the leading tobacconists of the city.
Their children were educated in city schools. In 1891 Elfa was united in marriage with Charles W. Sedwick, of Indianapolis, now the head of the firm of J. B. Sed wick's Sons & Company, live stock commission merchants of the Union Stock yards To Charles W. and Elfa Sedwick have been born two children, Marie S., in 1892, and Theodore Lake , in 1902.
William and Mary Lake's son, Guy V., took up the study of chemistry after a preparatory course
THE CURRENT FAMILY 49
in the drugstore of V E. Silverburg of Muncie, he took his Junior course at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., and his Senior course at the Northwestern University, Chicago, graduating at the earl}' age af twenty years. He then accepted a position with the George H. Andrews Drug Store where he remained until failing health compelled him to retire and seek climatic change in hope of regaining his health. He visited Cal- ifornia, spent a year in Colorado; failing to re- ceive benefit, he returned home where he linger- ed with that dread disease, tuberculosis, until April 4, 1897, when the summons came. He was loved and honored b}r all who knew him, and we never cease to mourn our loss, but we hope to join him where there is no separation. Our home has a vacanc}7 that cannot be filled. Our daugh- ter and family are a comfort to us.
William P. and Mary Lake. May 3, 1906.
SaraK Emmaline and Johnathan Reveries.
Sarah E., daughter of Ha T. and Rachel Lake, was born near Blountsville, Ind., June 8, 1851
50 THE CURRENT FAMILY
"My parents moved to Redkey, Indiana when I was twelve years old, only remaining there one year but while there I joined the M. E. Church. In the spring of 1865 my parents removed to Parker, Ind., where they lived two years, moving back to Redkey in the spring of 1867. While attending school at Parker I formed the acquaintance of Johnathan Kegeries and two years later, at Red- key we were united in holy matrimony by Rev. JamesRedkey. After our marriage we resided at Parker.
Our first child, Daru W., was born there Aug. 1, 1869, and the following November we moved on a farm near Redkey. For ten years we resided near to, or in Redkey. Clyde, our second child, was born there May 13, 1871, and our third and last child was born at Redkey, also, on June 8 1878. On May 22, 1879, my husband and I with our family, bade farewell to all that was near and dear to us, and went to try the realities of a Western life. With a good team of mules and a covered wagon, we wended our way through a strange country, and among strange people. After stop- ping to visit our relatives in Cass county, Ne- braska, a few days, we continued our journey, ar-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 5[
riving at our destination in Smith count}', Kan- sas, July 9, 1879. Then in fifteen months when our crops had dried up, we moved back to Cass count}', Nebraska, where we remained until the spring of 1886, when we moved to western Ne- braska and filed a claim on 320 acres of Govern- ment land, where we made our home for twelve years; but one dry year followed another, with oc- casional hail storms, and we decided to try the central part of the State, in Butler county, where
we stayed one year. In December 1899 I went
back to Redkey to visit my aged parents. My
mother was too frail to keep house but they could
not make up their minds to break up their home
and go to live with their daughter or son, living
in Redkey, who would gladly have taken them to
their homes; so in February 1900, my husband
and I decided to stay with them awhile and he then came to Redkey. Though our dear mother
was not able to walk, yet not a murmur escaped her lips. Her blessed Christian experience ena- bled her to bear her afflictions looking forward with joy and gladness to the Master's call.
The lives of this dear father and mother were so blended together, and with their Christian
52 THE CURRENT FAMILY
faith, that to be associated with them would make one better. We stayed with them almost three years when the}7 decided to break up their home as both were so feeble, father being 86 years old and mother, 83, They went to the home of their son John and wife, where they were tenderly cared for. Myself and husband returned to But- ler county, Neb., and spent the winter with our eldest son and his family. In April 1903 we came to California where our other two sons were liv- ing. In May 1904, we moved into our home in Southern California, about three miles from the grand old Pacific, and fifteen miles from Los An- geles, in the land of sunshine and flowers. Our oldest son Daru came to California, October 9, 1905, and with his family, is living at Redondo.
Daru was married to Nora Dearwester; they have three children: Frances Ruth, born Oct. 27, 1892; Clyde Irwin, born March 5, 1896 and Ray, born September 10, 1901.
Clyde, our second son, is unmarried and lives in San Francisco. Lenson, our youngest son, was married to Nellie Hall, August, 1905. They are living at Trinidad, Colorado.
I feel that God has been very good to us. Death
THE GURRENT FAMILY 53
has never entered our home, nor the homes of our boys. At the simeof the great earthquake, April 18, 1906, Clyde was at Los Angeles.
We expect to make our home in this summer- land of flowers until we are called to our home above." Emma Kegeries
May 4, 1906.
JoKn M. and Mary LaKe.
John M. Lake, son of Ila T. and Rachel Current Lake, was born at Blountsville, Henry county, Ind„ Sept. 12, 185L
When a small bo}T he moved with his parents from Blountsville to Mt. Vernon, Ja}T county, Ind. residing there one }ear, moving to Morristown, Randolph county, Ind., from there moving back to Redke3r, formerl}r known as Mt. Vernon, before the building of the Union and Logansport rail- road. At the above place he entered the store of his father as clerk which position he held for some time, At the age of seventeen years he en- tered the service of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & Chicago Railway as clerk in their office at Red- key, which position he held for a number of years,
54 THE CURRENT FAMILY
succeeding his father as agent for the Railroad Company.
On April 28, 1875, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Carpenter of Redkey,Ind. To this union two daughters were added, Bernice, who passed away at the age of two years and seven months, after a brief illness of only twenty-four hours. Agnes M., who was deaf born, at nine years of age entered the School for the Deaf at Indian- apolis, Ind., attending this school regularly nine months each year for ten years until June 6, 1906, at which time she graduated, together with twelve other pupils of the school.
John M. Lake has been continuously in the em- ploy of the railway company for more than thirty years. During this period he has never been ab- sent from his duties more than thirty days at one time and then he was away on a vacation at that time.
&:<£
CHAPTER FOUR.
SAMUEL J. and ELIZA J. CURRENT.
By A. E. C.
Samuel Jones Current, son of Peter and Rebec- ca Jones Current, was born in Virginia, May 17
1821. He was converted in his childhood and came with his parents to Henry county, Indiana, when he was twelvre jTears old. He loved to study and attended school until he had as good an edu- cation as one could obtain in the country schools of those days. In his father's home he had a good suppl}' of books and papers through which Sam-
56 THE CIJRREN T FAMILY
uel added to his stock of knowledge, information on history, politics and religion, and was always interested in the affairs of the country on these lines. Some [years after his marriage, he im- proved his education lyy attending school a few months.
He married Eliza J. Hobson, February 9, 1843. They lived the first }Tear of their married life with her parents near New Castle, Ind., then moved with them to Andrew county, Missouri. It took three months to drive the distance. The .season was an unusually wet one, and when the}r came to the Illinois river it was so wide they put their wagons, teams and all their stock on a ferr3T-boat and rode over fine fields of grain; the}' could look down in the water and see the ripe golden wheat waving beneath them. They rented a farm and lived in Missouri three years. Eliza's mother died, and as they both liked Indiana better, they returned, coming by boat from St. Joseph, Mo., to Cincinnati, where Samuel's father met them and took them in a wagon to their home in Henrj" county. There were no railroads, telegraphs or telephones, and the distance of six hundred miles then, seemed almost as far as the Philippines
THE CURREN T FAMILY 57
do now. Samuel bought some land adjoining his father's farm, where they lived six }rears, then sold it and bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Ja}*- county, same state, and moved there in March, 1853. The farm was all wood land, except ten acres which had been cleared, having a log house on it. A good part being low ground, he had to work very hard to clear and drain it. At that time no post-office was there, but soon after an office was granted, and Samuel was made postmaster, and named the office "Halfway," being near Halfway creek. When the Pennsyl- vania railroad was built in 1867 the station at that place was called Redkey, and the name of the post- office was soon changed to Redkey, as well as the name of the little village, which before this was called Mt. Vernon.
Like his father and his grandfathers, Samuel's home was a resting place for the itinerant Meth- odist preachers. This home was named by one of them, "Saints' Rest." He said, "It is a place to rest both soul and body." In the midst of the busy cares of farm work Samuel always found time to attend all the religious meetings of his church, either at his own home, in the grove, or
58 THE CURRENT FAMILY
other places, especially the business meetings ; he felt the responsibility of meeting all the obli- gations and raising the funds. Sometimes the quarterly meetings would come in the midst of harvest, but he always said, "The Lord's work comes first," and he trusted the Lord to keep his hay or wheat from spoiling while he attended to his Christian duties, and he was never disap- pointed. Some instances of how the Lord took care of that which was committed to Him : For ten years, from 1870 to 1880, there was a ten days' camp-meeting held at Albany, seven miles from their home, and Samuel built a comfortable three- room cottage on the camp ground, which all the family occupied during the time of the meeting. Their neighbors would say to them, "How can you leave your farm, garden and home with no one to take care of it ? " Samuel and Eliza said they had left it all in the care of the Lord, except they had engaged someone to give water to their live stock, but the Lord sent showers and fur- nished the water, so it required no person to do that. Up to this time fruit trees had been scarce, and one year, just as camp-meeting time came, they had one plum tree full of fruit almost ripe.
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It was the first they ever had, and in all the coun- try around there were only a few such trees, which the owners carefully guarded. This tree was in full view of the public road and was a tempting sight, but, according to their faith, the Lord kept it out of the mind of any person to molest, and not a plum was missed, though all were ripe when they returned home.
While Samuel did not have the light on God's Word that one-tenth of his income was the Lord's by partnership right, that his family had later on, he always freely gave of his means and time with- out stint, until he felt the sacrifice, always seeing that the expenses of the church were met.
When mother received the blessing of holiness, they wrere sitting around the fireside, after coming home from a revival meeting at the school-house, when father said, " Eliza, if I could control my temper like you, I would seek for sanctification." She replied, " I have been seeking that experience for three years, though I have been taught that a person is never sanctified until death; but I want that blessing now, if it takes me out of the world the next minute." Immediately the baptism of the Holy Ghost came upon her, and all present
60 T H E C l R R ENT FAMILY
felt the wondrous power. The members of the family and a friend present, who were saved, spent three hours praising the Lord. The writer was at the time only eight }rears old and unconverted, but was convicted from that time, until two years later she was saved. Later on Samuel obtained the experience of sanctiflcation.
He was a tender, affectionate husband, daily telling his wife, as long as he lived, of his love for her and of his confidence in her faithfulness as wife and mother, as gently as a lover trying to win a bride. He referred to her, chiefly, the work of training the children. She believed in Solo- , man's saying, "Withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod he shall not die; thou shalt beat him with the rod and shall deliver his soul from hell," and she never punished a child without quoting this scripture, or speaking of it, and saying that was the reason for her seem- ing severity. She never corrected her child in anger, nor stopped till the spirit of anger had left the child.
In 1870 Samuel urged the building of a brick church in the little town of Redkey, and worked hard to help in the building. (See engraving of
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61
first M. E. Church in Redkey.) After going to that place he had paid off a debt on his farm and
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH IX REDKEY
built an eisfht-room frame house (see engraving at beginning of this chapter) in 1860. He had also given his children that were married some help, and was again in debt, so that whatever he put in the church besides his own labor must nearly all be borrowed money. Realizing that he had always had the blessing of the Lord upon his business,
62
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and wishing to do all in his power to advance the cause of Christ, he borrowed at one time $500 00 to put into the building of this church, besides making other payments on it.
In the year 1895, a larger building was needed, so this one was taken down and a new one built in its place (see engraving of second M. E. Church
SECOND M. TC. CHURCH IN REDKEY
in Redkey), Samuel's sons, William and Oscar, taking the same interest in this that their father
THE CURRENT FAMILY 63
did in the first, but were each able to pay more than double the amount he paid with far less sacrifice.
Samuel overtaxed himself in his zeal to have means to give for Christ's cause and to help his children get homes of their own, and he became afflicted with spinal disease. Learning that his disease was incurable, he had his business so arranged that he-had no business cares. Selling enough of his property to pay his debts, he gave up hard work, and seemed to 'enjoy life as much as ever. Though afflicted for ten }Tears, heenjoyed his family and friends' society, and most of the time was able to attend the services at church. He and mother were very fond of music, and many happy hours were spent in the family circle sing- ing sacred songs. In 1871 he bought an organ. At that time there was only one other organ, two melodians and one piano in the township. I had taken instrumental music lessons, and when the organ came could play; Oscar learned, and even our mother, near fifty years old, learned to play; and many blessed hours swiftly passed as we worshipped God in singing the songs of salva- tion. During the last year of father's life he often
64 THE CURRENT FAMILY .
begged mother to quit praying for his life to be spared, for he felt that his work was done and he wanted to " go home." A peculiarity of his disease was that frequently, without any warning,- the blood would rush to the head, his face become red, and he would say, "Blessed Jesus," then a sentence or two of prayer or praise, after which he would resume his conversation, or whatever he was doing, unconscious that he had been interrupted.
The last three weeks of his life he suffered most, having to lie in bed nearly all the time, but never a day passed that he did not rise and conduct family worship — even the day he took his last sleep. When he was suffering intense pain during those last days it was amazing how his pain was soothed and his nerves quieted by the dear old song, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." Instead of taking an opiate, he would have some of the family play and sing that, or some other precious hymn, and as the song went on one could see his nerves begin to relax, a restful smile come over his face, and sometimes before the singing ceased he would fall into a peaceful sleep.
On Thursday afternoon, February 17th, he went to sleep, in restful slumber, and slept until the
THE CURRENT FAMILY 65
following Saturday afternoon, February 19th, 1881 his spirit left his body, till the coming of Christ at the first resurrection. The funeral service was held at the home, attended by many loving friends. Rev. P. J. Albright conducted the service, using for text, Isaiah, 3:10.
ELIZA J. (HOBSON) CURRENT.
N TE- In January, 1010, 1 requested mother to dictate, for me to write in her own words, the incidents of her past life which she could then recall to her mind, and this is what she gave me: A. K. C.
"My father and mother, George and Sally Hobson, came to Henry county, Indiana, March 3, 1820. They bought a farm and settled where New Castle, the county seat, is now located. When they came there their only neighbors were In- dians. For three months my mother lived there before she saw any woman, except the Indians. The}T were always kind to her. I was born there November 22, 1822. Our home was a log cabin, and the windows were made by sawing out a piece of a log about three feet long, pasting oiled p^per over it, letting in the light but keeping out the cold. When I was one year old a cabin school-
66 THE CURRENT FAMILY
house was built on my father's farm, having the same kind of windows as our house, but were, per- haps, ten feet long. When four years old I went to school one day, it being the third term ever taught in the county. The only provisions for the scholars to get a drink of water was for them to take a long hollow stem of grass, and, stooping down to the spring, draw up the water through the stem. That first d iy of school at the noon hour I had been drinking in this way from the spring near b}^, and when "called to books" I carried my grass stem into the house, and, child- like, while playing with it made a chirping noise, for which the teacher stood me on the "dunce block," in front of the whole school. It almost terrified me, and that day's experience was all the school I wanted till I was old enough to study.
"On the day I was five years old my maternal grandparents, Revel and Margaret Colburn, were brought by my father from North Carolina to our home. They brought with them a glass mirror. I had never seen one before, and when they called me to look at it, I thought certainly a strange little girl was standing there. I looked behind the glass to see her, and I remember how aston-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 67
ished I was on learning that no girl was there. I could not see how she could so quickly disappear.
Colburns moved into the school - house, and another log cabin was built for a school-house that same year; but the next year a frame school-house was built, having glass windows and plastered walls, the first I had ever seen of either. My father built a frame dwelling house that year, also having glass windows, but ceiled walls. Later a fine seminar)' was built (fine for those days), in which I received most of rny education. There I had for one of my teachers Hon. George \V. Julian, who afterwards became candidate for Vice- President of the United States in the Abolition party. I was then just as strong an Abolitionist as I have been a Prohibitionist ever since that party was organized.
" I can remember when first I learned there was a God. When a very young child my mother took me on her lap and told me that I had two little brothers and a sister in Heaven, and there was a good God in Heaven who had taken them there, and if I would be good and pray to Him, He would take me there some time. In those earl)' times every child, as soon as it was old enough, was set
68 THE CURRENT FAMILY
to work at something. One thing I had to do was to watch the gaps in the field while the men passed from one field to another; I kept the stock out. One day, when I was about six years old, while sitting alone at the gap earnestly praying for God to make me good and send my brothers and sister back from Heaven, there came over me such sweet peace and joy, and an inward whisper to my heart that they could not come back to me, but that some day I should go to them, and I have had that assurance ever since that day. My parents did not regularly attend church services. My mother was an invalid from my earliest recol- lection. Father was reared a Quaker, but lost his membership by marrying a Methodist. Regularly on Sunday mornings I saw one of our neighbors, Mr. Rogers and wife, with all their children, going to the house of worship, and I so much wished our family would do the same. I then resolved to have none but a Christian husband, so that we could have family prayers, and if children were given us they would always be taken to the house of God on the Sabbath. Such a husband was given to me by the Lord, when in my twenty -first year year I was married to Samuel J. Current. As soon
THE CURRENT FAMILY 69
as we had a home, we established a famil}r altar, where we daily read the Bible and prayed together morning and evening. And always, when health would permit, the famil}1- attended meetings for Divine worship on th^ Sabbath. When we had our first two children we lived in Missouri, where we had to ride on horseback ten miles to get to the place of worship, which we did regularl}^ at- tending the weekly class meeting. At an early age we saw our five children, who lived to account- ability, converted to God, from which they have never declined, and they each have daily family worship in their homes.
" By experience I learned that I had a carnal nature that caused evil tempers to rise up and trouble me, though most of the time I had joy and peace in communion with God. I often felt very happy when reading the Bible, praying or attending religious services; then, while engaged in my daily toil, this consciousness of the Divine presence would leave me, and a yearning came into rmT heart for that conscious presence all the time. For three years I prayed earnestly for a religion that would keep me in abiding peace and make me realize the presence of God all the time.
70 THE CLRR ENT FAMILY
I had always thought a person was never wholly sanctified until just before death, but I got so anxious for that cleansing and abiding peace that I cried out, ' I want it now, if it takes me out of the world the next minute!' Immediately the blood was applied and the Holy Spirit came upon me. I felt the might}' power throughout my whole being — my head, my heart, my hands, my feet, were filled and thrilled. My eyes were dazzled with the brightness of the Divine presence From that time I have believed that I was wholly sanc- tified, and have been kept in the abiding peace ever since. This occurred in November, 1861, and now, in the year 1900, I am still rejoicing in that holy rest, realizing the constant presence of the refiner and purifier of my soul. He has been with me all these years, teaching and revealing to me the hidden things of God, and my stay and strength in the nineteen years of widowhood. I am looking forward to a happ}r reunion in the glory world."
Mother remained with us three years after the above was written. When father went to Heaven, Oscar and I were at home with mother and all her
THE CURRENT FAMILY 71
married children living near, and all tried to make her life as happjT as possible. For twelve years we lived thus in the dear old homestead after father was gone.
In the }^ear 1893, when Oscar engaged in other business and moved to town, the farm was rented to Henry Adams, who ever since, with his family, has lived in our old home. We built a cottage home near sister Margaret's residence, where mother finished her life work in holy quietness and peace, loved and cheered by all her children. Her naturally strong mind, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, was clear to the last moment of her stay upon earth. For two months she was daily expecting the summons to "Come up higher." She talked of going to Heaven in joyful anticipa- tion of its bliss, saying to her dear ones, " It will not be long till we all meet again." It had been her daily prayer ever since she had a child that not one of her offspring should so neglect their soul's salvation t/hat they should have to spend eternit}T in hell, and she did not live to see one of them die unsaved.
She was so cheerful and bright during her da}Ts of weakness, it was a happ}^ privilege to take care
72 THE CURRENT FAMILY
of her and receive the benediction of her ripe, Spiritual experience. She did not seem to suffer much pain during her last days (though she took no opiates), and her face shone and her e}Tes sparkled with heavenly radiance.
Not expecting her to go so soon, ner sons were not present to see her leave; only Margaret and I, with a nurse, were present at the time of her translation. I was on the verge of nervous pros- tration and almost heart-broken with the thought of separation. About half an hour before mother's flight, the heavenly messengers came — though not seen, we plainly felt their presence. Not knowing what it was, I exclaimed " Oh, mother, what is the reason I am so changed? All my weariness is gone and I am so happy ! Do 3tou feel that way, mother?" Smiling, she answered, "Yes." It seemed that a glorious, restful atmos- phere pervaded the whole house. I praised the Lord, and we talked a while of this peculiar and blessed manifestation. To me, mother's was the most beautiful face I had ever seen, all the wrinkles smoothed out, and shining with the glory of God; I feasted my eyes for a while upon the precious sight. Not thinking of her going so soon, I said,
THE CURRENT FAMILY 73
"Mother, I am strong enough to read some to 37ou; don't you want me to read about the coming of Jesus?" She answered, "Yes; blessed Jesus is coming soon." Her tongue was so dry and parched she could not talk very much, and the only com- plaint she made on the last day was that her tongue hurt. I had read only a few lines when dear mother raised up in bed, cast a good-bye glance at her loved ones, lifting her eyes upward and reaching up her hands — she was gone, car- ried away by the heavenly visitants. But the Comforter stayed to cheer our lonely hearts. As I threw my arms around the dear lifeless form, sitting there, and rubbed mother's warm, soft hand against my cheek for the last time, I praised the Lord again and again, so glad to see mother go so easy; rejoicing in her victory, thinking of the glorious vision now open to her view; no more sickness or sorrow for her to endure; we rejoiced with her, and, going from room to room, we found the whole house was full of the "Minis- tering Spirits," whose presence was plainly felt. It did not seem like a house of mourning, but the gate of Heaven. She left us at 3 o'clock p. m., April 23, 1903.
74 THE CURRENT FAMILY
The funeral service was held in the home, which was so arranged that seven large rooms were filled with loving friends, who could hear the whole serv- ice, which was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Sher- man Powell, and Revs. J. O. Bills, C. C. Ayres and W. Loring, on April 25th, 1903. Many said the service was more like a revival service than a funeral. There were still such manifestations of the presence of God all over the house, Brother Bills walked back and forth in the room, shouting, " Glory! glory!" and others praised the Lord aloud.
" Calm on the bosom of thy God, Fair spirit rest thee now! E'en while with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on thy brow.
Dust to its narrow house beneath!
Soul to its place' on high! They that have seen thy look in death,
No more can fear to die.
Lone the paths and sad the bowers, Whence thy meek smile has gone,
But, O, a happier home than ours, In Heaven is now thine own."
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Children of Samuel J. and Eliza J. Current.
Rebecca Margaret; George Hobson; William.
Silas Peter, born September 17, 1851; died Febru- ary 17, 1852.
Annie Eliza, born July 10, 1853; remained unmar- ried.
Samuel Wesley, born June 15, 1856; died March 25, 1861.
Jose Daniel, born September 22, 1858; died April 14, 1861.
Oscar James.
Redkey, Indiana, July 10, 1906.
REBECCA MARGARET WILLIAMSON AND DESCENDANTS.
Rebecca M. Current was born March 9, 1844, at New Castle, Indiana. When in her eighth year at her grandfather Current's home, with her father's youngest sister, Emily, and her two cousins, Rebecca and Mary Lake, she united with the M. E. Church. For more than fifty years they
76 THE CURRENT FAMILY
each have been earnestly trying to be lowly followers of the Lord Jesus.
Margaret's childhood days, spent in her father's home, were full of joy and gladness. Being the eldest of eight children, and her mother's health not good, she had to bear responsibilities while young in 3rears. How precious the memory of that loving mother, who in her earliest childhood taught Margaret to pray and daily went with her to secret prayer, and taught her to love and cherish the Word of God, and all the means of grace. She lived for thirt}T-one years in the justi- fied relation to God, " Sometimes on the mountain top, sometimes in the valley low." But in the year 1883, having learned that there was for her a better experience, she sought and obtained it, after making an entire consecration to God, re- ceiving the witness that the blood of Jesus cleansed and sanctified wholly, and that she was on the highwa}T of holiness, which remains to the present time. She is one of the class leaders, and has been a member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society for thirt}7 }rears and of the Woman's Home Missionary Societ}T for sixteen years, ever since the Society was organized at Redkey. She has
REBECCA M. WILLIAMSON.
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been a member and earnest worker in the Wo- man's Christian Temperance Union for twenty- one years.
On December 25th, 1864, Rebecca M. Current was married to Andrew J. Williamson. In the autumn of 1870, she, with her husband and three children, moved to St. Clair county, Missouri, remaining there only three years. During this time the youngest of those three children, Hugh Lesliej died, and Arthur was born there. Thej^ returned to Indiana in the year 1873, and settled at Redkey, where she and all her living children still reside.
CHildren of Rebecca M. and A. J. Williamson.
Ora, born May 16, 1866.
Lee, born March 18, 1868.
Hugh Leslie, born July 12, 1870; died June 19,
1871. Arthur O., born July 12, 1873. Morton L., born August 14, 1875; died January 17,
1877. James Clarence, born May 29, 1878. Manford, born August 12, 1883.
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Ora Williamson married Lillie O. Cloe, March 17, 1888. To this union were born four sons and one daughter — Chester, who died at the age of five months; Ralph, Vergil, Fred and Clyde.
Lee Williamson married Etta McCarty, March 20, 1887. To them were born Harry and Prudence Glendalea; Prudence lived only thirty-five days. Etta (McCarty) Williamson died February 11, 1898.
Lee Williamson married Sallie Snyder, Septem- ber 10,1899. To them was born one son, Leemore.
Arthur Williamson married Julia Coons, June 1, 1899. Arthur, one of the strongest, physically, of the family, was stricken with typhoid fever, and died October 19, 1900, leaving the testimony that his sins were pardoned and he was saved.
Manford Williamson was married to Almina Ralston, June 9, 1906. He is the youngest of his mother's children, very thoughtful for her com- fort, remaining in the home with her until his marriage.
I
IV
LEKMORE, SON OF LEE AND SALLY WILLIAMSON
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Clarence is a teacher, still unmarried, and during vacation employed in his brothers' imple- ment store.
The two eldest sons, Ora and Lee Williamson, entered into partnership in the implement and buggy business Februar}' 3, 1894, with very little capital — in fact, none — and have continued in the business for the past twelve years. Having been very successful, they have added to their original stock, until they now have one of the best stocks of merchandise in the county, of hardware, stoves, buggies, harness and implements. They have just completed a new business room in Redkey that is the largest business room in Jay County. It is 225 feet long, with a nineteen-foot L, and two stories high. They have property in town and a good little farm of sixty acres six miles from Red- key. They are also of a speculative nature, and, while out on a vacation or a fishing expedition in Minnesota, contracted for fifteen hundred and fifty acres of land, which they own today, except- ing one-third of which they sold to their uncle, Oscar J. Current. In the business which they
have in Redkey, their actual sales for the year 1905 were $48,764, over $4000 per month. They
80
THE CURRENT FAMILY
expect to continue the business at this place, and
expect their sons — Harry, Ralph, Fred, Clyde and
Leemore — to keep tne business and name before
the people for the next fifty years or more.
Lee Williamson. July 6, 1906.
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M
GEORGE HOBSON CURRENT,
AND FAMILY.
By G. H. C.
Georgre FT., son of Samuel J. and Kli/a J. Current was born in Andrew county, Missouri, December 5, 1 845. "When I was one year old mv parents
82 THE CURRENT FAMILY
removed to Henry county, Indiana, where, with them, I lived until, in 1853, we went to Jay county There my boyhood days were spent, attending the public schools during a part of each year and helping to clear and cultivate the farm. To in- crease the family income, I cut hoop poles and hauled them to the railroad at Farmland, abont twelve miles distant, driving an ox-team, for which we received seven or eight dollars a load.
"A great revival meeting was held in our school- house during the winter of 1860, and I joined the i hurch and was converted then.
"When eighteen }*ears old I volunteered into the service of my country, during the civil war, in Company H, 130th Ind. Vol. Infantry, Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-third Army
Corps, in the Army of the Cumberland. After serving nearly two years, at the close of the war I received an honorable discharge. I was in some of the hardest battles of the war, but I was pre- served from injury, in answer to prayer, for mother said when I volunteered that in answer to her most importunate prayer, she had the as- urance that God would preserve me and I should
THE CURRENT FAMILY 83
safely return home, which I did, having increas- ed in size and strength.
"After returning from the war I wrorked on the farm for father until I was twenty-one years old; aft; r this, father paid me one hundred and fifty dollars a year and expenses for three years for my work on the farm. During this time I met, won and married Miss Rhoda E. Allegre. We were married June 22, 1869. I bought a small farm near Red key, where we lived for two and one-half years after our marriage. There our only child was born. After we moved to Albany I sold this farm and bought land adjoining the farm of my wife's mother, Mrs. Julia Allegre. with whom we have lived for thirty-four years. I am a Prohibi- tionist, and have been ever since the first chance I had to vote against the liquor traffic in 1884, and our son has always voted the same way."
&<£
84
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RHODA E. CURRENT.
By R. E. C.
I was born March 20, 1850, on a farm adjoining- Albany, Indiana, where I have resided most of my life. Among my earliest recollections is that of my mother telling me of God and Heaven, and of my little sister Mary, who had been taken th^re
THE CURRENT FAMILY 85
before I was born. Mother had the confidence of sister Martha and myself, her only two living children. We relied on her judgment in all mat- ters. I do not remember that it was any trial to obey her in my y^outh. She made us understand that our happiness was her happiness. If she denied us an}7 seeming pleasure, we were easily convinced that she did it for our good. My girl- hood dayswere carefully guarded by kind parents, and so happily spent, I often wonder if the girls of these days really enjoy life as I did. Our home was near a beautiful woodland, and my^ sister and I spent many happy hours where we had a variety of entertainments. The Mississinewa river ran through our fields, and great forest trees were near the house, where the squirrels ran freely7 about, and the bright plumage of the red birds, the blue birds, the golden oriole and the little humming birds delighted our eyes, and the sing- ing of the birds produced such an orchestra as inspired our hearts with gladness and joy, and wre tried, like the mocking bird, to imitate them, while the plaintive notes of the whippoorwill aroused tender thoughts and feelings. But these
childhood days were quickly7 passed.
86 THE CURRENT FAMILY
When nineteen years old I was married, and went with my husband to the little house on our farm near Redkey, remaining there two and one- half years. While there, we had many pleasant associations, and planned to build us a beautiful home. In December, 1871, my father, Erasmus Allegre, came to visit me, as I was very sick. The weather was extremely cold and stormy, and he contracted a sickness, which terminated in pneumonia and proved fatal. Learning that my father was seriously ill, I, at that time unable to sit up only a part of the time, was placed on a feather bed in a big sled, and, carefully wrapped, was taken to see him. Our little Orpheus was then twelve weeks old.
Their home was about eight miles distant. When conscious, my father was much concerned to know if the trip had hurt me any. I got there on Saturday, and the following Wednesday, De- cember 20, 1871, he passed away, aged sixty-one years. When father was gone, mother and sister were left alone, and desired us to live with them, and we moved back to my old home, but I did not regain my usual health before the next June. After this, though I often felt indisposed and
THE CURRENT FAMILY 87
sometimes used medicine, I never called a doctor for thirty years, then had an attack of lagrippe and sent for our son, who was practicing medicine at Farmland, but have had no occasion to call him since.
While we have lived so many years in the house (with some additions) which my father built in 1850, he being a bricklayer as well as a thrifty farmer, we have had many pleasant jour- neys and have seen much of our beautiful coun- try. With mother we spent one winter season in the South, at New Orleans and in Texas. The winter of 1897-8, with mother, we spent in Cali- fornia, which will ever be a bright spot in my memory. We have also been in Canada and Mexico.
As I take a retrospect of my past life, it is plainly evident God has ever been mindful of me.
Religious Experience — (Given by Request).
"When quite young, as I skipped over the meadows, the landscape appeared so beautiful and I felt so happy, I often caught myself whisper- ing praises to my Creator. At the age of fourteen
88 THE CURRENT FAMILY
years I joined the M. E. Church, and tried to live a consistent Christian life, but was never satisfied as having a clear perception of salvation until, in 1878, during a camp-meeting at Albany, at the morning service, our pastor, D. C. Woolpert, gave a stirring appeal to sinners and to those who did not have a certain knowledge of regeneration to come to the altar as seekers. I, with many others, hastened to the altar. So earnest were the seekers that no opportunity was given for a preaching service. I did not perceive that I made any progress.
I did not get to attend the meetings any more until the evening of the next day, when I again went to the altar; still had no evidence. Brother C. Harvey, who had taken much interest in my case, told me to pray at home the next morning, at the time of five o'clock service, and he would pray at the same time especially for me; others also promised to pray for me. The next morning before the time I was awake and praying. Re- membering that someone asked me if I felt I was a sinner, and that I had replied, ' No; I have tried to live right all my life, and that now I am seek- ing assurance of my acceptance with God.' When
THE CIRRENT FAMILY 89
I thought of this, I asked God to show me wherein I had sinned. Instantty I was shown that unbe- lief was in the way. Not knowing that faith was the simplest thing in the world, I wondered how I could get saving faith. Knowing there was much in the book of Romans about faith, I got the Bible and began reading at the first chapter, and read till I came to the 10th chapter, 13th verse, 'Whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' I thought, this, God's promise, is enough. I have been calling upon Him; now I take His word and trust Him. This pave me peace and rest, but no excited emotion as some have. I believed that I was born again, • By the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.'— I Pet., 1:23. I had read the Bible through several times, but now it seemed like a new book, and I could not have time to read it as much as I desired.
"On March 4th, 1885, I made a consecration to God to be wholly and forever His. This was another quiet and silent experience. But, by faith, I took God at His word, and this time the promise given me was: ' The blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' — I John, 1:7 I
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never can thank m}*- Heavenly Father enough for the gift of faith. It became as eas}r to believe as to breathe. All doubts and fears were taken away. Many times since that I have been so filled with the Holy Spirit as to be thrilled throughout my being with unspeakable joy to such an extent that I could not utter a word. I have found much help from reading good books, but to me the plainest path for the Christian to follow is found by reading the book of books — the Bible"
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91
Dr. ORPHEUS CURRENT
AND FAMILY.
By O. E C.
Orpheus Erasmus Current, M. D., son of George H. and Rhoda E. Current, was born September 27, 1871, in a log house about a mile east of Red- key, Indiana. "When about three months old m)^ parents moved to my grandmother's home,
92 THE CURRENT FAMILY
near Albany, and I attended the public schools of that town until I was seventeen years old, when I entered the preparatory department of Depauw University, continuing there until I finished the sophomore year. In the fall of 1894 I entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis, from which I graduated March 31, 1897. During the summers of 1895 and 1896 I spent my vacation in the office of Dr. L. N. Davis, who had married my mother's sister.
After graduating I again entered my uncle's office at Farmland, Indiana, and remained with him until December 28, 1898, at which time I was married to Miss Esther McProud, of Farmland. We started that same day on the evening train for New York City, where we remained for about three months. There I entered the New York Polyclinic for a post-graduate course. We re- turned to Farmland and went to housekeeping, and I opened up an office of my own. We still live in the same house, having purchased the property, including the office. I am a Christian and member of the M. E. Church."
THE GURRENT FAMILY 93
E-stKer McProud Current
was born at Farmland in 1875 Her parents are S imuel T. and Rebecca McProud. She gradu- ated from public school and was a teacher eight years, the last three teaching in the school she had attended as a pupil. She is a -member of the M. E. Church, as were her family for four genera- tions bacfe.
CKildren of OrpHevis and EstHer Current.
George Roger, born April 2, 1901. James Revel, born December 7, 1904
94 THE CURRENT FAMILY
WILLIAM CURRENT AND FAMILY.
1:1
By Jessie Current Luzzadder. ,if
•— — ■ •; -?-• .(', ■ ■•-, William, son of Samuel J. and Eliza J. Current, was born December 20, 1848. All except the first five years of his life he has spent in Jay County, Indiana. After attending the common schools of his vicinity, he attended Liber College, near Port- land, Indiana, for a while, then went to Normal School at Winchester, same State. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-seven years old. He worked on the farm for his father until, with what he earned and what his father gave him, he acquired enough to buy a forty-acre farm, and had a good supply of live stock.
When married, he, with his wife, moved to this farm, living there four years; then he sold this land and bought another farm, containing one hundred and twenty acres, just across the road from the first one. Both these farms were adjoin- ing his father's. Here for five years he and his brother Oscar engaged in making drain tile. Then they sold the tile factory and also this farm,
EM ALINE CURRENT.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 95
and he bought another farm not a mile away, which he still owns.
In 1894 these brothers became partners in the pipe -line construction work, at which they are still engaged.
William Current and Emaline Bell were mar- ried October 28, 1875, by Rev. J. W. Smith. She was born at New Mount Pleasant, Jay County, Indiana, June 4, 1855, the daughter of John and Lavina (Kidder) Bell. Her parents were mem- bers and supporters of the M. E. Church, and in her childhood Emaline was converted and joined the church, having since had many manifesta- tions of the lovej.ajid power of God. One of these was a marvelous case of
Divine Healing.
In , the beginning of the }Tear 1893, Emaline Current (my mother) became seriously afflicted with a disease which terminated in catarrh of the stomach. We had the best physicians .we could secure, and everything they could do was done to effect a cure, but nothing gave her any relief, and she continued to grow worse and worse, until
96 THE GURBENT FAMILY
finally only two persons at a time were permitted in her room, and the doctors had no hope of her recovery. It seemed to all that she could not be spared, having six j^oung children, the young- est only two years old. Mother had always had a delicate stomach, and when she got so low there appeared no hope, except by Divine power. Her friends continually prayed for her recovery, and special prayers were offered by the church for her restoration. About two weeks before her healing, while Grandma Current was at home praying for her, she declared she had the witness that mother would be healed, and never had a doubt from that moment, though mother was so low she could only take a few drops of nourishment at a time, and continually the pain was so great the physicians kept her under the influence of an anesthetic all the time for weeks. About 3 o'clock Sunday after- noon, May 7, 1893, after having watched all night, thinking that every hour might be the last, those who were taking care of her told the friends who had gathered at our home and all of the children we might go into her room, as they thought she was passing away. The room was filled, and a minister offered prayers for her, and for the fam-
■
Mary Current
THE CURRENT FAMILY 97
ily to be comforted in their bereavement. When we arose from prayer, Aunt Margaret Williamson started the song:
" What are our light afflictions here But blessings in disguise? They'll only make for us a home Of rest beyond the skies.
'Twill all be over soon,
'Twill all be over soon ; 'Tis only for a moment here,
'Twill all be over soon."
During the prayer the thought catne to mother, "Why don't you pray?" (she had been too weak to think of praying before); then came the thought, " What shall I pray for? " She thought of her fam- ily, then of her pain and affliction, and how she had been such a care to her loving friends, who had so patiently attended her for so long, then silenth7 offered up just a sentence prayer, " Lord, TAKE me or heal me." This was just as they were singing the chorus after the first verse of the above song. Just then the power and glory of the Lord came down upon her and thrilled her throughout her whole being. She cried out, " O, see the light!" and, b}7 the power of the Holy Spirit, she rose and sat up in bed. Grandma said: " It is the light of
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the Lord, and He has come to heal 3rou." Mother exclaimed, "Yes; He has healed me!" She wanted her clothes to dress, but her nurse and others thought it was a sudden flash of strength as some- times comes to the d}Ting, and they would not let her get out of bed that evening. She praised the Lord, and declared that, by His healing power, she was well, talking all the evening. We children could not understand, but she called us around her bed and told us not to cr}T, for "Mamma is going to be well now." She called for food, which they gave her. She slept a restful sleep all night, and at six o'clock next morning walked from her bedroom through the sitting-room into the dining- room, and ate a hearty breakfast.
She continued to gain strength till she became much stronger than she had been for years. The next Sunday she was strong enough to go to church, but, as she was two miles awa}T and it was a rain}T day, she did not go till the next Sunday, when she testified to the healing power of God. Every person in the church shook hands with her, full}7 believing her testimony.
My parents, believing that it is the Scriptural way, are giving one-tenth of their income to the
THE CIRRENT FAMILY 99
Lord. This year my father gave $200 to the church extension fund, to build an M. E. Church in Virginia, and before this, with his brother Oscar, had given enough to do the same at Blaine, Washington, which church was named the "Cur- rent Memorial Church." These are at places where the people are not able to build a church.
Last year father took the support of eight orphans and one native missionary in India and China, besides giving largely to the home church, and for the Prohibition cause and other things. He has voted the Prohibition ticket ever since 1884, and feels that he must do so in order to be free from the blood of souls that are lost through the legalized drink traffic, and all of his sons and son-in-law are voters in that party.
Children of Williom and Emaline C/urrent.
Jessie Florence, the oldest child of William and Emaline Current, was born January 9, 1877; was converted March 3, 1893, remaining a faithful lover of Jesus; graduated in the common school; was married to Emmett Luzzadder, May 9, 1896. He wrs tern February 26, 1871. He is a Christian
THE GURRENT FAMILY 101
and one of the stewards of the M. E. Church at Redkey, and we tithe our income for the Lord. Our children are: Emma Ruth, born December 18, 1899. Helen Margaret, born September 19, 1901; died April 20, 1902. Fred Current, born September 10, 1902.
John Russell, son of William and Emaline Cur- rent, was born September 13, 1878; was married to Etha Andrews, Jul}- 2, 1902. She was born December 1, 1879. Their children are: Clyde Donaldson, born May 9, 1904, and Mary, born September 19, 1905.
George D., son of William and Emaline Current, was born January 7, 1883, and married Vida Novera Shepherd, September 17, 1905.
The rest of William and Emaline Current's children are:
Watson Clarke, born September 13, 1884. Agnes Anna, born March 19, 1888. Cora Bell, born February 22, 1891.
(2 THE CURRENT FAMILY
OSCAR J. CURRENT AND FAMILY.
By Josephine Current.
Oscar J. Current, the }roungest child of Samuel J. and Eliza J. Current, was given to them on November 13, 1860, and received the name Oscar James. His mother came near passing through death's valley at that time. Her attending physi- cian, being a Christian, with her husband and friends, called on the Lord to spare her life and restore her to health. Their prayers were heard, and she was raised up, as many times afterward in answer to prayer she was healed, and her life spared to finish four-score years.
When Oscar was near five months old, the two little brothers next older than he, full of life and bo3ash vigor, having filled the house with noisy play all through the winter months, were sud- denly stricken with diphtheria, and in a fortnight were both translated to the heavenly home. Oh, how quiet and lonely the rooms that had re-echoed their shouts and happy laughter! Only the little
OSCAR J. CURRENT
THE CURRENT FAMILY 103
sleepy babe now left to amuse and cheer the older members of the family. Eagerly the mother watched her growing baby, longing for the time to come when he would run and shout, making the house again resound with the noise of running feet and the loud prattle of playful boyhood, which had so delighted her heart. Her baby grew into healthful childhood, but, instead of the loud, chat- tering, playful bo3r she expected, he was a gentle, quiet, studious child, hardly making any noise, and as he grew, he spent his energy in doing something of account, taking more pleasure in study and work than he did in play. He wanted to be good, but was sometimes overcome with a temptation to do wrong, wThich grieved him, and he would tell his mother that she must whip him, so that he would be good, and, until he was ten or twelve years old, often on seeing a stick which he thought would make a good switch, he would take it home and say, "Mother, here is a good switch; lay it up, and when I am naughty whip the old bad man away." When ten years old he played the organ in church. Though having a natural talent and love for music, on account of business cares being thrust upon him when so young, he
104 THE CURRENT FAMILY
was deprived of cultivating that gift to an}T great extent. He had a rich, soft voice, which he conse- crated to God, never using it for worldly or sinful song. He was converted and joined the church in early childhood.
At the age of seventeen the management of the farm was laid upon him, and, with the mind of one of maturer years, he took up this responsi- bility and successfully carried it on. When he was twenty years old his father died, and his mother leaned on him in her widowhood. He was a loving and devoted son and brother.
In 1881 and 1882 he took a business course of stud}T cit the Valparaiso (Indiana) Business Col- lege. On returning home, he still carried on the farm work, and, with his brother William, bought a tile factor}-, and for five years made a success of that business. His first ballot for President of the United States was in 1884, and he voted the Prohibition ticket.
In 1888 he became the leader of a male quartette, going over the State singing of the evils and suf- fering produced by the liquor traffic, and appeal- ing to men to vote it out. The songs attracted both friends and enemies. The liquor men were
JOSEPHINE CURRENT.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 105
so enraged that they threatened his life, and eggs and stones were thrown at them while singing.
In 1888 he met Miss Josephine Chodrick; their acquaintanceship ripened into friendship, love and matrimony. They were married February 13, 1890. Josephine was born at Fortville, Han- cock County, Indiana, October 14, 1865. "My father, William Chodrick, was born Mar. 28, 1810 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania and died at Fortville, Indiana, April 8, 1883. He was a man of sterling character, a member of the M. E Church, a devout Christian and one of the most highly respected men of the community in which he lived. He came with his parents to Hancock County when a young man, and his life was spent in and around Fortville.
" In his young manhood he was married to Miss Eliza Pints. To them were born four daughters and two sons. His wife and three daughters were taken away from him by death; Rachel, Marion and George were spared, and are still living — Rachel Thomas, at Indianapolis, Indiana; Marion, at Fortville, and George, at San Francisco, California.
" In 1852 my father was again married, to Anna
106 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Amick. To them were given three children — Harvey, who died when but two years old; Saman- tha, who died October 20, 1889, being thirty-two years old, and Josephine. My father was a very industrious man, and showed carefully laid plans, system and neatness in all he did. He was a farmer, and acquired a farm adjoining Fortville, on which he built a beautiful home inside the corporation limits, so that his family always had the advantage of town school and church; also country life, with its orchards, broad fields and woodland. He was a great reader and well in- formed on current events, and often expressed his grief at the corruption of politics, the drink traffic and the great evils of the day. He was an ardent advocate of the temperance cause and was identified with the Blue Ribbon movement, which at that time took the lead in temperance reform. "Our mother, Anna, was bereft of her mother when only twelve years old. She was the oldest daughter in a family of ten children, and the younger ones looked to her for a mother's love and care. She had been brought up under the influence of the Campbellite doctrine, but became deeply convinced of the need of a change of heart
THE GURRENT FAMILY [07
under the preaching of Father J. W. Smith, and was wonderfully converted. She and her sister Lizzie joined the M. E. Church, and were the only ones of that large family who were not Campbellites.
"After a while her father married a woman who had many good qualities, but was not strict in her religious views. She almost entirely disregarded the Sabbath by entertaining her friends and doing much unnecessary work on that day, which was a great trial to Anna; so she covenanted with the Lord that if He ever gave her a home of her own that she would honor His holy day, and in that home He should be loved and obeyed. She always remembered this covenant, and when the home was given her, she endeavored to fulfil this promise. Her home and her children she conse- crated to the Lord.
"My mother, Anna Chodrick, was devoted. to the downfall of the liquor traffic. At the time of the 'Crusade' movement a band was organized art: Fortville, and she, with the minister's wife, Mrs. J. B. Cams, headed the procession of brave women who marched into a saloon, and she offered the first prayer for its destruction. Through the
|08 THE CURRENT FAMILY ,
efforts of these Christian women, the town was rid of every saloon and the drug stores surren- dered their whiskey. In later years she became a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and was an active member when she died. A beautiful floral offering was made and a tribute of their appreciation of her was read by one of the members at the funeral service.
"The writer of this sketch feels that she owes more than she can express to this precious mother's training and influence. As early as I can remember, she would take me with her, not only to the family altar, but to some quiet place, where she would talk to me of the Scripture — its laws and promises — then we would kneel and she would earnestly pray for me. At the age of ten years, after a careful study of the Bible and Bun- yan's " Pilgrim's Progress," I became convicted of sin and the need of a change of heart- I suffered for months terrible agony as the awfulness of sin was shown me by the light of the Holy Spirit. By wise counsel and prayer I was enabled finally to accept the Saviour.
"In my seventeenth year a great sorrow came to me in the death of my dear father. He had
THE CURRENT FAMILY 109
always been so loving, tender and indulgent, that, had it not been for the firm, wise hand of my mother, his baby would have been a woefully spoiled child. He had alwaj^s been a man of robust health, full of energ}T and life, but, becom- ing suddenly ill, was taken from us after three brief days., and mother and I were left in the home alone. Only those who have had a similar experience can understand our loneliness.
" I began teaching in the public schools when seventeen 3-ears of age, and taught my first term in the country — Green township, Hancock county — and then took the primary work in our town graded schools. I commenced teaching in Sunday school when I was a child, and have most of the time since had a class. I well remember and cherish the memory of our loved Sabbath school superintendent, Brother William Baker; also Mrs. Jane Arnett, Mrs. M. Cutting, Mrs. Humphries, Mrs. Rogers, and numerous other precious saints, most of whom have been translated, and with whom I have enjoyed such precious fellowship in class and prayer meetings, which I always at- tended with my mother; also the Woman's For- eign Missionary meetings. Mother and I were
110 THE CURRENT FAMILY
both charter members of this society. Her friends were my companions as well as my young friends, and the memory of those dear sainted women is precious to me. What sweet companionship and tender relation existed between mother and I, who were all to each other! Although she ap- proved of my marriage and desired me to have a home of my own, knowing that she could not always be with me, she was so crushed at the separation that her health began to fail. She had that independence of nature and love for her own home, church and town, that she remained in her own home, though she loved to visit us and have us with her. In the summer of 1897, after having spent the winter with us, she came again for a visit. One night, when she had been here about two weeks, her spirit went home to God, who gave it, and when we went to awaken her, she was not, for the blessed Father had gently and tenderly taken her, while unconscious in sleep, out of her suffering to Himself. How blessed the memory of that dear sainted mother, whose life, as I studied it in childhood and still ponder over it, was one sweet benediction of holy influence!
" In 1888, while attending a missionar}^ conven-
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tion at Redke3r, I was entertained at the home of Mrs. Eliza J. Current, and there met her son, Oscar, for the first time. This acquaintance resulted in our marriage about two }rears later. His early life has been given in this narrative by his sister Annie, and I shall only refer to his life as I have known it. The first three years of our married life we spent at the home of his mother. During this time he cultivated her farm and also engaged in some real estate business, laying out two addi- tions to the town of Redkey. He had bought the farm which used to be known as the Phillips farm, and in 1892 laid out nine acres into a beautiful cemeterj". It is little more than half a mile from the south side of town. Oscar's cousin, Captain William P. Hobson, of Pueblo, Colorado, made the draft for the plat and named it " Hill Crest." In the center is a circular plat for fountain and ornamental plants and trees; in other parts of the cemetery are different shaped ornamental plats. The sections, of different shapes and sizes, which are divided into burial lots, are drained under each row of lots and graded a foot or more above the graveled avenues, which surround each sec- tion, making one and one-half miles of driveways
112 THE GURRENT FAMILY
in the whole cemetery It is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the State. Oscar had the remains of his grandmother Current, his father, brothers and nephew moved from the old ceme- tery to the new one.
" In 1893 we bought us a home in Redkey and moved into it, and that year Oscar, with his brother William, engaged in contract work for the Indiana and Ohio Gas Company, having con- tinued in this work for the past twelve years. They have been very successful in this, and have bought farms, which, by wise management, yields them good incomes. They were among the trus- tees who so wisely and successfully planned the new church and carried it to completion. In 1894, although we had been giving liberally to the Lord's cause, we were led to keep a book account of our income, and thus be sure we were giving one-tenth, as is taught in the Scriptures. We have been wonderfully blessed in so doing, not only by a material increase in our income, but by the satis- faction that comes from the knowledge that we are giving what God requires. As has been stated,
Oscar, at his first opportunity, allied himself with the Prohibition party, and has supported the work
PAULINE CURRENT
HELEN CURRENT
THE CURRENT FAMILY ... 113
by his means, as well as awakening sentiment and winning friends to the cause by rousing quartette songs. In the fall of 1905, while singing at Powers' Station, near Redkey, a bullet whizzed between the heads of Oscar and C. C. Ayers, the singer standing next to him. Trusting in God to protect them, they went back the next week to the same place and sang again; unmolested. It was a saloon keeper who shot, but no arrest was made.
"On February 25, 1891, a sweet little baby girl came to stay with us, whom we named Pauline. She is now fifteen years old, very studious and industrious. She has considerable talent and love for music and has made rapid advancement, hav- ing high ambition to become proficient in this art. She graduated last year in the common-school branches, receiving the second highest grade in the county. This 3rear she completed her first year of high school, and at her examination re- ceived 100 in all her grades. We are very thankful that Pauline is a Christian.
" On October 3, 1895, our hearts were gladdened by the advent of another little darling; we named her Helen. This year (1906) she was in the fifth grade at school and got promoted at the end of
M4 THE GURRENTf AMILV
the term. She has been studying rnusic about a year and a half, making nice progress. She, too, is a Christian, having a keen sense of right and wrong. Both girls make a confidant of their mamma, and have been taught not to listen to anything they could not tell her.
"On April 14, 1903, our home was brightened by another precious daughter; we named her Martha Lucile. She has been a joy to her sisters and parents, but sometimes she has to be cor- rected. One day her papa had to punish her, and was talking, to show her the wrong she had done, when she put her arms around his neck and said, 1 Oh, papa, don't tell Jesus.' We hope our girls — Lucile, Helen and Pauline — will become pure, true women, living not for self, but to help make the world better.
" March 13, 1906, was our sixteenth wedding anniversary. As we look back over the years, we feel that surely the Lord has been with us; yet we have had some sore bereavements — our precious mothers have left us, besides many other dear ones. Sharing each other's joys and sorrows, we have toiled together, happy in each other's love and the love of our Father in Heaven. The Lord
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115
certainly answered mother's prayers when she asked Him to direct my marriage. No intoxicating drinks, noxious tobacco or profane language ever polluted Oscar's lips, and he is a gentle, kind and tender husband and father. May God help us ever to do His will, and finally, with our loved ones, dwell with Him throughout eternit}-.
Redkey, Indiana, July 1, 1906.
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THE CIRRENT FAMILY 117
CURRENT BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION
COMPANY.
By E- E*. Luzzadder,
In the fall of the year 1886 the people about Redkey were highly elated over the discovery of natural gas in Indiana. The first well was drilled near Eaton, in Delaware county. Soon companies were organized, and drilling began in the locality of nearly every town in this part of the State. Redkey was not tardy in its organization, and in May, 1887, a fine well was drilled in the north part of town, and the people were soon enjoying the luxury of having natural gas for fuel and lights. Manufacturers from all parts of the country, especially glass manufacturers and such as needed a great deal of heat to accomplish their work, saw a great opening for cheap fuel, and people seek- ing employment in these factories swarmed into the towns of the gas belt by hundreds, and large growths were made by all small towns and a num- ber of new towns were laid out and sprang up as if by magic. A gas field in Ohio had been ex-
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THE CURRENT FAMILY M9
hausted, and speculators from that field, knowing its value, organized at Lima, Ohio, a company, making large investments for the purpose of thoroughly testing this Indiana field for gas. Thousands of acres of land was leased around Redkey and Eaton by this company and drilling operations commenced in large proportions. Great quantities of gas was discovered, and ar- rangements were made at once for piping it out of the 'State to Ohio cities and towns.
The panic of 1893 was no barrier to these opera- tions, and farmers, being hard pressed for money, began leasing more heavily than before, to the dismay of the manufacturers, fearing the quick exhaustion of the gas.
With the opening of the spring of 1894 a large gas pumping station was built near Redkey, and the gas was forced east for the use of the residents and manufacturers of western Ohio. Then hun- dreds of men, who a short time before had been suffering from the effects of the depressed condi- tion of the financial status, now found emplo}- ment with the gas company as it began to con- nect the gas fields in the vicinity of the pumping station to the places to be supplied 03- large pipe
]20 THE CURRENT FAMILY
lines. Several large forces of men were engaged along the line, to quickly finish the work. Soon the company, wishing to reduce the work at the main office, asked for bids for contract to deliver the pipe from the railroads to the right of way along the line from the Redkey pumping station to Lima, Ohio. William and Oscar J. Current, having always been partners in business inter- ests, made a bid and received the contract, begin- ning at once what they considered a large under- taking; but, by hard work and good management, the work was completed with mutual satisfaction. Thus the Current Brothers Construction Com- pany was formed in 1894. The gas company then gave them a large contract for trench filling, at which they worked until winter. The openings for business of the gas company increased, and they continued to give contracts to the Current Brothers, who each year took more and more of the construction of the lines, until 1898 they were awarded the contract for the entire construction work for both the Ohio and Indiana and the Red- key Transportation Companies
They built a large pumping station at Mt. Sterling and Sugar Grove, Ohio, and atFairmount
THE CURRENT FAMILY m
and Eaton, Indiana, doing all the carpenter work and delivering the machinery to all the stations, besides laying several miles of pipe each year' ranging in size from two to twelve inches. Pipe lining at first was done entirely by hand, the trenches being dug by the old method of spade and shovel, and the pipe joined together by tongs. They were able each year to make improvements in their devices for working, until they finally made their trenches by the more modern and rapid method of plowing and rooting out with teams, and the pipe was screwed together with a pipe machine. In this way they were able to lay more line and greatly reduce the labor and expense. Drilling was continued until several hundred wrells were drilled, but, with the great amount of consumption, the natural pressure began to decrease, until it had each year gradu- ally dropped down from a pressure of 200 pounds to only from 3 to 10 pounds.
It becoming no longer a paying investment, the company began to abandon the field and take up its lines until, in the year 1904, the field was entirely abandoned. Then the Current Brothers Construction Company was changed to a wrecking
THE CURRENT FAMILY 123
company, taking up the many lines and shipping machinery to other newly discovered gas fields. Getting the great heavy pipe from the trench and conveying it to the stations and loading it for shipment was a large undertaking, which required machine^ to unscrew the pipe and lift it from the trench. The plow and rooter were again put to work to unearth the now useless pipe lines and the pipe machine arranged to unscrew the pipe. An expansion head was made to fit inside the pipe and by having an attachment to their trac- tion engine, made a novel machine for doing the work. In this way the machine was self-propell- .ing, being moved along from joint to joint, and by a clutch, made to stand still, and unscrew the pipe, or travel along the line. By this method they were able to take up as much as two miles of eight inch pipe in a day.
During the year 1905 the Current Brothers, in order to hasten the completion of their contract, employed one hundred and fifty men and fifty teams. So S3Tstematic was the organization of the different gangs that it was often said pipe which lay unmolested in the trench in the morning, lay that night in a gondola car enroute to the new
THE CURRENT FAMILY \25
field where it was to be again laid and used for the transmission of gas. After the forcing of gas to Ohio was abandoned there remained enough gas to suppl}7 the residents with gas for heat and light but not in abundance as at first.
For twelve years the Current Brothers Con- struction company have been contractors for pipe line work, just completing this year their last contract in this field.
RedkejT, Indiana, Jul}T 9 1906.
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THE CURRENT FAMILY
CHAPTER FIVE
JAMES ALFRED CURRENT AND FAMILY.
By Elizabeth Current Roberts.
My father, James Alfred Current, was born at
Grafton, Va., June 25 1824. He was the second son and fourth child of Peter and Rebecca Jones Current. The first ten years of his life were spent at the old home at Grafton.
About this time his parents moved to the then new country, Indiana. There, engaged at work on his father's farm, Al-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 127
fred grew to manhood. He was a strong vigor- ous boy and delighted in the out-of-door sports which filled np the pla3r-time of pioneer boys, and in later years nothing pleased his children more than father's stories of 'coon hunting when he was a boy. He had few educational advantages but he attended such schools as were within reach, and secured such education as at that time was considered sufficient for a farmer bo}r.
At the age of seventeen years he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church and remained a faithful consistent member during his long life.
April 30, 1846, he was married to Miss Deborah Hobson, daughter of George and Deborah Hobson and sister of Stephen B. Hobson. (See Chapter Two.) To them, in their home at Flatrock, Ind- iana, were born two children, Mar}^ Jane and Me- lissa.
In 1849, with his little family, he moved to Mis- souri. After stopping a short time in Holt coun- ty, he settled in Andrew count}" about seven miles from Savannah, the county seat. There his wife died October 14, 1850, at the age of twenty*- two }rears.
128 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Their eldest daughter, Mary Jane, was bor:i May 30, 1847. She was married to Harvey D. Hall, December 25, 1866. She with her husband settled on a farm in Nodawry county, Missouri, where they lived for several years, then removed to Marysville, the count}7 seat of Nodaway county where they still live in their beautiful home, sur- rounded by all they need to make them comfort- able. They have no children.
Melissa, the second daughter o.c Alfred and Deborah Current, was born December 16, 1818. She was married to Isaac Silvers Februar}r 11 1869. They also settled on a farm in Nodaway county Missouri where Melissa died July 8, 1872. To this couple were born one daughter and one son The daughter, Ethel, was born April 9, 1870. The son was born July 5, 1872 and died when only a few weeks old. Both these children were born in Nodaway county.
After her mother's death, Ethel was taken by her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Hall, and reared as their own child, receiving the ad- vantages and loving care which they were well able and willing to give her. She passed most of
THE CURRENT FAMILY 129
her childhood and young womanhood in their home at Marysville where she acquired a good education and had the advantages of good soci- ety. On December 28, 1892, she was married to Bernard William Frost. They had four children; Bernice Melissa., born January 8, 1897 at Marys- ville, Missouri; Mary Wanda, born June 1, 1900, died Sept. 29, 1900, at Cabool, Missouri; Harvey Hall, born December 8, 1902, and Winona Esther born June 30, 1904. These two last named were born at Kaw City, Oklahoma. Mr. Frost is en- gaged in general merchandise at Washango, Ok- lahoma, where this family now resides.
Second Marriage of James Alfred Current.
On May 8, 1851, James Alfred Current was mar- ried to Miss Caroline Colburn. She was the third daughter and fifth child of the Rev. John Revel and Elizabeth Petty Colburn. John R. was a son of Revel Colburn. (For Colburn ancestry see Part Second, Chapter One.
In 1852 James Alfred, with his wife and two lit- tle girls, children of his first wife, returned to In- diana, with his parents who had that }rear gone to
(30
THE CURRENT FAMILY
Missouri on a visit. After stopping a few months in Henry county, he purchased a farm in Jay county, one and one half miles south of the pres- ent city of Redkey. At this place four of their eight children were born. Elizabeth Rebecca, (writer of this sketch) was born August 16, 1854. Sarah Lee was born June 4, 1856. Martha Matilda was born Jan. 29, 1859 and John Col- burn was born Feb. 21, 1861.
In 1863 Alfred Cur- rent again moved to Missouri, this time buying and settling on a farm near Fill- more. Those were troublous times, for the great Civil War
raged and enveloped
our fair land in clouds of darkness and deluged it
with the blood of her sons. M37 father gave a
ready response to his country's call for help and
in the summer of 1863 enlisted among the State
troops as a Home Guard and for two years served
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THE CURRENT FAMILY 131
his country faithfully, neither expecting nor re- ceiving any remuneration.
After the close of the war he continued his oc- cupation of farming and also engaged in the lum- ber business, purchasing an interest in a saw mill. He remained in Missouri until the Spring of 1871. During their residence there, the two eldest daughters, Jennie and Melissa were married, and three children, a girl and two boys, were added to the family. Myrtle Emily was born June 14, 1864. William Peter was born Sept. 7, 1866, and Rich- ard Elmer wras born July 2, 1869.
In March 1871, having disposed of his property in Missouri, James Alfred removed with his fami- ly to Nebraska and settled near Mt. Pleasant, Cass count3T, where they remained until 1886, with the exception of two years spent at Peru, Nebraska, where the elder children attended the State Nor- mal School. During their residence at Mt. Pleas- ant two of their daughters were married.
Sarah L., the second daughter, was married to William E. Latta, October 1, 1873. They settled near Murray, Neb., where their three children were born, Letta Oella was born August 10,1874;
\J2 > HE CURRENT FAMILY
James Oscar, born August 9, 1877 and Robert Bruce, born April 9, 1881. Bruce died Feb. 18,
1883.
Mr. and Mrs. Latta moved to Kenesaw, Nebras- ka in 1889 where they remained until 1903 when they moved to Culbeitson, Hitchcock county, Neb., where they still reside and where he is en- gaged in stock-raising.
While they lived at Kenesaw their daughter, Letta, was married to Jesse L. Templeton, Oct. 26 1892. They have two children: Robert Bruce born Nov. 18, 1893 and Floretta Fay, born Sept. 19, 1899.
James Oscar, son of William E. and Sarah L. Latta, graduated from the medical school at Lin- coln, Neb., in April 1901 and at once located at Clay Center, Clay county, Neb., where he still re- sides, engaged in the practice of his profession. He was married January 20, 1903 to Miss Ada Bavinger.
Martha, third daughter of James Alfred and Caroline Current, was married October 1, 1878 to Robert N. Robotham. To this couple were born eight children: Mary Caroline, born Sept. 9, 1879; Grace, born December 6, 1880; Alfred Verne, born
THE CIRRENT FAMILY [33
October 14, 1882; Ivy, born December 1, 1884 and died Jan. 18, 1886; Robert Glenn, born March 14, 1888; Barbara, born October 25, 1892. William Moses, born August 9, 1898; Helen Ruth, born February 26, 1903.
Mary Caroline, eldest daughter of Robert and Martha Robotham, was married to Albert Hudson, March 16, 1901. They have had two little girls: Pearl, born Feb. 26, 1902, died August 12, 1905; Alberta, born Sept. 8, 1903. This familj- reside at Eagle, Nebraska.
Grace, second daughter of Robert and Martha Robotham, was married June 24, 1903 to William Gardiner. To them was born one son, Cornelius Verne, born March 1, 1905. They also reside at Eagle. Alfred Verne Robotham is in the employ of the M. P. railroad as agent at Walton, Neb. Robert Glenn Robotham is employed in a store in Lincoln and the younger children live with their parents at Lincoln, Neb., where their father is in the employ of M. P. railroad.
In the autumn of 1886, Alfred Current purchas- ed property and moved his family to Elmwood, Neb., where he made his home until his death.
134 THE CURRENT FAMILY
While the family lived at Mt. Pleasant, Eliza- beth the eldest daughter of Alfred and Caroline Current, met with a severe accident which result- ed in spinal injury from which she never fully re- covered. She has been a cripple ever since, com- pelled to use a crutch. Prior to the accident she was engaged as a teacher in the public schools of her county. For some years she was compelled to give up teaching, but after the family moved to Elmwood, she again took up the profession of teaching until failing health forced her again to give it up. Elizabeth R. Current and Dewe}7 J. Roberts were married August 16, 1892. They es- lished their home at Kenesaw, Neb., where they still reside. To them have come two daughters: Caroline Janet, born December 7, 1893 and Marian Lee, born January 22, 1896. Dewey Roberts is a retired farmer.
Myrtle Emily, the fourth daughter of Alfred and Caroline Current, was also a teacher in the public schools of Nebraska. She was married at Elmwood, Nov. 13, 1889, to J. G. Oldham. The first three years of their married life were spent on a farm in Cass count}7, Neb., where their first
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child, Hazel Vera, was bora July 15, 1891. la 1892 they moved to Beaver City, Furaace couaty, Neb- raska. On April 9, 1893, a little son was bora to them but he lived but a few weeks. April 10, 1904, their child Polly, was bora. They still reside at Beaver City where Mr. Oldham is eagaged ia buyiag stock.
Maude, the youagest daughter of Alfred aod Caroliae Curreat, was bora at Mt. Pleasaat, Neb., December 9, 1871. She was married to Alford C. Wright October 26, 1893. Their first home was at Liacola where Mr. Wright was secretary to Goveraor Thayer. Their daughter, Grace, was bora at Liacola May 26, 1894. They moved from Liacola to Elmwoodia 1897, where their first soa, Charles Mark, was bora Deceaiber 24, 1897. Io 1900 they moved to Washiagtoa, D. C. where, oo July 17, 1904 was bora to them a son, Elmer Clif- ton. Mr. Wright is employed in the War De- partment and the family still resides in Washing- ton.
William Peter, second son of Alfred and Caro- line Current, grew to nianhood upon his father's
136 THE CURRENT FAMILY
farm, securing such education as the public schools of Nebraska afford. Father always de- pended upon Will's help and judgment as long as he remained at home. He was married to Miss Effie Worley, October 1, 1888, at Elmwood. They lived for a few years on a farm in Cass County, Nebraska, where theirson Paul Elbert was born June 25, 1889. In 1891 they moved to Beaver City where Will began work as a carpenter. Hereon July 17, 1897, Gail Butler, a son, was born. Soon after this they returned to Elmwood where they still reside and where two more children were born to them; Marjorie Fay, born March 1,1899, and Duane Worley, born April 23, 1903. Willis a carpenter and contractor.
Richard, the youngest son of Alfred and Caro- line Current, never having been very strong and unable to do heavy farm work, on leaving school learned the printer's trade, and has ever since been engaged in newspaper work. He was mar- ried April 29, 1901, to Miss Eva Bown at Fairfield Neb. To them was born Nov. 15, 1904, a little son who lived but a few hours. Richard is engaged in publishing a newspaper at Kenesaw, Nebraska.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 137
John Colburn, oldest son of Alfred and Caroline Current, was the one of their children who re- mained in the home nest after all his brothers and sisters had gone to homes of their own. He had a good common school education and spent two years at the State Normal School also two years at the State University at Lincoln; then he en- gaged for some years in teaching. After the death of his father he remained at home with his mother. He was married May 21, 1902, to Miss May Horton at Elmwood. In 1903 he sold his property at Elmwood and, going to Oregon, set- tled in the beautiful city of Eugene where he now lives, engaged in the grocery business.
In the autumn of 1897, the aged father and mother made an extended visit to various parts of the State, where their children lived, spending some time wTith each. On their way home the}T stopped at Geneva, to visit a niece, Mrs. Libbie Hesser Gapen. While there, on Saturday, Nov. 6 father was stricken wTith apoplexy. He died on Wednesday, Nov. 10. 1897 without regaining con- sciousness, and was taken home to Elmwood, Nov. 12, and his body rests in the cemetery at
138 THE CURRENT FAMILY
that place, to await the resurrection. He lived to see all his children grown to Christian manhood and womanhood and all, except two sons, settled in homes of their own.
He was a kind friend, respected by all his neighbors; an affectionate husband and -fath- er and a faithful Christian and an honored and useful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he had belonged since boyhood. He was deeply interested in the affairs of every- day life, keeping himself in close touch with the political, social and religious conditions about him. He had been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity for many years and at the time of his death was said to be the oldest Mason in the State.
Two weeks before his death, while at Kenesaw, he attended church for the last time and his clear confident testimony at the class meeting on that occasion has been of the greatest help and com- fort to his children who heard it.
As old age crept upon him and he descended the western slope and neared the sunset of life, cares seemed to slip from him and he glided peacefully into old age with the sweetness of a lit- tle child.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 139
What of his faithful wife, — our mother.? She still lingers on the shores of time, passing her de- clining years in the home of her oldest son, John, patiently waiting the time when she shall go to join her loved ones in the heavenly home.
Kenesaw, Nebraska, Jan. 3, 1906.
James Alfred Current and Descendants.
FIRSr MARRIAGE
James Alfred Current married £)eborah Hob- son April 30, 1846. She died October 14, 1850.
CHILDREN
Mary Jane, born May 30, 1847; married Harvey
Hall, Decemer 25, 1866. Melissa, born Dec. 16, 1848; married Isaac Silvers
Feb. 11, 1869; died July 8, 1872.
SECOND MARRIAGE.
James Alfred Current married Caroline Colburn May 8, 1851.
CHILDREN
Elizabeth, born August 16, 1854; married Dewey
J. Roberts August 16, 1892. Ssrah Lee, born June 4, 1856; married William E.
140 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Latta, October 1, 1873.
Martha M., born January 29, 1859; married Robert N. Robotham, October 1, 1878.
John Colburn, born February 21, 1861; married May Horton, May 21, 1902.
Myrtle E., born June 13, 1864; married J. G. Old- ham, November 13, 1889.
William P., born September 7, 1866; married Effie
Worley, October 1, 1888. Richard E.,born July 2, 1869; married Eva Bown,
April 29, 1901. Maude, born December 9, 1871; married Alford C.
Wright, October 26, 1893.
#*:<*
JAMES L, WATERS.
MARGARET J. WATiGRS.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 141
CHAPTER SIX
MARGARET and JAMES L. WATERS.
By MARK O. WATERS.
Margaret J. Current, daughter of Peter and Re- becca Jones Current, was born in Virginia, Jan- uary 7, 1828, on the farm where the town of Graf- ton is now located. When she was about five years old, or in the fall of '33, when the stars fell and the cholera raged, the fever of western emi- gration was at its height. During that year her father moved to the then far distant West, to get a farm and build a home in the great Indiana for- est. News traveled slowly in those days, yet sto- ries of the vast opportunities of the new country were sufficient to fire the hearts of the sturdy folk of the Virginia hills and cause them to cast aside tender associations of neighbors and friends, home and birth-place, and set out on the long jour- ney to the setting sun. It was no mean journey, either, in those days, from Virginia to Indiana, a journey which now can be made in a few hours,
142 THE CURRENT FAMILY
requiring at that time, days and weeks to com- plete, with nights sleeping about the camp-fire, or in the covered wagons, for there were few tav- erns; fording rivers, for there were no bridges; traveling slowly for the roads were mere paths and rough with stumps, roots and ruts, tedious with windings in and out, through the almost trackless forest. Yet the spirit of emigration was so strong with our fore-fathers as to cause them to count all these difficulties as nothing.
So Peter Current set out to found a new home- Though but five years old when this journey was made, yet Margaret recalls many of the incidents of the trip such as crossing rivers, etc.
They at first settled near the county line in Del- aware county, but a mile or so from where they finally made their home in Henry county. After a clapboard cabin had been built and they were settled to housekeeping, one of Peter's horses es- trayed, and while he was absent searching for it some prowling Indians or other desperate char- acters, tried repeatedly to gain admission to the hoese, but were kupt out by the brave mother and her children. After this occurrence Mrs. Current was prevailed upon to seek a location a little near-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 143
er the settlements and she was preparing to move when her husband reached home. He considered her judgment wise, and the family moved over into Henry count}7, and later entered Govern- ment land and set about clearing out a home in the primeval forest.
Margaret was the fifth child of a family of nine, four older and four younger. Her childhood was the usual one of the pioneer days, so different from the child-life of today; yet from the toil and seclusion there came a training of character and physical robustness which left its impress upon her after life and upon the lives of her family.
Her father's house was the home of the preacher as he came and went, strengthening the faith of the widely scattered flocks, and her religious training and faith were of the good old kind not common enough in these days, yet most highly prized.
On the 26th day of March 1846, she was united in marriage with James Leonard Waters. He was also a native of Monongahela county, Virginia, coming to Henry county, Indiana, with his parents George and Mary Davis Waters, in 1834. They settled in the woods about seven miles northeast
144 THE GURRENT FAMILY
of New Castle and three and one-half miles south- west of the Currents James was seventeen years old when the journey was made and he walked nearly all of that portion of the trip which was made by land, driving a cow which gave milk for the travelers on the way. George Lowe, recently deceased in New Castle was also one of the party. The trip from Wheeling to Cincinnati was made on a flat-boat.
When they arrived in New Castle they were c mfronted with a situation which would have ap- palled and disheartened any but pioneers. The awful scourge of cholera had visited the town and half the people had died; the roads were almost impassible and in every direction stretched away toward the horizon, dense forests of giant trees which must be cleared away before the soil could be made to afford a sustenance for the pioneer and his family.
George Waters and his wife were true pioneers however, and it was not long ere the blue smoke ascended from a little cabin in the clearing and the noise of the ax was heard early and late.
Here George and Mary Waters lived and died and their bodies lie at rest in the Harvey Ceme-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 145
tery near by. The farm granted to them, the original deed for which, bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson, is now owned by two of George Waters' grandsons, George M. and Frank L. Waters. The large (and magnificent, in its da}T) two-stor}T log house, still stands.
Here James L. Waters helped to bring civiliza- tion out of Nature's wildness, by working in the clearing in the summer and teaching school in winter. The ruins of the old "Bear Pond" school house ma3r 3ret be seen, a few deca}Ted logs through and about which trees have sprouted and grown to large size, for now nearly seventy have passed since James Waters taught there. He was also something of a surveyor and assisted in making some of the surveys of that early day.
After their marriage James and Margaret Wa- ters remained for some time at the home of his parents and in the meantime a tract of land ad- joining, had been secured and when a little clear- ing had been made on the highest point and a cabin erected, the}^ moved to the location where for nearly fifty }Tears they lived together, until the husband and father was called from his earthly home to the home on high. The log cabin served
146 THE CURRENT FAMILY
its day and gave place to more extensive and modern structures; the forests melted 'neath the the sturdy stroke of the woodman's ax and the roaring flame of the log heap and the huge fire- place, and in their stead fields of golden grain appeared. There was much of privation and hardship and hard labor from the opening of the sugar camp, in the Spring, to the storing of the crops and the gathering of the apples in the fall, and what with the chills and the fevers and the malaria and the milk-sickness, the services of old Doctor Kerr were often necessary.
Traveling was mostly done on horseback and many were the times Margaret Waters would take one, two or even three children upon a horse with her and make the trip to her father's home north of Rogersville. This was also the mode of travel to and from religious services or "meeting." The time came, however, when a church was erected and meeting held on the farm. This Methodist church was known as Sugar Grove and was a flourishing one in its day. James Waters and his brother-in-law, James Stanford, who lived on the farm adjoining on the east, were class leaders and active in the maintenance of the organization.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 147
These homes were the headquarters of the preach- ers as they came and went and their presence was alwaj^s a benediction to the home visited.
October 18, 1847, the Waters home was glad- dened by the birth of a daughter, Louisa Matilda, but her sta}T on earth was limited to a little over four happy years. She died April 3, 1852, from the effect of inhaling steam from a boiling kettle on a stove.
The other children of James and Margaret Waters, and the dates of birth are as follows:
Sarah Ann, born December 7, 1850. George Morrison, born July 30, 1853. Coleman Peter, born October 19, 1856. Frank Leslie, born Sept. 14, 1859. Mary Rebecca, born October 4, 1862. Mark Orange, born November 21, 1867. Willie Claud, born August 17, 1871.
Sarah Ann Waters was married Sept. 25, 1892, to John Graham. They live on the James Stan- ford homestead adjoining the ancestral home in Henry county, Indiana. Sarah and her brother George, made a visit to the relatives in Nebraska some years ago and the recollection of that visit
148 THE CURRENT FAMILY
has always been a pleasant one to her. She was the last, hut one, to leave the home for a home of her own, Mr. Graham is also of Virginia ances- try and is a first-class farmer and a model hus- band.
GeorgeM. Waters was married to Sarah C. Rog- ers, January 17, 1885. She died March 27, 1887. On October 18, 1890 he was married to Miss Anna Eckard. They have three children, Charles, born January 3, 1892; Lucy, born March 20, 1894 and Robert, born June 11, 1899. They live on a part of the original Waters farm in Henry county.
With the exception of nearly a year spent in Nebraska, his life has been spent in Henry coun- ty. For several years he was associated with his brother, Coleman, in the manufacture of drain tile and in running a saw mill. His attention is now devoted to farming and fruitgrowing.
Coleman P. Waters was married to Elida F. Graham, sister of John Graham, Sarah's husband, October 25, 1877, and to them were born three children, Cora Lee, jDorn October 15, 1878, died February 28, 1900; Kenneth L., born Sept. 14, 1880; Cecil Earl, born Nov. 25, 1883, married Nellie
THE CURRENT FAMILY 149
Reece, March 26, 1903. To them have been born two children, Richard W. and an infant, unnamed.
Coleman lives on apart of the old home farm. He also owns p. part of the James Stanford farm.
Fiank L. Waters was married to Levada Smith Sept. 7, 1889. They have one son, Wilbur, born Nov. 27, 1891. They live on the home farm. In company with his brother Coleman, Frank, in 1899 took a trip through the East, going by sea from Norfolk to New York where they joined the crowd that welcomed the hero, Dewey, home.
Mary R. Waters, was married Sept. 27, 1884 to John Sloniker. TheyT have three children, Ross W.,born Sept. 27, 1887; Hurst, born March 10, 1891 and Mark, born July 3, 1896. Rebecca became ac- quainted with Mr. Sloniker when he taught the district school she attended, and boarded at the Waters home. He is interested in the lumber business. After marriage they lived in Moore- land, Ind., then in Cambridge City and from there to Lima, Ohio where they lived until the present summer, 1906, when they moved to Cincinnati.
Ross, the oldest son graduated from the Lima
[50 THE CURRENT FAMILY
high school, class of '06 and won first place in the city oratorical contest.
Mark O. Waters was married to Alice Ma}T Ful- ton, October 23, 1895. Alice Fulton was born near Sacramento, California, and her father, William Fulton, was a prosperous farmer in the Sacra- mento valley. Upon his death, Alice and her mother, Mrs. Helena Fulton, came to New Castle, Indiana in 1891 and, soon after, met Mark O. Wa- ters. The latter was educated in the district schools, the New Castle public schools and in De- Pauw University. After teaching for four }7ears he entered the office of the New Castle Courier in 1891, as reporter, became city editor, assistant manager, editor and manager, and finally, owner of the plant which he successfully operated until he sold out in 1901. He is a member of the New Castle school board and a Knight Templar. He has traveled extensively through the East and South and has a desire to sometime, sooner or la- ter, make his home back in ancestral Virginia, but prefers the eastern side of the mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. Waters have made two very enjoy- able trips with their mothers, Mrs. Margaret
THE CURRENT FAMILY 151
Waters and Mrs. Helena Fulton; one to Niagara Falls in 1898, and the other to Chattanooga in 1899. They have three children, William James, born Jan. 6. 1900; Helena Margaret, born Oct. 18, 1902 and Maurice Leonard, born July 26,1905.
Willie Claud, the last born child, was stricken with illness in June 1886 and died on the fifteenth day of that month after but a few days' sickness, at the age of 14 years, 10 months and 28 days. He died, murmuring the words of the song "The Home of the Soul" and requesting those about his couch, to meet him in heaven.
James L. Waters, the husband and father, grew to a ripe old age and passed on to the reward of the faithful, February 19, 1894, at the age of sev- enty seven. He died as he had lived, in the faith and triumph of a Christian, and bequeathed to his sons and daughters a goodly heritage — the exam- ple of a well-spent life. He lived to see the wil- derness changed into beautiful farms and his children grown to manhood and womanhood.
On August 16, of this year 1906, a family gather-
152
THE CURRENT FAMILY
ing was held at the old home and a very enjoya- ble time was had. The mother, all the living children, four sons, two daughters, three daugh- ters-in-law, one son-in-law, nearly all the grand- children and the author of this book, Cousin Annie Current, were there.
New Castle, Indiana, August 23, 1906.
THE CIRRENT FAMILY 153
CHAPTER SEVEN
EMMAUNE R. and LEWIS BIRD.
By £. R, BIRD
Emmaline R. Current was born in Virginia, De- cember 27, 1830, She was tHe sixth child of Peter and Rebecca Jones Current. When she was two years old her parents moved to Henry county, Ind. where she lived a happy life in a pure Christian home. In her twenty-fifth year, on July 5, 1855, she was married to Lewis Bird, (brother of Dan- iel Bird) at the home of her parents in Jay county Indiana, where they had moved the year pre- vious. With her husband she lived in Indiana eight years, then in 1863, they moved to Nebraska and bought a farm and they were then able to say that their happy home was their own. They were both Christians and members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Following the example of her parents and grandparents, they erected a family altar and daily committed themselves and family into the care of the Heavenly Father.
154 THE CURRENT FAMILY
The}' had six daughters, the two eldest, twins. Their first three children were born in Indiana. For more than forty years they have had, in Ne- braska, a lovely Christian home, where half their children were born, where all were married and where death has never entered.
In 1893 they retired from farm life and moved to Union, Nebraska, leaving Edward and Marga- ret Mougey in charge of the farm. At their home in Union, on July 5, 1905, the}' celebrated the fifth- ieth anniversary of their marriage. All their daughters were scattered, in homes of their own, and had not all been together under the parental roof for fifteen years, till the}7 gathered home to celebrate the "Golden Wedding" of their loved father and mother. Two of the sons-in-law were present, ten grandchildren, one great grandchild, with many other friends — fort}7 -five in all. After the sumptuous dinner was over, one of the grand- daughters furnished some fine music on the piano the minister gave an appropriate talk, and a touching prayer; then the guests took their leave, and with them the memory of a pleasant, happy day. The parents were soon parted from their children and grandchildren, as the}T scattered
THE CURRENT FAMILY 155
again to their various homes and perhaps may never all meet again, on earth, but hope and pray to meet in the home of 'many mansions" which Jesus has gone to prepare for them that love Him.
CHILDREN of LEWIS and EMMALINE BIRD.
Rachel T )
R . a i twins, born in Jay county, Indiana,
December 1, 1856. Olive May, born in Henry county, Indiana, July
22, 1859. Flora E., born in Nebraska December 24, 1863. Sarah Margaret, born in Nebraska, May 6, 1866. Osta E., born in Nebraska, November 30, 1872.
Rachel J. and William P. Webster
William P. Webster and Rachel J. Bird were married October 7, 1874. They live in Cody coun- ty, Wyoming.
CHILDREN
Emma Adell, born June 18, 1875. Lewis Elmo, born March 21, 1878.
* *
A. R. Kirkland and Emma Adell Webster were
J56 THE CURRENT FAMILY
married Sept. 24, 1893. They have one child, Lois Adell, born August 20, 1894.
Rebecca A., and Aaron Porter.
Aaron Porter and Rebecca A. Bird were mar- ried April 2, 1882. They live in Eugene, Oregon.
CHILDREN
R. Aletha, born August 2, 1885 Guy T., born May 4, 1889.
Olive May and A>. W. Searl.
A. W. Searl and Olive May Bird were married November 13, 1879. They live near Elwood, Ne- braska.
CHILDREN
Mabel P., born Sept. 19, 1880.
Amy L., born October 17, 1884; married Frank
Swan, December 2, 1903, and died February 3,
1905. Ona, born July 13, 1889 and died December 1, 1897. Flossie, born May 5, 1892.
Flora E.. and CHarles L. Movig'ey. Charles L. Mougey, (pronounced Mozay) and
THE CURRENT FAMILY [57
Flora E. Bird were married December 24, 1884. They live near Oconto, Nebraska.
CHILDREN
Ila Raymond, born March 4, 1886.
Alvin Bird, born February 1889.
Orpha E., born April 27, 1895 and died May 24,
1898. Florence P , born December 10, 1896.
SaraK Margaret and Edward J. Moug'ey.
Edward J. Mougey and Sarah Margaret Bird were married December 8, 1887. They live near Union, Nebraska.
CHILDREN
Iva Ma} r, born September 12, 1888. Blanche F. born April 21, 1892. Grace F., born February 9, 1897. Lewis Bird, born March 23, 1899. Naomi M., born February 3, 1903.
Osta E. and John Bird.
John Bird and Osta E. Bird were married Feb- ruary 10, 1892. They had one child born to them, Ruth A., born November 7, 1892.
I_58 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Osta E,. and Sanford Eddy.
Sanford Eddy and Osta E. Bird were married March 25, 1195. They live in Cody, Wyoming.
CHILDREN.
Irma Blanche, born December 21, 1896, and died
December 12, 1898. Ethel Norene, born January 10, 1901.
c^£s-
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159
CHAPTER EIGHT.
SARAH E. and DANIEL BIRD.
By MARY A. BOW EN.
DAOTEL .AND SARAH BIRD
Sarah E. Current daughter of Peter and Rebecca Jones Current, was born in Henry county, Indiana, February 28, 1830. She was converted and uni- ted with the M. E. church, in her fa- ther's house when she was a little girl, and ever after lived an exem- plary Christian life. She acquired a good common school education,
160 THE CURRENT FAMILY
and while a young girl she helped her father do- ing most of the writing for him when he was township assessor.
On Sunday, May 15, 1853, she was married to Daniel Bird, son of Joseph and Rachel (Young) Bird. His father was born in New Jersey, Au- gust 27, 1803, and died in Henry county, Indiana, December 12, 1877. His mother was born in New Jersey, November 8, 1806 and died in Henry county Daniel Bird was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, May 12, 1831. He was the fourth child among nine brothers and two sisters.
With his father's family he came to Henry county, Indiana, when he was eight years old. They settled on a farm near Blountsville. When Daniel was in his "teens" he worked as an ap- prentice with Jesse Cary in the latter's black- smith shop in Blountsville, and could soon draw the red-hot pig-iron into bars and form them into useful articles. He preferred this occupation and before he was married he had a shop of his own. In someway when a boy, he acquired the tobacco habit, but the summer that he was twenty-one years old, while at work on the construction of the Bellefountaine R. R., he broke off the useless hab-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 161
it. He threw his tobacco plug into a large pond, making a vow never to use it again, which vow he ever afterward kept.
Daniel was converted at a camp-meeting near Windsor, Ind., where he joined the M. E. church holding his membership at Blonntsville until he moved to Jay county.
To Daniel and Sarah Bird were born four child- ren: Mary A, who married Harvey Bowen; Re- cecc l, who died in her early childhood, the first of the family to enter Heaven; Arthur W., and Pres- ton S.
In March 1861, they moved. to Jay county, where they t ought an eighty acre farm, three miles from Mt. Vernon. now-Redkev. Xearlv all along the way was a dense forest. A corduroy road, made of logs, lain side by side, over the low wet ground was very rough and generally the mud so deep that the trip to town could seldom be made under three hours. Sarah was very industrious and by her hard labor was always able to have a supply of vegetables from her garden and good things to eat, with which her table was well supplied. Her spinning wheel always stood handy, so she could catch every moment to spin the flax into thread,
162 THE CURRENT FAMILY
and the wool into yarn to be woven into cloth, blankets and table linen. Often when Daniel was working in his blacksmith shop (in an old cabin adjoining the house) Sarah would make the beat- ing of the loom keep time with Daniel's hammer beats on the anvil. In the year 1863 the}7 moved to Redke}7 and he worked at his trade until Sept. 1864, he entered the service of his country, serv- ing eight months in Company K^ 21st Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was honorably discharged May 22, 1865. His health became so impaired while in the service that he never fully recovered. In the Spring of 1866 they went back on the farm and built them a new frame, four- room house, which in after years they enlarged and remodeled. Daniel built a large bank barn and improved the farm in everyway. They spent theii lives very pleasantly together.
On the 16th of May 1877 he was the victim of a
terrible runaway accident, carrying the marks of it on his face as long as he lived. His life was mer- cifully spared but no doubt that shock hastened his death.
On January 13, 1886, Sarah was stricken with paralysis and was ever afterwards an invalid,
THE CURRENT FAMILY 163
bearing her affliction without a murmur. The
memory of her beautiful Christian life will always be cherished by her children. A kind and affec- tionate mother, she was alwa3rs interested in the welfare and happiness of her children. She was ever a gentle and loving wife, and in her afflictions she showed her implicit confidence in her hus- band, in a child-like trust. He cared for her as tenderly as a mother would her babe. His de- votion to her during the seven }7ears of her afflic- tion was remarkable.
May 15, 1893, the fortieth anniversary of their marriage, the beloved wife was taken to Heaven; released from her suffering to await, the resurrection morning. The funeral services were conducted b}r her pastor, Rev. H. A. Davis, at the M. E. church in Redke}, and the remains laid to rest in Hill Crest cemeter}^.
Daniel and his son Preston were then left alone, and truly their horn e was a lonely one, without wife, mother or sister. It was hard for them to get a housekeeper and most of the time they had to do their own house work. They did the best they could until August 14, 1894, after a short courtship, Daniel married his wife's cousin, who
164 THE CURRENT FAMILY
had buried two husbands, having been a widow a long time. Her name was Nancy E. Current- Miller-Anderson. Her parents were William and Rebecca (Lake) Current. She was a faithful wife and made him a happy home in his declining- years. His cnildren loved and respected her, al- ways regarding her as a mother. Nancy was brought up by pious parents and was taught to reverence the house of God. In her childhood her parents had religious services in their home, con- ducted by the Primitive Baptists. She attended the first Sabbath school organized in Richland township, Jay county. She was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church in her thirty-seventh year and has lived a consistent Christian ever since. Together with the compan- ion of his old age, Daniel Bird, was regularly at the Sunday morning class and preaching service; though living three miles from the church, he of- ten went through inclement weather, leaving his testimony that his "face was heavenward." In re- ligion as in other things, he was strong and reso- lute. In his business he was honorable and suc- cessful and he lived to see his children well set- tled in life.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 165
On Friday, January 22, 1904, he complained of not feeling well; his wife telephoned in the evening for his children and for the doctor to come, but before either had reached the place, and while his wife was out of the house, doing her evening chores, the death angel came and his spirit took its flight, while he sat in his chair.
On the last Saturday of his life his pastor vis- ited him and he gave unmistakable evidence that the Church and Kingdom of Christ were on his heart When the pastor started he said, "Now, Brother Powell, do all the good you can, do all the good you cm!" At tiie last public service he attended he doubled his contribution for the spread of the gospel. He ended his march with the church militant on January 22, 1904, and joined the church triumphant after a probation of seven- ty two years and eight months. The funeral ser- vices were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Sherman Powell, assisted by former pastors, Rev. J. O. Bills and Rev. A. L. Forkner, and the remains were laid to rest beside the wife of his youth, in Hill Crest cemetery.
His wife and children amicably settled the es- tate, selling the farm, and she bought her a home
166 THE CURRENT FAMILY
in Albany, Indiana, where she now resides. Be- sides the seven children born to her while living with her first husband, Mrs. Nancy Bird has been a mother to eighteen step-children, each of her three husbands being a widower when she mar- ried him.
Mary A., and Harvey Bowen.
Mary Ann Bird, daughter of Daniel and Sarah E. Bird, was born December 27, 1853, in Henry county, Indiana, where she lived with her parents until they moved to a farm in Jay county in 1861, where little Mary went to school in a log house, one mile north of her father's home, always walk- ing except when the road was too bad, then her father would take her on a horse behind him, to the school house. When she was ten years old, her parents moved to Redkey(Mt. Vernon) where they had their home for three years. Here Mary went to school in a little frame school house on the ground now occupied by the large high school building. She went to Methodist meetings and Sunday school in this same school house. In one of the meetings she joined the M. E. church
THE CURRENT FAMILY 167
when about eleven years old. It was the first time the Lord ever impressed it on her heart that she was a sinner and that she needed the cleans- ing power of Jesus to save her soul, and she then began to pray for a clean heart. It was about three 3Tears afterwards that the Lord answered her prayers and spoke peace to her soul, at a meeting held in the new school house that had been built one mile north of her father's farm house, for they had again removed to the farm. \
It was through the influence of praying parents that she was brought to Christ early in life
On Januar}- 4, 1872, Mary A. Bird was united in marriage to Harvey Bowen, son of William and Rebecca Evans Bowen, of near Dunkirk, Indiana. They lived ver}^ happy together in the house with his parents, having bought a part of the old homestead, land entered by Harvey's father many years before.
They lived in the house with his parents as long as the latter lived and the relationship of the two families was always congenial, never having any harsh or unkind words.
On October 10, 1899, Harvey, too, was taken away and Mary had to give up her husband, the
168 THE CIRRENT FAMILY
first time that death entered her family circle. Harvey Bowen was converted in a camp-meeting at Albany, Indiana, in the fall of 1871 and lived a very devoted Christian life. He was a class lead- er in Kingsley M. E. church, when he died.
To them were born four sons and one daughter. The father lived to see three eldest sons convert- ed to Christ and when the daughter and young- est son ware old enough they gave their hearts to Jesus. In November 1895, Earl, the second son, was rabbit hunting and laid his gun against a log to stoop down and look for the rabbit, when he raised up he drew the gun towards him to start in a hurry, the gun went off, shooting his left arm so badly injuring it that it had to be amputated six inches below the shoulder. He entered the high school at Dunkirk in 1896 and graduated in 1900. In March 1902, having sold her land in Blackford county, near Dunkirk, Mary Bowen bought a farm in Jay county near where two brothers had previously purchased homes for themselves, and they are all comfortably situated close together on the Salamonia river. Though five miles from Pennville and six miles from Portland, the county seat, there have daily com-
THE CURRENT FAMILY 169
munication with the world by the free rural mail delivery and the telephone system. The children are all married now except Ra3T,the youngest son who is seventeen years old and living with his mother on the farm. The married children have all settled on farms in Current style around the parental home.
CHILDREN of HARVEY and MARY A. BOW EN.
Glenn Clifton, born October 21, 1876. Arthur Earl, born March 30, 1880. William Russell, born December 12, 1883. Orilla May, born October 23, 1886. Floyd Raymond, born August 9, 1888.
Glen C, son of Harvey and Mary A. Bowen, was married to Martha B. Snyder, December 5, 1896. She is the daughter of John and Sarah Sny- der, born October 17, 1877. Their children are: Cecil Gerald, born July 16, 1900. Herbert Floyd, born February 13, 1903. Lena Hazel, born October 8, 1905.
Arthur Earl Bowen and Settie Mymm were married October 21, 1904. She is the daughter of
r70 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Benjamin and Belle Mymm and was born May 9,
1886,
William Rttssel Bowen and Florence Rose Coons were married November 22, 1902. She was the daughter of Isaac and Phoebe Coons.
Orilla May Bowen and Charles Denny were married December 3, 1904. He was the son of Daniel W. and Hannah Denny, and was born De- cember 5, 1874.
ArtKvir and Minerva Bird.
Arthur Warren Bird, son of Daniel and Sarah E. Bird, was born in Jay county, Indiana, April, 1861. He was married October 22, 1881, to Min- erva Bowen, daughter of William and Rebecca Evans Bowen, at the home of her parents near Dunkirk, Indiana, by Rev. P. J. Albright.
Her brother, Harvey, had married Arthur's sister, Mary. After their marriage Arthur and Minerva Bird lived in the home of his parents until June 15, 1882, they moved into a home of their own. He had bought a small farm adjoin-
THE CLRRENT FAMILY 171
ing his father's. They lived there until February 22, 1899, they rented a farm in the same neighbor- hood, and lived there until October 21, 1900. He bought a farm in Green township, the same coun- ty, putting in as part pay, their little forty-eight acre farm. This farm lies on the Salamonie river and is very fertile, producing wonderful crops. Being well -watered it is a fine stock farm.
After moving to that place, the Friends church being within a quarter of a mile of their home, and no Methodist church near, their family joined the Friends church.
CHILDREN of ARTHUR and MINcSVA BIRD.
Harvey Lee, born August 11, 1882.
Charley Ned, born Jnne 4, 1884.
William Daniel, born January 14, 1886.
Sarah Ethel, bora September 27, 1887.
Trusie Gladys, born January 23,1890.
Ralph Homer, born March 15, 1892.
Lora Ma}r, born March 15, 1894; died September
25, 1895. Mary Rebecca, born October 16, 1895. Clara Grace, born October 11, 1897; died August
25, 1898.
172 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Teddy Roosevelt, born February 15, 1902.
Harvey Lee Bird was married to Ethel Gaskell December 24, 1905.
Trusie Gladys Bird was married to James Cas- tle, December 26, 1905.
The following lines were written by Arthur Bird's son, William D., the latter not thinking of their being used in this wa}':
Feeding The Five Thousand.
"Just as the day was then far spent
The disciples unto Jesns went, And said, 'this land is scant and dry,
While eating- time is far passed by;
Send them away that they go out Into the country around, about
And into the towns to buy them bread.' But Jesus answered them and said:
'Give ye them to eat,' but now they Unto Jesus, full of doubt, did say
'Shall we go out and buy them meat Two hundred pennyworth to eat?'
But Thomas told him of a lad
Who two small fishes and five loaves had.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 17^
For two or three, there would be plenty But what are they among so many?
But Jesus told them to sit down In small companies upon the ground. Then looking up to God in Heaven,
He blessed the food that had been giv'n.
Then broke the bread and passed it round, To the people sitting on the ground.
Likewise the fish were given too,
Till each his hunger did subdue.
Five thousand men that da3~ were fed
From two small fish and five loaves of bread.
And the disciples then obtained
Twelve baskets full that still remained."
WILLIE BIRD, DECEMBER 5, 1904.
, lirjnlBiir
!ta ]iffliir._alBiir._iii']'5iir jiffllnr jnfiir nffiir. .nffliir .lifinr. "W <VrW %'i"' 'J«KIF -W- Jl,»ir >%F W*W™»,r
r. s»fc -«Q«r. .nifllm — ^mypir
174
THE CURRENT FAMILY
Preston S. and Emma I. Bird. By PRESTON BIRD.
« *■■
Enm; I. Bird Harrold W. Helen N. Preston Bird
Preston S., the youngest child of Daniel and Sarah Bird, was born September 16, 1874, at the old Bird homestead in Knox township, Jay county Indiana, where his life, with the exception of one or two summers, was spent until his marriage.
When Preston was quite young he had vague ideas of the school room and dreaded for the time to come when he must start to school. The time soon came, and his parents started him down the road to school. He went part of the way, then laid
THE CURRENT FAMILY 175
down in the dirt, getting his clothing so soiled that he went home thinking he would get excus- ed, but his mother put clean clothes on him and his father went with him to the school house, tell- ing the teacher to keep him until time to dismiss for the day. After he got introduced to the school it was no trouble to keep him there. Preston soon learned to love the school room so that his parents would have found it harder to keep him away than it was to get him started. He was in school until he was eighteen years old, going seven terms in succession only missing two days in all that time and that was when his mother was first stricken with paralysis. He was a very mischievous lad in school but always learned his lessons. One winter while sitting in the school room, his seatmate (the seats were double) stuck Preston with a pin; Preston retaliated by striking the boy with his lead pencil, on the back of his hand; the lead broke off in the boy's hand and it became so sore that he had to miss school for sev- eral days. His hand healed with the lead in it and still remains, as a reminder of his school days. In the Spring of 1898, Preston went to Livingstone county, Illinois, to wrork on a farm
176 THE CURRENT FAMILY
but returned home in the Fall, remaining there until his marriage.
On December 22, 1900, he was married to Emma I. Hildreth, daughter of John H. and Elisabeth (Offiel) Hildreth, by Rev. Curtis Bechdolt, of Col- let, Ind. They settled in their own home March 7, 1901, on a small farm they bought near his brother Arthur and sister Mary, on the Salamonie river, in Green township, Jay county, where they have a lovely country hotne. Mail reaches them every day by rural route from Portland and they are connected by telephone with all the towns
around.
»
To Preston and Emma I. Bird have been given two precious children: Harrold Wiley, born September 3, 1901. Helen Naomi, born August 30, 1905.
At Home, March 1906.
Since the above was written, this happy home has been broken up by the death of the loved wife and mother. Emma I. Bird died June 19, 1906, af- ter a brief illness, with tuberculosis of the lungs. She was happy in the prospect of Heaven, saying just before death, that she saw Jesus. A. E. C.
THE CURRENT FAMILY
1/7
CHAPTER NINE.
ARAH MATILDA and W. J. HESSER
By W. J. HESSER.
Arah Matilda Current, daughter of Peter and
_ Rebecca Current \\; s born in Henry coui - ty, Indiana, August 14, 1836. She was converted and joined the Methodist Epis- copal church in her youth. After her brothers Samuel and Alfred moved to Jay county, she visited them and there met for the first time, William J. Hesser, who won her love and to whom she was married at her father's home, December 24, 1854. She lived with him a little over forty-five years, and died at their home near Plattsmouth, Neb- raska, April 1, 1900.
178
THE CURRENT FAMILY
'William J. Hesser.
I was born near Washington C. H., Fayette county, Ohio November 22, 1834. My father and moth- | er, Samuel and Elis- abeth (Caylor) Hes- ser, left that place in the Autumn of .1837, driving1 a team to - Jay county, Indiana, and settled on a farm which they owned till their death and which is now a part of Redkey. The last night of our journey we stayed at the home of my mother's brother, Samuel Caylor, nearly four miles south of the farm my father bought. There was no road and they had to cut a way through the timber, till we came to the camping place which my father selected just a little west of the big pond, where we camped beside a big oak log until father cut the trees and built a cabin to live in.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 179
Though only three years old there was indelibly impressed on my mind two incidents that occur- red on the journey; soon after leaving Sam Cay- lor's, while crossing Dinner Creek, the'horses got stalled in the deep mire, and I vividly remember seeing Uncle Sam's yellow dogrun around before the team while I was sitting in the front part of the wagon. Then, when we got to the Mitchell farm (later Father Current's), which adjoined my father's land, I remember that we stopped and got fire to take to our camp. They made a torch of splinters made of boards and carried to start a fire at the camp. That was before matches were invented, and when the fire went out they had to goto a neighbor's to get coals or a torch, or strike flint on steel to make sparks, with which to kin- dle a fire.
In 1847 my parents moved back to Ohio to live with Grandmother Caylor, but returned to their Indiana home in 1850, where I lived with my pa- rents until my marriage to Arah M. Current. Our first home was in the little village called Mt. Ver- non, later named Redkey. Three of our children were born at this place. In September 1863, we left Indiana for Nebraska, and arrived at brother
180 THE CURRENT FAMILY
S. B. Hobson's, November 1, 1863. We lived two years on his farm, then bought land, and moved into our own home near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where my wife finished her life work and where I remained until May 5, 1904. While living there I worked at my chosen occupation of florist and fruit grower. On leaving there I came to Califor- nia, the land of palms, flowers and fruits, where I expect to end my days on earth.
DESCENDANTS of W . J. and ARAH M. HESSER.
Mary Emily, born at Redkey ,Ind., June 25, 1857.
Samuel Clayton, born at Redkey, Ind., July 5,1860
Rebecca Elizabeth, born at Redkey, Ind;, Febru- ary 5,1863.
Orange Lincoln, born June 5, 1865, died January 4, 1866.
Edgar Lewis, born at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, January 28, 1869.
Lulu Elma, born July 20, 1872.
Flora May, born June 17, 1875, died December 27, 1879.
William Creighton, born October 30, 1879; un- married.
Harriet Inez, born July 31, 1882; unmarried.
THE CURRENT FAMILY j8[
Mary Emily and Robert Van Cleave.
Mary E. Hesser was married to Robert Van Cleave June 25, 1883. They had two children; William Roy, born June 27, 1887, died August 31,
1901. Robert Paul, born December 14, 1889, died April
17, 1893.
The father, Robert Van Cleave, died November 23, 1897. Thus in middle life, Mary Emma Van Cleave was, by death deprived of all her family, husband and sons, and left to face the battles of life alone. In 1904, with her brother Willie, she went to South Dakota, took up a land claim of 160 acres adjoining the claim her brother took, and is there, meeting her contract with the Gov- ernment to secure the title to it.
When they first settled there in the summer
of 1904, there were but two houses between their
claim and Fort Pierre, thirty miles away, and no
fences, while thousands of cattle and horses were
running the vast range, with no care at all except
at "rounding up" seasons. The free ranges will
soon all be fenced, by settlers. When the unbro- ken prairie becomes cultivated the land yields good crops of corn and small grain.
182 THE CURRENT FAMILY
Samuel Clayton and BertKa Hesser.
Samuel Clayton Hesser was married to Bertha Searle, September 1889. She was born in 1873.
They have had the following children: Clyde Elmer, born June, 21 1890. James Oscar, born September 8, 1892. Ora Edgar, born May 21, 1894. Fannie Emma, born February 21, 1896. Avis Rose, born October 14, 1897. William Matthias, born May 18, 1899. May Goldie,born Dec* 24, 1900; died June 20, 1902. Margaret Inez, born December 1902. Violet Matilda, born December, 5, 1904.
They live in western Nebraska.
Rebecca Elisabeth and John S. Gapen.
Rebecca Elisabeth Hesser was born at Redkey, Indiana, and when only a few months old, was taken b}^ her parents to Nebraska, near Platts- mouth, where she grew to womanhood and where April 15, 1891, she was married to John Samuel Gapen. They made their home at Geneva, Neb- raska until 1901, when they moved to Hyatville, Big Horn county, Wyoming, where they continue
c
X
-
X
THE CURRENT FAMILY 183
to reside. The}7 are very much elated on account of a new railroad which runs within twenty -five miles of them. Heretofore all freight, mail and passengers had to come over a ninety mile drive. This year they drove from their home to the Yel- lowstone Park for a five weeks' outing and a de- lightful one it was.
Mr. Gapen was born at Plattsmouth, March 2, 1858, and lived there until his marriage to "Li hbie" Hesser. They have two children: Loretta Rouene, born at Geneva, Neb., April 1,
1892. ' John Clarke, born at Geneva, January 25, 1894.
Edgar Lewis and Rose N. Hesser.
Edgar Lewis Hesser was married to Rose N. Wile}7, January 1, 1902. She was born at Platts- mouth, April 21, 1874. They were married at Rialto, San Bernardino county, California, where they have since resided. They have one child, a daughter, Arah Wiley, born October 12, 1902.
Lulu Elma and Albert CKurcHill.
Lulu Elma Hesser was married to Albert
184
THE CURRENT FAMILY
Churchill, May 3, 1892. He was born in 1868.
The}7 have two children: Melda, born March 6,1893. Wiltna, born July 15, 1897.
THE CURRENT FAMILY 185
CHAPTER TEN.
EMILY K. and JOHN C. NORRIS.
By EMILY E. NC^RIS.
Emily E., daughter of Peter and Rebecca Jones Current, was born June 26, 1842., in Henry count}r, Indiana. I went with my parents to Jay county, when I was fourteen years old, and there my childhood da}Ts were soon ended. From my earliest existence I was accustomed to religious influences and examples as my parents and all my brothers and sisters were Christians. With the family altar and public worship in my home, I was early in life led to join the M. E. Church, and give my heart to God As the years passed by there began a friendship between myself and a young man I first met in Jay county, and whose father's sister had married my father's brother and he had been given the name of his, and my uncle, John Current Norris. This friendship de- veloped into love and we were married March 4, 1858. John C. Norris was born in Virginia, June 14, 1837, the son of William and Hannah Norris.
186 THE CURRENT FAMILY
I was the youngest of my father's family, and, all my brothers and sisters having married and left the parental home, my parents desired my husband and I to live with them, which we did. In a few years two darling boys came to gladden the old home. We lived thus happily togetner, until in May 1866, my mother was suddenly trans- lated to her home above, making a change in the family circle. Still we remained with father, and a dear little daughter was added to the household band.
After mother's death, father wanted to dispose of all business cares and visit his children who had gone to live in the State of Nebraska; so in the beginning of the year 1869, he succeeded in selling his property and settling up his estate as he desired, and we, with our family, accompanied him to Nebraska, where we purchased a farm and established a home of our own, and father made his home with us. For nearly one year we lived together there, as described by E. R. Bird in Chapter One of this book. Then after thirteen years of married life, I first realized what it was to live without father or mother.
The years have rapidly come and gone, and
THE CURRENT FAMILY 187
other daughters and a son were given us until we had a large family of lively }Toung folks, with the nsual amount of romance that might be expected in such a famil}'; all ordinarily good and intelli- gent and most of them Christians, their mother dail}r pra}Ting that they may all seek the Lord and be saved. As yet the number has not been bro- ken by death. We now live at Altamont, Kansas. We have bought a farm of 240 acres, two and one half miles from Altamont. Our son, Burt, has charge of the farm. He and Irene are unmarried and live at home with us. We live in the Kansas gas belt and have natural gas to burn in town. We expect to have a new electric railroad finish- ed this }rear, which will go on one side of our farm. We have thirteen grand-children and we think some of them are unusually bright. Our children are scattered; four of them are in Nebraska, one is at Los Angeles, California, and one at Hia- watha, Kansas. We moved to Altamont in March, 1905.
*
188 THE CURRENT FAMILY
CHILDREN of JOHN C. and EMILY E. NORRIS.
Charles, born August, 9, 1859, in Indiana. Ellsworth H.,born August 7, 1861, in Indiana. Norma, born October 19, 1867, in Indiana. Edna, born June 4, 1871, in Nebraska. Ola, born December 31, 1873, in Nebraska. Stella, born February 7, 1877, in Nebraska. Burt, born February 26, 1880, in Nebraska. Irene, born August 4, 1883, in Nebraska.
Charles Norris married IdaLundy, Sept. 6,1893, at Plattsmouth, Neb. They have two children: Donald, born Oct. 7, 1894 and Leslie, born January, 19, 1897.
Ellsworth H. Norris married Anna Rose, Mar. 4, 1886. They have six children: Ray, Nellie Rose, John W., Fred P., Lois and Ernest.
Norma Norris was married to W. E. Howard, at Hiawatha, Kansas, January 5, 1902. They have t.vo children, John G. and W. Norris.
THE CURRENT FAMILY
189
Edna Norris was married to B. O. Tucker, at Nehawka, Nebraska, March 1, 1892. They have one child, Marion Norris, born April 5, 1895.
Ola Noris was married to C. D. Mcllnay, at Nehawka, Nebraska, May 30, 1899. They have two children, John Norris and Florence.
Stella Norris was married to L}fnn H. Patrick November 12, 1902, at Hiawatha, Kansas.
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PART SECOND
he Hobson Family.
-"W"«!liF W'^IF *HF J"!F WW '"IliU"1 '"Hill1"' '1"llill"rllIIIF
"Hobson's Choice, — A choice without an alter- native; the thing offered or nothing.
HP" It is said to have had its origin in the name of one Hobson, at Cambridge, England, who let horses, and required every customer to take, in his turn, the horse which stood next the stable door." — Webster's Dictionary.
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CHAPTER ONE.
ANCESTRY,
Three Hobson brothers emigrated from Eng- land to America, during the colonial times of pri- vation and danger. Their coming was previous to the year 1739, but the exact date is unknown.
In regard to the remote ancestry, I quote from A. W. and E. B. Hobson: "The Hobsons were of the old English Quaker stock. The family had its seat in Tuddington, Middlesex county, as earl}' as the thirteenth century. Their characteristic desires were for universal peace. Even the old family crest showed this peaceful tendency, it be- ing a heart, with a hand rising out of it, grasping an olive branch, rather than a sword.
"They avowed their belief in the simple ways and Christian faith of the Friends, or Quakers, when to declare such things, was to court punish- ment for witchcraft, by enduring the stocks, the
194 THE HOBSON FAMILY
whipping post or the loss of an ear, or an arm, yes, and sometimes suffering the penalty, of death. So much persecution did they endure for their religious freedom in England that they were led to nsigrate to America and endure the hard- ships of the new colonies. They escaped the per- secutions endured by Ann Austin and Mary Fish- er in Massachusetts, by settling in Surrey county, North Carolina and in Virginia."
George Hobson was one of these brothers. He and
his wife, Hannah, were born in England,
about the year 1715. After marriage they
emigrated to America and settled first in
Frederick county, Virginia. We have only
the name and record of one of their child- ren.
William Hobson, son of George and Hannah Hobson, was born in Virginia, March 7, 1739. His wife, Sarah Hobson, was born January 7, 1747, in Prince George county, Maryland. Her parents were Johnathan and Mary Williams. After their marriage they moved to Orange county, North Caro- lina, where their first five children were born; the remaining nine were born in
THE HOBSON FAMILY 195
Chatham county, the same State. Their names were:
William, born April 17, 1763.
John, born January 13, 1765.
Mary, born January 23, 1767.
Joseph, born December 10, 1768.
Samuel, born March 24, 1771.
Johnathan, born March 29, 1773.
Sarah, born Februar\T 20, 1774.
Hannah, born October 10. 1776; married William
Polk, March 30, 1809; died May 29, 1869. Elizabeth, born February 5, 1778. Martha, born December 20, 1779; married
Chamness.
Nathan, born June 19, 1782.
Deborah, born November 16, 1784; married
Pearson.
Rachel, born January 4, 1787; married Blair.
George, born August 19, 1790; married Sally Col- burn.
William, the first named above, died in Clinton county, Ohio, March 1, 1815. Sarah, the wife of William, died in Wilmington countjT, Ohio, April 29, 1815.
196 THE HOBSON FAMILY
William, their son, died in Chatham county, N. Carolina.
Joseph, their son, died in Henry county, Ind.
Mary died in North Carolina December 28, 1768.
Johnathan died in North Carolina, July 15,1774.
Sarah died in North Carolina.
This family record was registered in Cane Creek Meeting-house Book, page 28. Drawn off by James Polk, at N. Pearson's, in Indiana."
GEORGE HOBSON.
George, son of William and Sarah Hobson, was born August 19 1790. He was married to Sally Colburn, September 7, 1807, when he was eigh- teen days past seventeen years old. The circum- stances concerning their wedding journey are ds- scribed in Chapter Seven of thisPartof the book, also in the photogravure sketch by A. W. Hobson.
Sally Colburn Hobson was born in Chatham county, North Carolina, December 27, 1789. Her father was Revel Colburn, whose parents were of Scotch origin. Sally's mother was Margaret Polk Colburn, the daughter of William Polk, who
THE HOBSON FAMILY 197
served seven years as a captain in the Revolution- ary war.
In 1780, wnen he was sixteen years old, Revel Colburn volun- teered to go to the war, as a sub- stitute for a man who had been drafted He served in Captain Polk's company, and was promo- ted to the office of lieutenant. A friendship sprang up between the young man and his superior officer which led to the marriage of Lieutenant Colburn to Cap- rr. margaret poxk
COLBURN.
tain Polk's daughter, Margaret. (This profile was (The Polk ancestry is at the end drawn in 1832« b>r
James Polk, the Of this Chapter.) son of her brother
Revel Colburn was born Sept- ember 16, 1764, and died in Henry count}*, Ind- iana, February 24, 1844. Margaret was born Jan- uary 24, 1768 and died in Henry count}7, Novem- ber 26, 1837.
William Hobson's son and daughter, Joseph, and Martha Doan, had migrated to Ohio previous to the time of George and Sally's marriage, and they welcomed the weary travelers to their wil-
198 THE HOBSON FAMILY
derness home. Samuel, another son of William Hobson, instead of going West, went to Alabama, and he is theancestor of the Alabama Hobsons.
It is hard for later generations to comprehend how much privation and hardship the pioneers endured, in preparing this country for the civili- zation and luxuries of the present day. Knives and forks, iron utensils and everything they could not raise or manufacture, had to be brought on pack-horses across the Allegheny mountains, and were very expensive and even salt was a luxury. A writer describing that time and place says, "A cow and calf was the usual price for a bushel of salt, and it was measured with the utmost care, and every precaution taken to prevent the loss of a single grain." The following statements are reported to me by A. W. Hobson, in "Stories told by Mother, the Last Leaf on the Tree," Jemima D. Hobson, the only living member of her father's family at the present time: "One of our neighbors bought a quantity of coffee when it first came into their market, and they soaked the green coffee for half a day, like beans — and disappointed them- selves, as well as their guests, because the coffee was not palatable at dinner-time. My father was
THE HOBSON FAMILY 199
a man of high stature, measuring six feet, two and one-eighth inches high and was equally propor- tioned; he had to stoop as he entered the door of our home. Usually he weighed from 225 to 245 pounds; his eyes and hair were very black, but few gray hairs appearing up to the time of his death. He was pretty good-look- ing My mother's hair never turned gray, and her teeth were always pretty and white.
My father was a Quaker by birth-right, but on marrying a Methodist, according to their rules, he was dismissed from their fellowship. He finally drop- ped the Quaker style of conversa- tion and never afterward joined SALI/Y hobson. any church. It was a long time (This profile was
. r . . ... drawn in 18M2, by
before a church was organized in james p0ik) the new settlements and when a church society was formed, mother's health prevented her going out. I never heard him use any profane or bad language. His children all obe}red him at his first command intuitively perceiving his firmness of character. He was a hard-working man, saving
200 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
and careful, never financier enough to get weal- thy, leaving at his death about $400, to each of his children. He was greatly attached to his wife, whose health was very delicate for years. She died of fever in Missouri, November 11, 1845.
"After she died father grieved much and s; : on followed her to the grave, when but little past the prime of his life. He also died in Missouri, of fe- ver, on December 9, 1848."
This stalwart country man was possessed of the love for adventure, always wanting to press on further into the new. unsettled country. After living in Ohio about twelve years, he went to In- diana, stopping a short time in Wayne county, while the surveys of the boundaries of Henry county, were made, and then entered land and settled in Henry county, March 3, 1820. The coun- ty was organized the following year, and the county seat, New Castle, located on a site imme- diately joining their farm.
When they arrived at the place it was an unbro- ken forest, and for a few months their only neigh- bors were Indians Other settlers soon followed so rapidly that by the Autumn of the next year
THE HOBSON FAMILY 201
one hundred homes had been founded in the new county.
The Hobsons had come from North Carolina, a slave State, but being Friends they were strong in their sentiment against slavery, as were also nearly all the early settlers here, having come from North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia, and in later years the anti-slavery sentiment was so strong that this location became a line of the Un- derground Railway, along which the timid slave, fleeing from bondage, was guided by white friends to a land of freedom.
A description of the first dwellings, school- houses, stores, jail and court house, in New Cas- tle, is given in the sketches of Eliza J. Current. Jemima D. Hobson, Sarah Weatherman and in the letter of Margaret Furst, and in the poem of "Aunt Fannie," in this book, in their respective chapters.
George Hobson built their cabin on one of the beautiful mounds supposed to have been left there by the prehistoric "Mound Builders." La- ter, in 1828, he built a large two-story frame house, (see picture) with stone foundation and basement, on the side of one of these mounds and in making
202 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
the excavation for the basement they found a number of the relics of the ancient inhabitants; skeletons and implements of stone and fragments of pottery, to which they called the attention of scientific men, who examined the relics and also discovered many more. A Big Four Railroad switch track now runs within one hundred feet of the house, between the house and the old spring and an electric railroad is being built, (Septem- ber, 1906) which also runs close to the house.
In writing a letter to their friends they had to pay twenty-five cents postage and could either prepay or send and collect when delivered. They had no envelopes at that time but a sheet of the writing paper was folded and pasted together with a little wax seal.
George and Sally persuaded her parents to come west, and about the middle of August 1827, George started back to North Carolina, to bring them to Indiana, driving through with his horses hitched to a big canvas-covered wagon, returning Novem- ber 22, of that year, bringing Revel and Margaret Colburn, their daughter Mary, who, after her mother's death, married Zephaniah Leonard, and their grand-daughter, Frances Colburn ("Aunt
THE HOBSON FAMILY 203
Fannie"), who afterward married William, son of George and Sally Hobson.
Then for the first time since her wedding day, over twenty years before, Sally met her loved father and mother.
Revel and Margaret Colburn were well educa- ted and though advanced in years, he taught sev- eral terms of school after coming to Indiana. His wife was a ph}Tsician and went for miles round, on horseback, through forest and mud, to attend the sick. One of the pioneers' foes was malaria, caus- ing ague. A sovereign remed}7 for rheumatism, and oth^r diseases, was "Rock Oil," put up in small bottles. It was an oil that oozed through the fissures of the rocks, and was found floating on the surface of several springs , the petroleum of today, and it was a sign, unknown then, of the vast oil wells and natural gas which have been developed in recent years by their grand-children and others. (See oil well picture op. page 110.)
The Colburns were Methodists and lived devo- ted Christian lives. Before a church organization was effected, Sally Hobson became an invalid and she and her husband never a^ain united in membership with any church, bat they -oent the
204 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Sabbaths in singing hymns of faith such as:
"How happy every child of grace Who knows his sins forgiven;"
"Oh Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight;"
"Who suffers with their Master here Shall sure before His face appear,"
and other inspiring songs, over and over again, welled up from their hearts and helped to influ- ence the young of this home, and turn their hearts to God.
The children of George and Sally Hobson: William P., see Chapter II, Part Second. Revel C., born September 13, 1810; died January 20, 1819.
Polly B., born March 1, 1813; died March 8, 1813. Pale B.. born March 24, 1814; died April 11, 1815. Jose K . see Chapter III, Part Second. Margaret M., see Chapter IV, Part Second. Jemima D., see Chapter V, Part Second. Eliza J., see Chapter IV, Part First. James R., see Chapter VI, Part Second. George W., born August 12, 1828; died Nov. 1839. Sarah A., see Chapter VII, Part Second.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 205
THE POLft FAMILY.
(Ancestry of Sally, -wife of George Hobson.)
The family was Scotch and of those who early settled in the north of Ireland and constituted the people known as Scotch-Irish, Scotch in blood, Irish in locality.
There is a "Genealogical Tree of the Polk Fam- ily," copy-righted, "entered according to act of Congress in the year 1849, by T. B. McDowell in the clerk's office of the District of Tennessee," and is owned by Mrs. Annie Darbyshire, Sabina. Clinton county, Ohio. Her father, James Polk, the son of William and Hannah Polk, owned it before his death. This William was the brother of Dr. Margaret Polk Colburn, (see page 197) and their father William's name was on the 'Ti ee." It is a valuable work of art and contains all the names given below, to the children of the last- named William, wrho married Sabra Bradford.
Mrs. Darbyshire kindly sent me the "Tree" to cop3T the names and record for this history, and the genealogy and biographical sketches are all authentic.
206 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Robert PolK.
Robert Polk was born and married in Ireland; his wife was Magdalen Tusker, the widow of Col. Porter and heiress of Mowning Hill. Robert and Magdalen had eight children: John, William, Ephraim, James, Robert, Joseph, Margaret and Anne.
Robert and Magdalen Polk and their eight children, about the year 1660, set sail from County Donegal, Ireland, for America. They settled in the colony of Lord Baltimore, now Dames' Quar- tea, Somerset county, Maryland. All the sons married and from them have descended some men of historic note among them being Lieut. Gen. Leonidas Polk, Bishop of Louisiana; Gover- nor Charles Polk of Delaware; Governor Trusten Pblk of Missouri. Robert, the fifth son of Robert
and Magdalen, married a Miss Peale, sister of Charles Peale, the founder of Peales museum, and
Charles Peale Polk was a distinguished naval offi- cer in the French war and was mortally wounded on board his ship during a desperate engagement.
John PolK.
John Polk, son of Robert and Magdalen, first
THE HOBSON FAMILY 207
married Joanna Knox. Hie second wife was Jugr ga Hugg; he had two children, William and Nancy. Nancy married Edward Roberts, brother of Priscilla.
William PolK.
William Polk, son of John and Jugga, married Priscilla Roberts and they had eight children: William, Charles, Debora, Susan, Margaret, John, Ezekiel and Thomas.
William PolK.
William Polk, son of William and Priscilla, married Sabra Bradford. To them were born eleven children: Sally, born March 13, 1766; married Thomas Stur-
gis. Margaret, born January 24, 1768; married Revel
Colburn. (See page 197) Nathaniel, born May 15, 1770. No trace of him. Bridget, born June 3, 1772; married Thomas Clegg. James, born April 4, 1774; married Elisabeth
Hutchens. Jane, born April 5, 1776; no trace of her Robert, born June 3, 1778; never married.
208 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Marcha, born September 27, 1780; married John Fitchett.
Amelia, bord October 13, 1782; married George Harmon.
William, born July 5, 1784; married Hannah Hob- son, March 30, 1809. They had five sons an d two daughtersjames, William, Robert Nathaniel, John, Sarah and Martha Ann Bloom-McConnell.
John, born March 12, 1786; was drowned while bathing.
The children of Margaret and Revel Colburn were: John, Sally (Hobson), James, William, "Aunt" Rhoads, Sabra (Twiford), Jane (Webster), and Mary (Leonard). (These are all I know. A. E. C.)
John Colburn, son of Revel and Margaret, was an ordained local preacher in the M. E. Church; he married Elisabeth Pett}'. Their children were Jesse, Sally, William, Martha and Caroline. Car- oline married James Alfred Current. (See Part First, Chapter Five.)
Sally, daughter of Revel and Margaret Colburn
THE HOBSON FAMILY 209
married George Hobson; their record is in the first part of this chapter.
Between the years 1735 and 1740, the family of William and Priscilla Polk moved to North Caro- lina and settled on the banks of the Catawba river in the county of Mechlenburg. Here Andrew Jackson and his mother found protection with them when they fled from their home at the Wax- haw settlement as it was invaded by the British soldiery under Cornwallis. "Early in the Spring of 1775, the people of Mechlenburg county, heard of the atrocities the British soldiers were commit- ting in and around Boston. Public meetings were at once called to discuss these invasions of the public peace. By one of these meetings. Col. Thomas Polk was authorized to call a convention of the representatives of the people, to see what should be done about the troubles in Boston. He called the convention for the 19th of May, 1775, at Charlotte, the county-seat.
"At this meeting the announcement of the bat- tles of Lexington and Concord was made arc! occasioned great excitement. The spirit of re- sistance and independence was awakened. Reso-
2|0 THE HOBSON FAMILY
lutions were adopted and then read by Col. Polk
from the court house steps that we, the citizens
of Mechlen burg count}7, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the
mother country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that we do hereb}7 declare ourselves a free and inde- pendent people. They were all staunch patriots in the time of the Revolution."
From the spirit of this declaration — freedom and independence, William Polk never swerved, and at once entered the service of the Colonies and served as a captain seven years. His son William was a chaplain in the War of 1812, a reg- ularly ordained minister of the Free Will Baptist church and was agent for the Bible Society to dis- tribute the Word of God to the soldiers. Later Capt. William's descendants, Capt. William Polk Hpbson, George H. Hobson and George H. Cur- rent were active in the Union army of the Civil War.
The descendants of Ezekiel and Thomas lived in Tennessee and other Southern States and dur- ing the war were prominent in the Confederate army. But William and his descendants were
THE hOBSON FAMILY 2M
Whi^s and opposed to slavery, earnestly working
until the revolutionary and slavery questions
were settled and in the great civil(?) conflict now on hands, many of his descendants have taken a
stand against the liquor traffic that exposes them to the attacks of the friends of, and dealers in this great curse, but they have the inheritance of a brave and fearless spirit that makes them press on and work on, expecting God to give the vic- tory.
&:<£
212
THE HOBSON FAMILY
CHAPTER TWO.
WILLIAM and FANNY HOBSON,
AND THEIR ONLY SON,
CAPT. WILLIAM P. HOBSON.
By A .W. and E. B. HOBSON.
William Polk Hobson was the first child of George and Sally Hobson. He was born in Ohio March 3, 1809; married Frances A. Colburn, ("Aunt Fanny") on the 17th of November 1833 and died August 2, 1834.
I have heard my mother talk of him un- til I have pictured in my mind a tall, fair- sized man with dark eyes and black hair, much resembling his father in stature and FANNV DOWEIX
THE HOBSON FAMILY 213
appearance, a man with ncble traits of character. He must have been a lovable brother as I never heard her say one word that would indicate any- thing else. She must have loved WiHiam as a favorite brother since I have often heard her speak of the antics and tricks of the other child- ren but not of him. She also has always talked of William being obedient and kind to his mother and her most vivid description of him was in tell- ing us of their mother's dream concerning some hidden treasures of gold, in the mounds of the old Hobson homestead at New Castle:
"Three nights in succession your grand-moth- er Sally Hobson, dreamed there were pots of gold in the three old mounds upon our place," said Jemima Doan Hobson more times than I can re- member, to her children as we gathered about her knees, and we never tired of hearing th^ story over again, for you know we had never seen the place of her childhood.
"There were three mounds on my father's farm," she said, "which were built, it was sup- posed, by \he ancient mound builders. They were made of clay which they must have packed for more than a half mile away, as no clay of the
214 THE HOBSON FAMILY
same kind could be found any nearer. On the top of the largest mound, they had planted five trees in a position similar to the way you boys put down five marbles, in your game — four in a square, with your big bowler in the middle. That must have been hundreds of years ago, as the trees were very large when I was a little girl, and no one, not even the Indians of the country, ever knew or heard of the persons who built the mounds, except as the mounds themselves tell their tale.
"Your grandmother's dream, thrice repeated, that gold treasures were in those mounds, led my brother William to dig in them. He toiled in faith of his mother's dream, until great drops of sweat ran down his face. I can remember as well as if it were yesterday as we younger chil- dren sat around anxiously watching him."
"And did he find the pot of gold?" We always eagerly asked. "No, he did not. But I shall al- ways believe it is still there and can never think otherwise till I see the mounds fully explored."
Then seeing the disappointment in the faces of her children, she continued. "But he did find man}7 things. He dug up bones of human be-
THE HOBSON FAMILY ____1!^
ings, and ashes, as bright as the day they were put there, and birch bark, and many kinds ot Lne trinkets, we called them, bat they mast have been implements or some kind of religions emblems, or charms, buried with the dead. A small one, nearly the shape of a coffin, was tight- ly grasped bv the skeleton fingers of one dead sleeper, and a half sphere in the palm of another. ••When my mother, who was sick in bed, at the time of his excavations, found out that the mounds contained the remains of dead persons, and believing them to be burying grounds, she religiously forbade her son to dig any more. 1 could see the great disappointment on William s noble face, but he obeyed sweetly without a
murmur '
11 A 111 HA . ,
This ends my mother's story of our Captain s father. Some of the relics are still to be seen in the cabinet left, at the Captain's death, to his widow, Sally Hobson, who is still living (1906) at 503 East 11th Street, Pueblo, Colorado. Some specimens were sent by the Captain, to the Smithsonian Institute.
« I have frequently seen Aunt "Fannie" during my boyhood in Missouri, after her second mar-
216 THE HOBSON FAMILY
riage to Mr. Dowell. She was perhaps less than medium size, quick and agile, even in old age, ; !id had a kindly smile for ever3Tone; she had large deep blue, and mischievously pleasant eyes, (which do not show in the picture, the glowing light, that sparkled when she greeted us.) I was always glad when she came to visit at our house; her presence left upon my soul an everlasting blessing. She now lies buried beside her only child — the Capta n-in the Pueblo Cemetery.
CAPT. WILLIAM POLK HOBSON.
In Henr}7 County, Indiana, on the 16th da}T of September 1834, the heart of a young widow was made glad bj*- the birth of a son; and she named him for his father, William Polk Hobson. The father had died on the 2nd day of the month pre- ceeding the birth of his child. With his mother, Fannie Hobson, he remained for several years in the home of his grandfather, George Hobson, loved by all. He eagerry grasped every opportu- nity for education. As a man, he usually wore his hair long, and it hung in black clusters about his neck; which was the custom of his ancestors. With dark eyes and dark complexion, he had the
THE HOBSON FAMILY
217
intelligent face of a booklover; so pleasant of countenance and alwajs cheerful — not merry- hearted, but such sober
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cheerfulness, that you could not help loving this stalwart peaceful
man.
About twenty years after his father's death his mother was mar- ried again, to "Brad" D owe 11 and they moved to Andrew Co.,
Missouri, to live, and there on September 23rd 1855, William P. Hobson was married to Sarah Serena Hail.
Coming from sturdy Quaker stock, opposed to war and loving peace, at all times calm — Yet, we find him responding to his country's call in the ^rreat Civil conflict, where he made himself busy, verjT busy, as an enlisting officer. He raised a
company of men and was given the rank of Cap- tain. Their services, I believe, were proffered to
218 THE HOBSON FAMILY
the governor of the State of Missouri, and intend- ed at first to be used as state militiamen; but af- terwards if memory serves me right — enlisted as a whole in the United States service.
The Captain resigned his commission when the company left the State service, and busied him- self again as a recruiting officer enlisting more men. He had been instrumental in placing, at the earliest call, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, in the fore-front of his coun- try's defense. I look at the man himself — he of the Quaker descent — every outline of his figure a nobleman, every lineament of his face brave and peaceful. How could such a nature glor}^in war? I would that the nature of every man on earth should make him — not afraid, but ashamed to go out and shoot down his brother man in war, and manly enough to adjust all differences under the banner of love. After the war, (Oh, how I long for that universal after — forever after,) the Cap- tain was elected treasurer of Andrew County. He had a splendid education and wThen young he followed the profession of teaching. He had taken special couree in civil engineering and in architecture, and he preferred this work to
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THE HO BSON FAMILY 219
teaching. He superintended the work of build- ing the County court house of Andrew County, Missouri. Along early in the "seventies," he moved to Kansas, near Wichita. Here his heart was almost broken beyond recovery, b}T the death of his first child, and daughter, "Fannie," in whom he took great delight, and had exceedingly high hopes for her future as a talented musician. I seldom heard him speak of her afterwards with- out tears in his e}res. You will not wonder at this, when you look upon her beautiful face as shown in the memorial picture, arranged by my- self for this book, for the love I bear my cousin, and childhood's merry playmate. After they went to Kansas we corresponded. One night I dreamed that I got a long delayed answer to my last letter, but, on getting it into my hands it ap- peared to become a box, which, on opening, I saw contained nothing save a large black plume. On awaking, I said to my wife, "something must be the matter with cousin Fannie — she don't write". Then after a while we heard that she was dead. Her death had taken place at the time of my dream. On earth she was an angel to me, and I think of her as still wratching lovingly over me.
220 THE HOBSON FAMILY
After his daughter's death the Captain's pros- pects "looked bleak"; and he soon removed to Pueblo, Colorado. There he engaged in archi- tectural and civil engineering work. Many build- ings in the city are built after his plans. I will only mention the one owned by my brother on the corner of Third Street and Santa Fe Avenue, and bearing the name "Hobson Block." The irrigating ditches, by which the country round about was first developed, show his skill in sur- veying and civil engineering, note: (The beautiful
cemeter}' at Red Key, Indiana, as described in Oscar J. Current's sketch, was another of his tasteful and accurate works of civil engineering-. A. E. C.)
In giving his obituary, the Pueblo Daily Chief- tain said: "Hundreds of acres of land were made susceptible of cultivation, by the building of the ditch, which was taken out of the Fountain. Several other large ditches were built by him in the Arkansas Valley, and a number of reservoirs projected. Captain Hobson had a plan for open- ing up the arid land, which, if it had been carried out, would have been worth millions to the state. During the real estate excitement in 1889, he took active part, and his lands east of the city were put on the market as an addition (to Pueblo,)
THE HOBSON FAMILY 221
and the Fountain Lake Hotel built, in the center of the addition of that name."
But the panic of 1893 spread a pall over the growth of the city, and blighted the hopes of many an anxious projector, and the same blight- ing influences still hover over the city, giving it the appearance of a monumental task on which the builders had ceaeed to work — a city whose ex- tentions, resemble ancient ruins. But the Cap- tain heeds them not. He sleeps in the cemetery in the midst of their desolation. While his sur- viving widow in her old age, must spend the remainder of her days in the lonely cottage, al- most hid away among the flowers and shrubbery, on the bank of the Fountain Qui Bouille. He was a member of the Upton Post, G. A. R., which con- ducted the funeral in militar3T style. I shall never forget the bugle's blast, as, in the hands of a colored man, it wrent skyward, announcing the readiness of another comrade to fall into line, in that grand army gone before. Appropriate, in- deed, that one whom he helped to set free, should sound for him heaven's reveille.
222 THE HOBSON FAMILY
BirtKday Ode.
Copy of a Birthday Rhyme from the NEWCASTLE Courier of
November 22, 1877. By Fannie A. Dowell, (age 67) to Aunt Mary Leonard, (age 75).
" Aunt Mar}', dear, had I been witty
I would have written some rhyme or ditty; As I was not and rae.raory gone
The thing- will be but poorly done.
As senses stop, grammar's all I lack.
But don:t abuse me to my back. If editors, preachers and law}ers vvereaway
I'm sure I could have done better today.
It's the first thing of the kind I ever did do,
But one thing I know it's all very true; But no matter now, here goes off-hand,
This crowd's smart, they understand.
In 1802, so the records say,
A tiny babe in your bed you la}*; It has been years, three score fiftee i, And many changes you have seen. As infancy passed and children came
And you had been called Mary b}* name To do the errands you often went,
Obedient child by your parents sent.
As you got up a little older,
You took more work upon your shoul- der, You cooked, swept and scrubbed the table Before the people thought that you were able.
Still as some further on you went
You to more work than play was bent. You would fill the quills and feed the dogs.
And fix the slop and feed the hogs,
THE HOBSON FAMILY 223
When work was done in Southern clime? For play you would run to the tall old pines, Or with brothers a id sisters, in childish glee Romp in the 3-ard under the walnut tree.
Among all your good there was some bad,
For }'ou would pout when you got mad. One morning when you to milk did go
One cow was more trouble than the rest 5rou know;
She ran and ran and then would walk
And when you came back you could hardly talk, And when your mother did ask the cause
Of all your grief against her laws,
'Twas then you rose in your girlish pride, Said it was not a cow but a devil in her hide.
Now come, Aunt Mary, don't deny, I know it's true, for [ was by.
The Southern cotton j*ou carded and spun,
From morn till night the wheel you run Then next in order came the loom
Which then did set in the kitchen room.
Well I know it was in the month of May,
"Strawberries got ripe" as the boys did say And then we were dispoed for fun
And after the fruit we'd often run.
I'd rush the wheel and you the loom,
That for such sport we might have room And when all the boj-s and girls got thro'
We'd gather the buckets and baskets too.
2^4
THE HOBSON FAMILY
Away through the old sedge fields we'd go To gather the musquidines, you know
Down on the river in the old canoe
And to keep them from falling in the
water blue.
The boys would climb to shake them off, And we would hold the table cloth.
Wild plums and grapes we'd gather, too, Now you recollect it, I know you do.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 225
There's one more joke 1 must tell
I know ynu remember it very well Amonir your beaux one was not very wise,
And that's not all, he had cross eyes.
He wanted 3'ou, but he was lazy
Ycu didn't want him and he went crazy, This is so bad, 3-ou just hush
I'll nottell names, so don't you blush, For better things I'll tell of you.
You were a girl both good and true; 1 o the church you went, to the old camp- ground, \\ here all the people gathered round.
In about twenty-five years you gave your name To the church, and there its been the same. In different climes this way you've tried, Yet with it still 3'ou're satisfied.
In this busy world there's little rest,
And in 1827 3-ou started West, Twenty-second November in that same year
Through both hardships and sport we landed here.
And I can tell, it will do no harm,
We landed down here on the Hobson
farm. If 3^011'H exercise patience and not run me
down I'll tell a little story of this very town.
•Twas laid out in '22, as I've been told,
Of course that makes it 55 years old. Some fifty 3-ears ago this very month,
A little town it was, I know 'tis the truth.
A little log court house stood up in town And a little log jail but it burned down.
I know the stra3T pen close in sight,
In and around it was many a fight.
226 THE HOBSON FAMILY
The first little jury the court pent down
Sat on a log heap in the west end of town There was one fine house, Crawford's little brick. A few little cabins with chimneys made of stick.
One little tavern, it was made of log,
And travelers could have plenty of grog
A little tiny house by Bedsaul owned,
And a few little gardens by the women sown.
A little city tanyard with two or three vats, With it a cabin to live in and a home for bats. One little store room and it was very frail And to make it strong the door was filled with nails.
Dry goods, drugs and hardware were kept on the shelf. Gentlemen and ladies there got dress for themselves. There were few sidewalks but they were paved with mud, And oh, they were deep when there was a flood. And as for the streets, I've seen wagons mired down Justin the public Square when people gathered rouud. Few little cows sick milk gave
And many a poor fellow was laid in his grave.
Our dear old Dr. Reed was the first one here Through swamps, rains and storms he went without fear, He had hard work and exposure and his liv ing wasn't large, Not like our Drs. now for they make it by the charge.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 227
A good girl at the tavern got 6 cents a da}r
Provided she was smart and didn't stop
to pi a j'
And when she went to bii3T a dress, 37c a 3d.
She had to give for calico, and that was
ver}* hard.
In 1835 if I can make a guess
The first newspaper started here made by a little press, And Sweaz3r was the editor, and "Banner" was its name, Tho' Grubbs claimed in his writing, the first newspaper fame.
I'll now resume 1113' narrative, tell" of your mother dear; She's buried on the Hobson farm where you did oft repair; A woman of such intellect you could hard- ly find. She went about doing good to both bod3r and mind. (This was Margaret Colburn)
When near three score years, to see the sick upon a horse she'd leap, And go with almost car speed, tho' the mud was deep; Like Dr. Reed she lived slow, never made much charge But when she came to die, her treasure it was large,
Laid up in heaven where it did not rust,
Because in the Lord she put her trust.
In 1837 she left all to dwell above in heaven with Christ so dear, And conscious to the last she closed her eyes And went to dwell in Paradise.
228 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Almost a broken heart and spirit you had,
To do without mother you felt so bad; But she was happier far than me or you,
By what she'd often said, you know this
is true.
To Uncle Zeph in marriage you then soon
gave your hand
Moved over the river onto his land;
You took your dear old father along with
you there,
And still he kept up his daily prayer,
(This was Revel Colburn)
Until in 1844, I think it was, he died,
Left you all things here below, Picked his own text, went happy, too,
To meet his friends in worlds so new.
As time progressed, a dear little boy
Did crown your hopes and life with joy.
In 1845, I think it was, he came
You chose Marvin for him a given name
You were oft amused with his funny prattle
As he played at your feet, made a noise with his rattle; But, oh, the dreadful eve, you know,
When he reached up for the tomato;
The cruel sud9 did scald him bad
Which caused your heart to be so sad.
I helped you watch him that last night Before he died and took his flight.
His patience it did far excel
Older ones with much less need, And just before he closed his eyes
Looked up and said, "Mother, I must die."
And so it was in an hour, not more,
His spirit had joined those gone before, And a sorrowful time you had 'tis true, For Uncle was visiting away from you.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 229
Weeks passed on, at length he came,
But, oh, the grief he felt and pain There was no little boy to meet him now,
No sweet little lips to kiss his brow.
Then in 1851, so sick was he,
His friends all thought it cculd not be
That he could stay much longer here, But to meet death, he did not fear.
In the course of time you broke up there,
And moved to town to live right here, The children one and all together,
Have gathered round you as their mother.
As children they do feel to yon
And now Aunt Mar3r, is this true?
If it is not, then I don't know,
As for their good you always do.
Now Aunt Mary please look here,
Here's different things from friends that's dear; They've all joined and thrown together,
Calicoes, muslins, silk, lace and leather,
Fowls, meats, cakes, fruits, now feast your eye? These have been brought for }'our sur- prise; But best of all this book Divine,
Within its lids are things sublime.
Which you can read and understand
To guide you to that better land. If none of you will tell of this poor rhyme
When I do the like again, it will be the next time.
If you will excuse me, I shall be the winner, Now I'll just stop here and we'll all go to dinner.
230 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Mary Leonard was sister to Sarah Hobson, mother of Eliza J. Current. Their mother was a doctor and her name was Margaret Colburn. Fannie A. Dowell was niece to Mary Leonard and her first marriage was to William Hobson, brother of Kliza J. Current; he died and she married Mr. Dowell. She was brought up in her grandmother's home with Mary Leonard.
The preceding 'ode' was copied in 1904 because the paper in which it was printed was falling to pieces. A. E. C.
The following is the family record arranged from the bible of Captain William Polk Hobson, deceased.
William Polk Hobson, born in Henry County, Indiana, September 16, 1834; married Sarah Serena Hail in Andrew County, Missouri, September 23, 1855; died in Pueblo, Colo- rado, May 23, 1895.
Sarah Serena Hail, born in Pulaska County, Ken- tucky, March 2, 1834; married William Polk Hobson as above, still living at No. 503 East 11th street, Pueblo, Colorado.
To them were born the following children: "(Fannie") Frances Jane Hobson, born in Sa-
THE HOBSON FAMILY 231
vannah, Missouri, May 7, 1857; died near Wichita, Kansas, October 16, 1877; was un- married, but the nuptial day was set.
Joseph Alexander Hobson, born in Savannah, Missouri, July 28, 1859; married Amanda Cummings, still living at Hutchinson, Kan- sas, and has two daughters; Sarah Margaret ("Maggie") and Ella.
Milton Perry Hobson, born in Savannah, Mis- souri, February 6, 1861; married Jane Wil- son, still living at Cripple Creek, Colorado, and has six children, viz: Mary Francis ("Fanny") who is married to James Gard- ner. Her husband is a fireman on the suburban railway between Victor and Crip- ple Creek, Colorado — the latter place being their home; Walter Scott John, Fred, Myrtle Hazel and Charles, who died as a soldier in the Philippine Islands; belonged to com- pany K 34th regiment, Colorado Volunteer Infantry. His death was unknown to his parents until the day they were notified to receive his body which was returned to Cripple Creek for burial.
Eliza Doan Hobson (called "Lida") was born in
232 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Savannah, Missouri, January 5 1863; mar- ried William Schaller, who has been a noted engineer on the Colorado & Southern Railway, for years — still living at William Street, Denver, Colorado. She has one daughter, Sarah-Elenore ("Nellie"); recent- ly married. Sherman Matte Hobson, born in Savannah, Mis- souri, September 5, 1864; married Philo- mena Clee, still living at his mother's home in Pueblo.
William Henry Hobson, born in Savannah, Mis- souri, June 9, 1866; married Carrie Brewer, still living at Wichita, Kansas, has four children — one dead, three living. The liv- ing are Bessie, Otis and Sadie.
Charles Harrison and Eddie Adolphus Hobson, twins, born at Savannah, Missouri, May 8, 1871. Charles died March 8, 1879. Eddie married Lucinda Ann England, still living at Undercliff, Colorado. The names of his four children are Stella Willie-Earl, Mary and Eliza Doan.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 233
CHAPTER THREE.
JOSE tt. and CATHARINE: HOBSON.
By THeir Grandson. A. E. SUTTON.
Jose K., son of George and Sally Hobson, was born February 18, 1816. He was married to Catharine Gochnauer, October 1, 1837, at New Castle, Indiana. A year or two later he pur- chased a farm in Blackford county, Indiana; where they made their home until the year 1870; he sold this farm and bought a piece of ground near the city of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; there he and his wife spent the remaining years of their lives.
In 1851, Jose K. Hobson received the com- mission from Governor Wright to act as sheriff of Blackford county. In this official capacity he served the people with entire satisfaction, and credit to himself; at all times keeping in mind that "honesty is the best policy". Honesty being a feature that marked the entire life of this re- spected pioneer.
234 THE HOBSON FAMILY
He died August 24, 1878, and his remains were laid to rest in the Gochnauer cemetery in Black- ford county, Indiana, where the bodies of many of our family relatives await the resurrection.
Catharine Gochnauer, daughter of Samuel and Catharine Gochnauer, was born in the Shenan- doah Valley, Virginia, June 4, 1820, and at the age of seventeen years, she was married to Jose K. Hobson. She was of German parentage and learned the German language in her infancy. This esteemed woman was possessed of great vitality and never ceased to labor, until about a year previous to her death, she met with an acci- dent while at work in the home, which caused the fracture of the femur bone; ihen she became a helpless invalid, suffering much pain for weary months. But she was tenderly nursed, and pa- tiently waited, until she was called to the home where sorrow and pain never enter. She died at her home near Ft. Wayne, December 28, 1902.
When Lafayette was married, he with his wife lived in the home with his widowed mother, and his youngest brother Walter, who had remained unmarried. To this young couple were born three sons and two daughters; one son and one
THE HOBSON FAMILY 235
daughter died in infancy; the remaining three made the old home cheerful and bright with chil- dren's merry games and happy faces. But their young mother soon died, and the grandmother once more had a mother's place to fill. When she met with her accident these children were old enough to repay in loving care, her kindness to them; and "Lafe" and Walter spared no pains in providing the things necessary for their mother's comfort in her affliction.
CHILDREN of JOSE K amd CATHARINE HOBSON.
Benjamin F., born December 10, 1838; died Janu- ary 10, 1839.
Sarah Catharine, born July 4, 1840. James Perry, born September 23, 1843. Margaret Ann, born October 1, 1846. Jacob Elijah, born August 25, 1849. George Lafayette, born April 6, 1852. Walter March, born December 27, 1854.
SaraK Catharine and Daniel Sutton.
Sarah C, daughter of Jose K. and Catharine Hobson, was born in Blackford count}', and was
236 THE HOBSON FAMILY
married to Daniel Sutton, December 4, 1856. Daniel Sutton was born in Green count}', Ohio, August 20, 1835. When he was about two years old, his parents moved with their family to Dun- kirk (then called Quincy) Indiana. At this place Daniel spent the remainder of his life. His father, Isaiah Sutton, was a local preacher in the M. E. Church and Daniel at the age of eleven years, became a Ciiri-tian uniting with the church; and, until his death which occurred June 20, 1875, he was a zealous worker in the cause of Christ. After his death Sarah Catharine kept her children together in her home until the}' were married; then she lived wTith her second son Albert, near Hartford City, Indiana, until April 27, 1898, she died at his home, after a short illness with pneumonia.
The children of Daniel and Sarah C. Sutton are as follows: Arthur E., Albert E., Nellie A., Jose S. Adda, A. R., Eliza C, Minnie M., born December 25, 1873; died June 2, 1879.
Arthur E.. and Anna Eva Svitton.
Arthur E., the eldest son of Daniel and Sarah
THE HOBS ON FAMILY 237
C. Sutton, was born in Dunkirk, Jay county, Indi- ana, December 11, 1858. In the fall of the year- 1875, his mother sold their farm near Dunkirk and bought another in Blackford county, a few miles from Hartford City. Here Arthur worked on the farm and attended the public school until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began to teach in the public schools of the county; he also studied for a few terms in the M. E. College, which was then located at Ft. Wayne. He fol- lowed the profession of teaching for ten years. In the meantime he was married to Anna Eva Schmidt, September 3, 1885. He took a position as assistant agent for the P. C. C. & St. L. rail- road company at Hartford City, and remained in this service eight years. He then bought a gen- eral store and moved to Matthews, Indiana, where he now has a thriving business. He is a Justice of the Peace and Councilman for the Third ward in that city.
Anna Eva Schmidt Sutton, was born in Hamil- ton county, Indiana, October 17, 1862, and went with her parents to Blackford county, the eame state, when she was about three years old. Her parents were born in the German Empire and
238 THE HOBSON FAMILY
never acquired the use of the English language to any extent. Eva naturally acquired the use of the German language and the thrifty habits com- mon to the Germanic race. The home of Arthur E. and Anna Eva Sutton is a happ3T one; and to this day there has never been a cross word spoken by either of them, to the other. Their children are: Jacob Albert, born May 12, 1886; died March 30, 1891. Nellie Gertrude, born No- vember 19, 1887. Minnie Emma, and Mabel Ella — twins, born February 2, 1889; Mabel E. died August 6, 1889. Maggie Catharine, born January 22, 1893; died December 10, 1894. Chauncy Myron, born October 21, 1894; died April 9, 1895. Only three of these children are now living, Nellie Gertrude, Minnie Emma and Nettie Mildred. Thev are graduates and all have a tal- ent for music and are making excellent progress in that study.
-Albert H. and Leora Sxitton. Albert E., son of Daniel and Sarah C. Sutton, was born at Dunkirk, Jay county, Indiana, May 25, 1862; married Leora E. Burnsworth, Novem- ber 16, 1887. She was born in Randolph count)'.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 239
Indiana, August 19, 1866. Immediate!}- after their marriage the}7 moved on his mother's farm in Blackford county, where they still reside. The children of Albert and Leora Sutton are as follows:
Jose A., born August 30, 1888; Clara A., born January 19, 1890; Arthur R., born October 31, 1891; Fred A., born March 8, 1894; Hober J. and Hilda E.— twins, born July 4, 1896; Hilda E. died February 7, 1897. Walter J., born February 12, 1899; died May 9, 1906. William E., born Decem- ber 19. 1900; Clarence E.. born February 23, 1903
Nellie A. Walling Worley Nellie Armina, daughter of Daniel and Sarah C. Sutton, was born September 11, 1864; married Walling Worley of Ohio. December 30, 1884. He was born August 23, 1851. The children of Wall- ing and Nellie A. Worley are as follows:
Maurice S., born October 20, 1889; Marion Daniel, born June 10, 1895; Paul Max, born May 16, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Worley are thrifty farm- ers and reside near Hartford City, Indiana.
240 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Jose S. and A.nna Svitton.
Jose S., son of Daniel and Sarah C. Sutton, was born January 29, 1867; married Annie Johnson, September 6, 1888. Jose was employed as a con- ductor on the P. C. C. & St. L. railroad, running trains between Bradford Junction, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, and was killed in a railroad ac- cident at Brighton Park, Illinois, June 22, 1893. His wife was born September 2, 1869. They were the parents of two children, Georgia V., born Au- gust 31, 1889; died December 26, 1891. Herschel L., born July 26, 1891.
Anna Sutton, widow of Jose S., was married November 17, 1900, to Dr. C. F. Dawson. They now reside at Tyner, Indiana, where the doctor has a large practice.
Ada V\. R. and Harry Shawhan.
Ada A. R., daughter of Daniel and Sarah C. Sutton, was born March 31, 1869; married Harry Shawhan of Ft. Ancient, Ohio, December 27, 1888. Their children are as follows:
Georgia Armina, born February 16, 1890; Clifford Harrold, born March 31, 1892; Ralph
THE HOBSON FAMILY 241
Allen, born May 3, 1896; Cecil Edward, born April 17. 1899; Ruby Catharine, born October 8. 1903. The two eldest were born at Ft. Ancient, Ohio; the other three at Hartford City. Mr. and Mrs. Shawhan live on a farm near Hartford City. They are greatly interested in the education of their children. Georgia graduated in the common school at the age of fifteen.
E4iza C and MicHael ScHafer.
Eliza C, daughter of Daniel and Sarah C. Sut- ton, was born October 8. 1871; married Michael Schafer, June 29, 1893. He was born at Columbus, Ohio, September 6, 1871. To this union was born one child, Everett Victor, born April 12, 1894, at Hartford City, Indiana. Michael Schafer is a window glass worker.
James Perry Hobson and Descendants.
James Perry, son of Jose K. and Catharine Hobson was born September 23, 1843. He served in the civil war in Company J., 138 Regiment, In- diana Volunteer Infantry. He was married in 1866 to Minerva ' Baldwin. To this union was
242 THE HOBSON FAMILY
born one child, Nettie. She was born at Mont- pelier, Indiana, December 22, 1868; married at New Castle, Indiana, to Charles Luther Swingly, April 9, 1890. They have had one child. Clarence Dana, born at Hartford City, September 9, 1896.
James Perry Hobson was married to Julia A. Morgan, his second wife, April 9, 1880. To them were born four children— three sons and one daughter. James Perry died at his home near Hartford City, May 16, 1888, from a complication of diseases contracted in the service of the United States during the Civil War. It was said of him that he was strictly honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow-men.
The children of James Perry and Julia Hobson are as follows:
Sindey Rolland, born January 22, 1881, married Rachel Starr, October 15, 1904. They had one, child born November 14, 1905, and died two days later. Oscar Clementine, born September 23, 1882, still unmarried. Perry Albert, born Febu- ary 9, 1885; married Bell Maitlen, August 17, 1904; to them one child is born, Leroy. Myrtle Bell, was born September 23, 1887; married Ralph Crawford July 1, 1905. They have one child, Mildred.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 243
Marg'aret Ann and Abel Baldwin.
Margaret Ann, daughter of Jose K. and Catha- rine Hobson, was born October 1, 1846; married Abel Baldwin June 20, 1863. She died January 24, 1880. Abel Baldwin was born December 2, 1840. He rendered good service to his country during the Rebellion. His great physical strength and bravery carried him through many conflicts, where many others would have given up and fallen.
The children of Abel and Margaret Baldwin are as follows:
Lindley Jose, born October 2, 1864; Mary Ester, in 1865, died at the age of six months. Georgiana Ernistine, born October 13, 1867; Chauncy Jerome, born in 1869; Frederick G., born in 1871 died at the age of one year. Lawrence, born March 23, 1874. He served in the Cuban and Philippine war, with credit to his country and himself. Thomas Austin, born July 23, 1877.
Two years after his wife's death Abel Baldwin was married to Miss Alice Taylor on May 18, 1882. She was born April 25, 1862, and died July
244 THE HOBSON FAMILY
1, 1894. To Abel and Alice Baldwin were born four children:
Elmina Jessica, born October 13, 1883; Amy Rowena, born May 16, 1886; Bernice Gertrude, born November 2, 1889; John Maurice, born June 30, 1892.
Jacob E.. and Harriet Hobson. Jacob E.. son of Jose K. and Catharine Hobson was born August 25, 1849. He was united in marriage to Harriet Amelia May, August 25, 1872. She was born June 16, 1852. To Jacob and Hattie were born five children: Rosalie, born June 28, 1873; Jose K., born March 24, 1877; Jacob Elijah, born February 24, 1879; Edward Arthur, born December 8, 1881; Oscar James, born October 3, 1885.
Rosalie Hobson, daughter of Jacob and Hattie, was married to Oliver James McNally, Novem- ber 27, 1889. He was born April 2, 1869, and died September 27, 1903. Their children are as follows:
William Roy, born June 13, 1891; died August 5, 1893. Blanch Esther, born September 20, 1873;
THE HOBSON FAMILY 245
Harry Loyd, born May 17, 8897; Oscar James, born September 5, 1900; Ruth Roealie, born Octo- ber 4, 1902.
G. Lafayette and M. Anna Hobson.
George Lafayette, fourth son of Jose K. and Catharine Hobson, was born April 6, 1852. He was married to Mahala Anna Mills, May 3, 1880. She was born June 15, 1854; died February 29, 1892. Their living children are as follows:
William Arthur, born August 27, 1882; Edith Agnes, born March 18, 1884; Eli Bluford, born May 6, 1886.
Lafayette and his brother Walter, have been for several years, engaged in dairy farming, near Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Matthews, Ind., July 20, 1906.
&>:<£
246 THE HOBSON FAMILY
CHAPTER FOUR.
MARGARET and EMANUEL FURST.
Margaret McCoy Hobson was born in Clinton county, Ohio, January 24, 1818. She was of a lov- ing disposition, religious and gentle and kind — this much I can remember of hearing ray mother tell; but her death occurred before I was born, and there is little of her history that I have been able to get; therefore it is impossible for me to write her life sketch as it should be done. Her son has given me the family record and the let- ter which she wrote to her cousin so many years ago, which is all he could furnish me. She died before he was six years old. He can remember very little of her and did not have much of her possessions saved for him.
We see by the record that Margaret was born while her parents were yet young. Two of their children died before her birth, and one when she was a year old. Considering the condition of the
THE HOBSON FAMILY 247
country, and the hardships they had to endure, it is certain that there were opportunities for the kind offices of neighbors and friends.
From Aunt Jemima I get the following account of how her parents came to give this child the name — Margaret McCo}7:
"I must express my father's gratitude, and tny own appreciation of the kindness to us all, of one lad}\ an old neighbor — Mrs. Margaret McCoy. My father gave my sister her full name, in mem- ory of the help this lady gave him, when he was in straitened circumstances, and she was so kind and helpful. Our grandmother was also named Margaret and shared in the honor". Margaret's son, Thomas Furst, has a letter that his mother wrote Nathaniel Polk before she was married. It is folded in the old fashioned way they did, be- fore envelopes were made. Thomas has per- mitted me to copy this for her chapter. It gives us the best glimpse of her that we can get now, though she had limited opportunities for acquir- ing an education her writing is plain and pretty, and her spelling perfect. I give the letter ver- batim, punctuation and all.
248 THE HOBSON FAMILY
the letter.
"June the 17th 1838 State of Indiana, Henry County, New Castle. Dear and affectionate cousin, I take tny pen in
hand to inform you that we are all in tolerable health at this -time, Hoping that these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessings and our relations are all well and have generally been since you left here, we had about such a spring as your letter spoke of. We had no sugarmaking either. Corn wheat and oats look most excellent. There is not so much fruit this season as we had last, but enough to appease the appetite a few times. My brother Jose expected to go to the Salamonia in a few weeks when you was here, but he did not get off. He has 8 acres of corn, and works for father all the time except when he is tending his own crop, and that does not take long you know. He lives in the Carroll house but if nothing happens, he will go to that lovely land up north about the first or middle of September.
Our little city has improved but very little since you was here, there is to be a Clerk's office
THE HOBSON FAMILY 249
built this Fall I think, 3J or 38 feet long and 18 or 20 broad, covered with tin, and the doors cov- ered also. It seems like dull times, for Carpen- ters, so far this season. You mention that you have very fine stock on the farm. We have a good many cattle, we only milk ten cows, eight of which have young calves. Tell Aunt, that she ought to come out and see us all. Aunt Jane has got quite young, since she is the grandmother of such a fine little girl as cousin Allen has. Its name is Margaret Jane ("Aunt Jane" was her mother's sister, Jane Webster, and "Allen" Web- ster was her son. A. E. C.) I presume I must tell you as I go along that I have to "dance in the hog trough", but I do not care for that. (Her sister Jemima, who was younger than she, had got married first and this was the cause of the above quotation. A. E. C.) I think I am as well satisfied as any of them that are married. You said you had a reel, if ii was here I should have called it a Hoosier wedding, but I presume you called it a buckeye one. On the 7th of June my sister Jemima was married we had a very fine little wedding. Myself and the Rev. Mr. L.
Brown were the attendants. She got S. Hobson.
250 THE H0BS0N FAMILjY
She lives about six miles off on Flatrock. The first time she came home, when she went to go away again, I thought I never could give her up to go away to stay; it seemed like I had buried my beloved brother and sister, and should never enjoy their company more, whose company was my delight. * * * * * *
I expect to stay with the old folks perhaps as long as I live. They say they do not intend to let me leave them. I hope you will not think I am making too free. Father always has me to serve as a substitute for him in writing. I want you to write again when you have the oppor- tunity. They all join with me in sending love to you everyone.
So farewell. Margaret M. Hobson Nathaniel Polk."
This letter was written when she was twenty years old. She remained with her parents until four years later — January 6, 1842, she was married to Emanuel Furst. Her only child, Thomas, was not six years old when she died, April 12, 1849.
She and her husband lived in Blackford county, Indiana, not far from her brother Jose's home, until in 1844 when her father's family, moved to
THE HOBSON FAMILY 25^
Missouri; she with her family went also, and re- mained there till her death. Her husband was afterwards married, but I have nothing further of his record; he died several 3Tears ago.
Their son Thomas remained in Missouri until a few 3Tears ago, he moved near Ft. Scott, Kansas.
His famil3r record is as follows:
Thomas H. and Alice .A.. Fxirst.
Thomas Eaton, son of Margaret M. and Eman- uel Furst, was born January 19, 1844. lie married Alice A. Baker, March 25, 1867. She was born May 1,1846. To them were born ten child- ren:
John S., born January 16, 1868; died May 12, 1869. Alta E. born October 8, 1869. Robert S., born August 15, 1871. Emanuel S., born October 20, 1873. George H , born August 8, 1875; died June 8, 1877 George F., born March 18, 1877. John, born March 17, 1879, William R, born February 17, 1881, Myrtle Geneva, born September 29, 1883. Charles G., born March 5; 1886.
252 THE HOBSON FAMILY
I am sorry I have not more of the history of this interesting famil}', but I never saw any of them except Myrtle. I met her when in Pueblo, in July of this year, but I did not then know that I was to write this sketch or I should have gotten more of their history then.
Kedke}', Indiana, October, 1905.
THE HOBSON FAMILY
253
CHAPTER FIVE.
JEMIMA D. and STEPHEN HOBSON
By A. W. and E. B. HOBSON.
ANCESTRY OF STEPHEN, ANOTHER FAMILY OF
HOBSONS.
The records immediatelv
following- here give information of an- other family of Hobsons, contem- porary with the preceding and re- lated to them, but the exact relation- ship we have been unable to trace. It will be seen that there are traces of an ancient family or families by the name of Williams to be found in
254
THE HOBSON FAMILY
both branches. Also "Jemima Doan" is men- tioned early in the records of the following branch, while in Chapter One, George and Sally Hobson named their daughter Jemima Doan. The last named of Chapter One, married Stephen Hobson of this other branch or famil}r and the
mother of this same Stephen was a Willi- ams, Rebecca Williams, be- fore her marriage to Thomas Hob- son.
B y this marriage of Stephen and Jemima the two branches became inter- locked. The ch il d r e n re- sulting from this union,
THE HOBSON FAMILY 255
may we say "Hobson of Hobsons, three quarter bloods" if not more, were as follows:
Thomas Williams Hobson, Montrose, Colorado.
George H. Hobson, died at Pueblo, Colorado, Oc- tober 2, 1900.
Sarah Jane Hobson died during childhood in Missouri. December 17, 1847.
Elizabeth Priscilla Hobson (now Anderson),
Montrose, Colorado. James Raredon Hobson, Montrose, Colorado.
Charles S. Hobson, died during childhood in Mis- souri, September 29, 1855.
Albert Weatherman Hobson, Lyons, Nebraska.
Asbury Eu^n^ Hobson, Guernse}', Montana. Edward Butler Hobson. 833 E. 25th St. Los Angeles, California.
All are now living (1906) except the father and those noted above, and the living all have de- cendants excepting the last named. Ma}T these not truly say "If any are Hobsons, we are more so." The mother and all her living children and the wives of James, Albert and Edward are shown in the family group, a picture taken in July 1905 for this book.
256 THE HOBSON FAMILY
A FAMILY RELIC.
"Holy Bible, precious Bible
Gift of God and lamp of life my beautiful Bible
I will cling to the dear old H0I3' Bible
As I hasten on my journey towards Home."
The oldest family relic we have among us is
"The Bible of Rachel Bond," grandmother of
Stephen Hobson. In its family record under the
heading of marriage, these words are written:
"Rachel Bond's Book, and it is my will that my
son, Thomas Hobson, shall have this Book when
I am dead and I want it to be in m)T Stephen's
care and for him to read in it till Thomas can g3t it.
Rachel Bond."
BIRTHS.
(COPIED FROM THE OLD BIBLE.)
Thomas Vestal, Senior, was born the 8th of 9th month, 1827. He also departed this life 12th day, 6th month, 1813, aged 86.
Elizabeth Vestal, wife of Thomas, was born 12th of 2nd month 1737. She departed \his life 21st day of 7th month 1823.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 257
Hannah Piggot was born the 30th day of 10th month, 1755. She died 6th of. 10th month 1841.
William Vestal was born the 20th of 11th month, 1759.
Jemima Doan, 8th of 3rd month, 1762.
Stephen Hobson was born loth of 2nd month, 1763. He departed this life 26th of 8th month, 1803.
Rachel Hobson, his wife, was born 10th day of 6th month 1766, and departed this life the 10th month 1st 1818. (It is supposed she married a second husband when her name became Rachel Bond-A. W. H.)
\\ illiam Hobson, son of Stephen and Rachel, was born 18th day of the 4th month 1787.
David Hobson. son of Stephen and Rachel, was born the 26th of the 7th month 1789.
George Hobson, son of Stephen and Rachel, was born 3rd of 6th month 1791.
Anne Hobson, daughter of Stephen and Rachel, was born 14th of the 3rd month 1793. (She afterward became "Aunt Anne Marshall and lived to a ripe old age; could see to
read and write and sew as well as ever af-
258 THE HOBSON FA M i I Y
ter she was 82 years old. She lived and
died near Marshalltown, Iowa, which city
Le<;rs her husband's name — A. W. H.) Thomas Hobson, son of Stephen and Rachel, was
born 18th of 3rd month 179(1 (He was the
recipient of the Bible.) Elizabeth Hobson, daughter of Stephen and
Rachel, was born*8th of 10th month 1798. Stephen Hobson, son of Stephen and Rachel, was
born the 5th of 12th month 1800. Isaac Hotson, son of Stephen and Rachel, was
born 26th of 4th month 1H3. Tied 1800.
Thomas Hobson on his death bed left this Bible to Stephen Hobson, his son, to use as long" as he lived and request 2d that it then be given to Thomas W. Hobson, his namesake, and grandson, so on March 1, 1898 it was delivered to Thomas Williams Hobson, who is the first born and son of Stephen and Jemima Doan Hobson. It is still in his possession and his grandchildren listen to those wonderful stories of old as they are read to them by his children around his knee. Vene- rated and aged book. How many the hands that have turned thy pages seeking light on the path-
THE HOBSON FAMILY
259
way of life and consolation from the sorrows of death, no one can tell; but we know the history of those who have read thy precepts covers a period of time greater than the Independence of our own United States, yea, reaching back e\tn
Chrissie Hobsox Corxally.
260 THE HOBSON FAMILY
beyond the cradle of our beloved Washington. More wonderful, more interesting, is this old book to a Hobson who now takes it in his hands, than fairy story can ever be, to say nothing of its holy teachings and divine Author. Miss Crissie Hobrn, lorn on a Clristrxas day, the daughter of its present owner is the keeper of the book at present and she lives with her broth. r Charles Castle Hobson at Ouray, Colorado. If the reader ever has the opportunity lot him look at the book and tell his feelings if he will. (Since the above was written Miss Chrissie lias married Albert Cornally, DeeemLcr £0, 1C05, at Ouray, Colorado.
From other family bibles, notably two in the possession of Edward 13. Hobson, Los Angeles, California, we find many corroborative facts and glean the following additional record:
Rebecca Hobson, the wife of Thomas Hobson, was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wil- liams and was born November 1, 1708, and died November 1'3, 1885. Her life wes neatly i-pent on the farm in Andrew County, Missouri. She was buried beside some of her children and grand- children in a woodland cemetery near the old Hobson mill.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 261
The children of Thomas and Rebecca Hobson
were :
Stephen, born April 25, 1819; married Jemima Doan Hobson (of the other branch of Hobsons) June 7, 1838. He and his wife's father were builders of the Old Mo. Mill. He died January 14, 1898 and was buried in the cemetery east of Hillsdale, Iowa. Here he lies at rest beside two of his grandchildren, Burt Hobson and Macey Anderson, who were living with him at the time of their deaths. Little Macey died Sep. 9, 1875 in Missouri while away from home on a visit.
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born Dec. 20, 1820. She married Thomas Davis and settled near Glen wood, Iowa. She is now a widow and still living— 1906— with her daughter. Rebecca A. Bedwell near Neligh, Missouri.
William Hobson, son of Thomas and Rebecca, was born April 29 1823. He settled in Indiana, did not join the exodus to the West and rarely corresponded with his relatives in Missouri and was last seen by them after his father's death up- on the settlement of the estate.
Rachel, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was
262 THE HOBSON FAMILY
born October 25, 1825; married John Etchison of Nebraska. She died May 4, 1854.
Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born January 17, 1829; died May 12, 1856.
Hary, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born July 27, 1832. She married Stephen Davis, a brother of her sister's husband and settled nearest to and adjoining her father's place in An- drew County, Missouri, where she still lives — 1906 — a widow.
Obedience Ann, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born Feb. 23, 1835. She married William Reece from North Carolina, and settled near her father in Missouri. She is now a widow and lives with her children in Andrew County.
Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born September 26, 1837 and died August 1, 1855.
Jemima Doan, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca, was born Jan. 6. 1840. She married Daniel Vestal and settled near her father. She suffered of consumption and died Jan. 22, 1859.
A woodland cemetery near the Old Mo. Mill is the family burying ground of Thomas and
THE HOBSON FAMILY 263
Rebecca Hobson, where they and many of their descendants are at rest. A photograph of Thomas Hobson at a good old age is shown in this book.
A SHOCK OF WHEAT FULLY RIPENED.
"He died a beautiful death, yea more it was as natural a process as any Nature ever exhibits herself in. Living as he did at the age of 93, with his daughter, he came in from the yard one day where he had been 'pottering round' at some chore, and going to his room, remarked as he went that he felt a little tired and he believed he would lie down and take a nap. It was about 10 o'clock in the morning. His daughter stepped into his room to arrange a few things left undone and having completed these she saw him lying on the bed asleep with his arms down by his side. She gently closed the door to keep out the noise and went about her duties and when dinner was ready went to awake him but he was sleep- ing as the righteous sleep, only to be aroused by the call of Eternity's trumpet when Gabriel shall call to the feast. He had made no move since lying down except to place one hand across his
264 THE HOBSON FAMILY
1. cart. "—Our Folk Lore, by Albert W. Hobson.
Stephen Hobson and Jemima D. Hobson were
married June 7, 1838. Their family Bible now in
possession of their youngest child, contains
re c oids from which we compile the following
facts concerning their children and grandchildren:
Thomas W., was born July 2, 1839; married Mary
Dunbaugh, Feb. 14, 1861. The names of
their children now living are Charles C,
Robert O., Elizabeth, Chrissie and Claude.
They have two daughters dead, Agnes M.
and Ida D. He has three grandchildren,
Klenor, Thomas and Blanche.
George H., was born May 29, 1841; married S. J.
Arbuthnot, April 5, 1892. No children were
born to them. He died October 2, 1900.
Sarah Jane, was born April 11, 1844 and died Dec. 17, 1847.
Elizabeth Priscilla was born June 20, 1847; mar- ried William J. Anderson, April 4, 1872. Their living children are Birdie St. Isidore and Grace. She has one daughter dead, Macey. "Baby Breen" is her only grand- daughter.
THE HOBSON FAMILY
265
James R., was born Sept., 14, 1849; married M.
Alice Mackey, Sept. 27, 1874. Their living
children are Nellie, Georgia, Ada and
"Fannie", Frances. Bnrt, their only son, is
dead. The wife also died and James after- ward married Mrs. "May" (Marian) May- nard. He has four grandchildren, Belle, Ross, Ralph and one unnamed.
Charles S., was born August 10, 1852, and died Sept. 29, 1855.
266 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Albert W., was born June 15, 1855; married Elnora A. Maryott, Jan. 14, 1877. Their only son is named Edgar Eugene. Their only daughter, (adopted) is named Beth. He has two grandchildren, Albert and Josiah.
Asbury Eugene, was born Oct. 12, 1859; married Cornelia Prindle, March 31, 1883. They have one son, Stephen, and one daughter, May.
Edward B., was born October 5, 1862; married Emma A. Hottell, November 24, 1885.
Stephen and Jemima have the following great- grandchildren: Alben Diavolo and Josiah Asahel, the two sons of Edgar Eugene Hobson; Frances Elenore and Thomas, daughter and son of Charles Castle Hobson; Blanche, daughter of Robert Otis Hobson; Peter (Baby Breen) son of Birdie (Ander- son) Breen and an infant son of Fannie (Hobson) Barnard, all of whom are living at this time 1906.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 267
STEPHEN HOBSON.
Stephen Hofcson was born April 25 1819 in Surrey County, near Raleigh, North Carolina, the oldest son of Thomas and Rebecca Williams Hobson.
When nearly grown his parents obtained a home at Flatrock, Henry County, Indiana. Dur- ing the time he lived at Flatrock he was hired awhile to work for George and Sally Hobson, over on the Hobson homestead near New Castle. Here he wooed and won the heart and hand of his employer's daughter, Jemima Doan Hobson, who was born March 29, 1820 and raised up to this time on the old homestead. Of this time, Jemima, now living (1906) with her son Thomas at Montrose, Colorado, says: "Stephen worked a few da}^s for my father and I first got acquainted with him in peach time. The next winter he boarded at my father's house and went to school three months. The following June we were mar- ried at my father's house, June 7, 1838, and Uncle John Colburn the founder of the Methodist church in New Castle, performed the ceremony.
268 THE HOBSON FAMILY __
(Her sister Margaret in writing to her cousin Nathaniel Polk June 17, 1838, the letter being given in full elsewhere in this book, said "On the 7th of June my sister Jemima was married; we had a fine little wedding. JMyself and the Rev. Mr. Brown were the attendants. She got S. Hob- son. She lives six miles away on Flatrock.") At first we lived a few days at my father's home and then we went to his father's home five miles away at Flatrock. During the first summer we were much separated. I had to spin and prepare the winter clothing for my father's family and for myself while Stephen worked at his father's place most manfully to get a start in life. Dur- ing the spring I cut and burned twenty acres of stalks and, later, covered all the corn with the hoe." "We lived about three years on his father's farm, which had been purchased from "Uncle Thomas Wiles" the husband of Elizabeth Hobson Wiles. Here Thomas and George H., (Tip) my two Hoosier sons, were born." "Stephen's father and my father went out to Missouri on horseback 'landlooking.' The country was not yet even surveyed. They returned without 'squatting'. Then Stephen's uncle, George Hobson, and my
THE HOBSON FAMILY 269
father went out to Missouri again looking for land, but still they did not take any. Uncle George's two sons, Isaac and George, Jr., were the first of our folks to move to Missouri, in the spring of 1841. (Perhaps Uncle Tom Wiles had gone be- fore this or about this time) and we moved out the same fall. As we were getting ready to go, Thomas Davis, the man who married Elizabeth Hobson, Stephen's sister, concluded to go with us, so the}" had a joint sale and we all set out to- gether. We drove our old Buck and Berry to our big covered wagon and led our cows behind. The journejr was quite difficult and lasted five weeks. Starting Sept. 5, 1841, we landed at Uncle Tom Wiles' place October 13."
"Stephen bought 80 acres of prairie for $100 and then bought a 160-acre timber claim a mile or so away for $300. It was partly improved and we moved into the cabin — our first Miesouri home. Here my daughter Sarah Jane was born. She died before she Avas four years old, at the Mill home Dec. 17, 1847."
"Stephen worked hard to clear the farm
and we were getting along nicel}" when misfortune overtook us. We were called away
270 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
from home one night to sit by the side of a sick neighbor. When we returned home the next morning, Oct. 13, 1842, before breakfast, our cabin was in ashes and the smouldering smoke still ascending. We had lost everything except the clothes we had on; even the eatables stored away for the winter were gone. This was a hard blow to us but Stephen went right to work to build a new cabin and moved into it before the chimney was finished and before there were any windows or doors and only a puncheon floor. The chinking had still to be done with mud from under the floor for the ground was frozen outside. On Christmas night with the cabin still in an un- finished condition Stephen took down sick with a fever which lasted for a longtime. He was just recovering when Aaron Adams, a cousin, staying with us, also took the fever. Then after I had waited on them, doing my housework and the chores outside, I, too, came down with a fever which lasted eleven weeks."
It may be here stated that so far this was the only severe sickness that Jemima has ever suf- fered during her long life of 86 years. She has always been able to sew, read and write
THE HOBSON FAMILY 271
without spectacles. Her narrative continues: "In 1844 my father, George Hobson, having sold the Henry County farm to John Powell father of Martin L. Powell now living in New Castle, Indiana, moved to Missouri. With them came Eliza Hotson Current and her husband Samuel and their daughter Margaret. James L. Waters, who afterward married Samuel Current's sister Margaret (see Chapter 6 Part 1) Margaret Hobson Furst and her husband Emanuel and Fanny Hobson and son William. My father bought a mill site on the Hundred-and-Two river and later a farm adjoining it on the west side of the river. Sometime during the next two years Stephen sold our timber home for $700 and bought 80 acres on the east bank of the mill site. We moved there and Stephen and my father built the mill which was known far and wide as Hobson's Mill. It was both a gristmill and a
sawmill."
"My mother died and father soon followed her
and so Stephen bought father's share and we owned the mill alone then."
272
THE HOBSON FAMILY
The picture of the old mill drawn for this work hy Albert W. Hobson shows the grist and sawmill from Stephen's side of the river; a high bank on the other side is noticed; just in the trees
. -A.. <—■
r\tr\ORU !_D /*\«A\IIL -BUILT *9*i EAR.U
beyond this high bank was George and Sally Hobson's last earthly home. Ruins of the old mill may still be seen. How full of precious memories is this scene.
Both Stephen and Jemima worked very hard at the mill. The dam often needed repairing and the timbers necessary for it had to be obtained and hauled from the woods which surrounded their farm, or on their "clearing," winter as well as summer and required vigorous wrork in addi- tion to their custom trade. Jemima often cooked for thirty men in addition to her family duties.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 273
Three of her children, Lizzie, James and Charles were born in their home here at the mill; the first two in the cabin on the bank of the river close by the mill, the latter in their new large frame house which they built after they got the sawmill to running and had made plenty of lumber.
These were really prosperous times to them, but the expenses coupled with their bereave- ments by the death of their daughter, Sarah Jane and Jemima's father and mother, George and Sally Hobson, caused them to become restless and so Stephen finally sold the mill or perhaps traded it for a stock of merchandise in the little town about four miles away called Savannah, the count}^ seat of Andrew county. But this was only a change from worry and prosperity to more worry, sorrow and misfortune and in the long decade to follow, great toil and self sacrifice The mercantile business venture failed through the trickery of his partner, Joe Holt, who ab- sconded between two da^vs after having got as much cash into his hands as he could and piled up the debts against the firm. Stephen closed up the business, paying the debts as far as the assets would do, then he moved to his father's
274 THE HOBSON FAMILY
farm about a mile and a quarter northeast of the old mill. During their stay in Savanah their
seventh child, Albert was born in a little two
roomed brick house and their little son Charles
died, Sept. 29, 1855. He had once fallen down
the stairs at the old mill house and injured his
spine. This made the child an easy prey to
death when scarlet fever came upon him. He
was buried in the Savannah cemetery beside his
grandparents, George and Sally Hobson.
With ten years of their Missouri life gone, two of their children dead, also her parents, once burned out of home, failing in business by the rascality of one whom they trusted too far, were certainly discouragements enough to try their brave hearts indeed, but this was not all. Judg- ments at court were obtained against the mercan- tile firm so large as to require the combined efforts of Stephen and his whole family, two of the boys being nearly grown, for the next ten years to come before they could pay the last one off with interest and costs. He might have taken advantage of the bankrupt law but he scouted the idea when it was suggested to him and God rewarded him for his integrity.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 275
This was his last financial reverse and he lived with a clear conscience to a good old age and de- lighted to know that none of his children ever had to appeal to bankrupt protection, while he himself abl}r provided for his widow and divided a snug little fortune between his seven living children whose combined wealth run up into the hundreds of thousands. On our father's farm, our last Missouri home, were passed many mo- mentous times. The Civil War took place and Stephen and two of his sons volunteered. He and Thomas served for some months in the State militia and George was called into the United States service and served throughout the war. While they were away at the front, Jemima was left on the farm with the younger children. They were on the dividing line between the North and the South and bushwhackers would make raids, killing men and stealing horses. She would sta}T at home all alone with her chil- dren and manage the farm by the aid, now and then, of some neighbor. One season the troubles were so great that she lost her harvest, the grain wasting in the fields. Still they did not leave
their home as they were ordered or "advised" to
276 THE HOBSON FAMILY
do by those neighbors who were rebel sympa- thizers. She would, in the summer time, open the doors of her house and sleep on the floor with her children between the doors where she could watch the stables to see if any one came to steal the horses.
After he came home Stephen was shot at twice after night in the timber near his own door. He was ordered away and at one time all his rela- tives, living- a few miles south, abandoned their homes and came as far as his house and wanted him to leave the country with them and go to Iowa. He said "No, I am not going to Iowa un- til I pay all my debts," but they did lie out in the bushes surrounding the house, for a few nights until matters quieted down. The war over, father turned his attention again to paying off his debts and investigating the attractions of Iowa. Thomas Wiles, Thomas Davis and John Hutch- ens and other friends had gone there before the war and the soldier boys from Iowa who stopped at our house on their way to the front, led Stephen to believe that by moving to Iowa he might do better financially and also avoid the more or less irritating contact with "Secesh"
THE HOBSON FAMILY 277
neighbors over the "late unpleasantness," so he sold enough of his effects to pay the last $1,000 on his debt and this included, amid the tears of mother and children, not only the match team but the young twin mules, and in March 1868 hauled the balance of his goods and his family in covered wagons, to Iowa. He went back in the fall after his cattle. He first rented a farm from Thomas Davis for two }Tears then bought 160 acres about five miles southeast of Glenwood, Mills county. It was a pretty place, cost $7.50 an acre, and here he made a beautiful home for his old age and God prospered him in wealth. He raised seven of the nine children God gave him, and taught them to be strictly honest and often admonished them "If you make a bad bargain, stick the closer to your duty and the right and all will be well at last, and beware of partnership, its an uncertain ship to sail on."
Many were the happy hours he spent in his old age sitting in his arm chair on the shady porch, talking to his friends who dropped in to see him; or perhaps he was nodding or napping when some neighbor, driving by would call "Wake up, Uncle Steve, how are you today?" He was
278 THE HOBSON FAMILY
''Uncle Steve" to everybody and many were the poor struggling onee who went from his home laden with good things to eat.
• Here Jan. 14, 1898, he died from a lingering chronic bowel and stomach trouble which had given him considerable pain for years but he died quite sudden 1}' not having been confined to his bed but a few hours and with none of the family present excepting the faithful wife and devoted daughter. He had long been admon- ished of God to be ready. He had joined the Baptist church in Missouri after the war and lived a constant life therein to his death. By birth he was a Quaker but his act in marrying out of the church excommunicated him from them. As a public man he was modest and un- assuming, never seeking office but was quite often chosen to direct the affairs of the schools and road districts. During the trying time of the war he was chosen as secretary of the secret order of "The Union League," a patriot order to preserve the Union. In all those public places he dis- charged his duties to the satisfaction of all and his advice was often sought in public affairs, be- cause of its practicability.
THE KOBSON FAMILY 279
He was a large-framed man of commanding appearance and exceeding the average in strength. During the last score years of his life he reached the weight of 240 pounds. His hair was lighter than medium, and white in his old age; his eyes were blue; he had an unusually large nose but well proportioned to his face; his head was large and very bald and he usually wore both beard and mustache, pure white in his old age. Altogether he was a good looking, sturdy benevolent farmer, a man of total abstinence and without profanity. After the war he was unfortu- nate in getting one leg crushed and broken. He was hauling logs to build a barn with three yokes of oxen, one yoke young and unruly, and they turned quickly, dragging the long log across him, its full length. The leg would have been severed except for a pair of very high top boots. This leg gave him considerable trouble ever afterward and the foot was enlarged so that he always had to have his shoes made to order.
He was a loving husband, a good provider for his family, an exemplary father to his children, seldom punishing but always securing their obedience by their respect for him.
280 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
We miss him, oh, we miss him so, especially since the old home was sold and we can no more go back home to see him. He was laid to rest in the Hillsdale cemetery about a mile and a half east of Hillsdale, Iowa.
JEMIMA HOBSON.
In regard to Jemima we can write but a little more at this time. Since God has been so good as to leave her with us yet we feel so thankful that it will still be a future date before the "finis" is written to her life. The history of Stephen's struggles is also the history of the struggles of his faithful, loving wife and her children can never think of one without having the other in mind.
Jemima was a small woman, seldom having weighed over 100. Straight and supple as an In- dian. She was born in a wilderness, as a child was her father's "chore boy" working whenever needed in the house, in the field or beside the sick bed of friends. She was strong, though small, and while living at the mill she shouldered and carried up the gang plank, a two-bushel sack
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of wheat, to shame a customer who said he could not carry them from his wagon into the mill.
At the age of eighty -five for three days in suc- cession she walked two and three miles and back again, merely for the enjo3rment of hunting wild strawberries in Nebraska with her son Albert and his family, and each time she picked a large pail full of the berries. When she would return at night she would onl}r say she was a "little tired" and would be ready to go again the next morning.
She is the onty one now left living of her father's family, "the last leaf on the tree" and her children now dote on her and anxiously listen to hear from her own lips of the triumphs, trials and histor3T of their ancestry^ and the develop- ment of the western world.
Her eyes are blue like those of her mother; the others of her family being blacke}red Hobsons. In character she was timid, modest and quiet al- ways preferring to "help with the dishes" than to be entertained in any other way. You could not keep her from "helping" no matter how hard you tried and what she did with her hands in helping was only a sign of that boundless benevolence of
282 THE HOBSON FAMILY
her soul. She would give to those whom she saw in trouble. She would deny herself and give the last dollar in her purse to even a stranger if she met him in trouble. Were it not for the suffering she sees others enduring there would be no child of God happier than she is today as at the age of past 86 she waits for the Messenger of the Cove- nant, who will right all wrongs, destroj' all suffer- ing and give her a place in His Kingdom where loving one another will be the daily rounds of their toil.
THOMAS WILLIAMS HOBSON
By REV. ALBERT W. HOBSON.
The joy of a mother's heart is surely as Script- ure hath it, her "first born" — a son. Never is there but one first born. Never can any other entwine itself about the true mother's heart in a manner like unto the first born.
Thomas Williams Hobson was our mother's first born and she has been as true to him as the pole-star to its place in the heavens, and we are glad to record that he returns her love with a
THE HOBSON FAMILY 283
staunchness born of the knowledge of that moth- er's self-sacrifice for him. What peculiar joy he takes now in the sunshine of her presence and in her extreme old age her wrinkled hands still minister to his wants, not indeed as deftly as of yore but just as faithfully. She is now living with him, and, bereft of his wife, his children either dead or away — out in the world for them- selves— son and mother, sole occupants of the lit- tle cottage on a Colorado Mesa, now tide the time together or sit out in the umbrage of the benefi- cent trees surrounding the cottage, only "waiting till the shadows are a little longer grown," then Eternity! Oh blessful habitation!
Thomas, son of Stephen and Jemima Hobson was born at Flatrock, Indiana, July 2, 1839. He was married to Mary Frances Dunbaugh, daugh- ter of Castle and Elizabeth Dunbaugh, afterward Lewis, in Missouri, Feb. 14, 1861. She was born March 18, 1842 and died at Blair, Neb., Sept. 20, 1900 and was buried at L3rons. Her father went over the plains at an early date and was never heard of again. What was his fate and suffering his family could onl}r guess, they knew only that he was gone never to return.
284 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Thomas was a farmer, benevolent and honest, the earliest riser of his father's family and none more diligent. He was a soldier in the state mi- litia during the early part of the war. They lived for several years in Missouri, then moved to Iowa, then back to Missouri, again to Iowa, then to Nebraska where the beloved and faithful wife died and was buried beside her two daughters. Very soon after his wife's death Thomas moved to Oura}7. Colorado, whither some of his children had taken up their abode. Here he lived happily with his children until about three years ago he went to live near his brother James, near Mont- rose, Colorado. He and his mother live in the little cottage belonging to his brother James, and Claude, his youngest child, and only one unmar- ried lives with them. Pictures are given of all his children except Claude. The children were as follows: Mary Agnes, born near Savannah, Mo., July 18,
1862, died Feb. 1887. Charles Castle, born near Savannah July 27, 1864; married Lydia Anerlie Sparks, who was born in Indiana, May 23, 1871. They live in Ouray, Col., where he holds an excellent
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285
civic position. They have two children: Elinor Frances, born Feb. 8, 1902 and Thomas Francis, born October 3, 1903.
286
THE HOBSON FAMILY
Ida Doan, born August 21, 1866; died July 9, 1882
near Lyons, Nebraska. Robert Otis, born in Missouri Oct. 20, 1868; mar- ried Ethel Turner June 1898. Their child's name is Madge, born June 15, 1902. Robert at present is living at Columbia, Arizona, and is largely interested in gold mining at the great "Gold Field District.''
inn i'n.\i:U!~
viftfcvov o$ t yy. Ky bsor*
Betty (Elizabeth) Maria, was born, probably in Iowa, Sept. 23, 1870; married John W. Stauf- fer, at Lyons, Neb., and is now living at 1103 4th St., Sioux City, Iowa.
Rosa, was born in Missouri, Oct. 21, 1875, died Nov. 2, 1875.
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287
Crissie, born at Malvern, Iowa, December 25, 1877; married Al- bert Cornally De- cember 20, 1905, and lives at Ouray, Colorado.
Claude Tho-nns, born at Lyons, Nebraska, March 5, 1885 and still lives with his father as before stated.
GEORGE HARRISON HOBSON
By K. D. HOBSON
George H., the second son of Stephen and
288 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Jemima D. Hobson was born May 29, 1841, in Henry County, Indiana. While he was yet quite young- his parents moved to Missouri where he spent his boyhood days. He obtained a very good common school education, for that day, and became a very fine penman, which was really the key to his success and recognition while in the army. Many soldiers who could not write got him to do it for them and his captain, who could not write, often detailed him for office work and thus he set on the road to promotion. When the war broke out he was twenty years old and so anxious was he to go that he volunteered at the first call for six month's service. Later he rein- listed for three years and then for a second three years or during the war. Out of the thirty-five who enlisted from his immediate neighborhood with him, he was the only one to go through the whole wrar and live to be greeted as a victor, at home. He was wounded at Helena and had on other occasions counted his life as nothing to serve his country, risking great danger to carry out special orders, living on beans, hardtack and bacon and suffering all kinds of exposure and
hardship. For his bravery he was several times
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289
promoted, from third to second and then to first
lieutenant. He was also Captain a part of the time. The epaulettes thus earned and his sword, he brought home as memorials of his struggles and nar- row escapes. The sword he gave to his infant brother, Edward Butler Hobson, who child though he was, cherished the sword and begged to have the stories of it told over and over.
When he was past fifty-one years of age the "old bachelor" George H., was married and in nine short years the whole of his estate, run- ning up into the hundreds of thousands of dol- lars, had passed into strange hands, notwithstand- ing it was his express wish by a will probated
290 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
after death, that his brothers and sisters have a reasonable portion as designated by him. The sword went with the balance and so passed out of the Hobson family. May it be the last and may no sword, hereafter, forever, be taken up by the hand of a Hobson.
When George was a small boy at the mill, the workmen there nicknamed him "Tip" and to the day of his death many people knew him by no other name. His own family loved the nickname and always called him Tip. It was given in hon- or of Gen. Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe and of the campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too."
After the war he became assistant in the coun- ty treasurer and clerk's offices of Andrew county, Missouri, Capt. W. P. Hobson, having been elected at the head. Here was the chance for him to gain much practical knowledge denied to him in earlier life and here has the opening door to the field in which he gathered his large fortune in later years. In 1868 he started for Colorado, traveling by stage to old Fort Benton in Kansas where the government troops were located. Here he saw for the first time Kit Carson, the Indian
THE HOBSON FAMILY 29|
scout. He was to guide the wagon train the rest of the \va}r across the plains and protect them from the Indians, b}r the soldiers under his com- mand. Tip was after gold and after it hard. Heretofore he had been our "soldier;" now began his career as the greatest financier of the family. He located a cattle ranch in Colorado and formed a partnership with Ike and Mack Pry or. They made drives of thousands of cattle from Old Mex- ico and did exceedingly well until one time their large drove of over ten thousand head was caught in a snow-storm, enexpectedly, while crossing the mountains and many perished. This ended the cattle dealing for awhile. He then turned his attention to mining and real estate iu Pueblo and became wealth}', the third largest taxpayer in the city which had grown from a small town to a city of perhaps forty thousand and, since he first land- ed in it. He built on the then principal street, a large building called the Hobson block, on Santa Fe avenue. He became president of the Stock- growers National Bank which was later consoli- dated with tne American National Bank, becom- ing the Mercantile National, of which he was
vice-president at the time of his death.
292
THE HOBSON FAMILY
He helped to develop the natural oil product of Florence and was a large shareholder in the beautiful Mineral Palace now owned as a public park by the city. He had held the office of Coun- ty Clerk in Pueblo county, yet he was no poli- tician. He was after money and obtained it, but to do so he cut himself off from his father's house at the tender age of 17 and was ever after largely separated from them all, dying in the midst of strangers and not one of his own blood and kin were invited to be at his bedside by those in
attendance. He was buried in the River View Cemetery at Pueblo having died October 2, 1900 be- fore his 60th year.
Not religiously in- clined he was be- nevelent from a bus- iness and personal standpoint and often expressed himself as believing in a higher power. He was tall, weighed near 170 pounds, black hair and whisk :
THE HOBSON FAMILY 293
ers, turning quite gray before fifty, good looking, very quiet, well-liked and praised by his business associates. He was unassuming and plain, never given to society. We loved him. He was our Soldier. He carried nearly sixty thousand dol- lars life insurance but that did not keep him from dying.
ELIZABETH PRISCILLA HOBSON
By E. B. HOBSON
Elizabeth Priscilla Hobson, nearly always called Lizzie or Pearl, was born in the log cabin at the old mill, June 20, 1847. Stephen and Jemima had two daughters, and Sarah Jane dying in early childhood left Lizzie as the only girl in ner fath- er's family. On this account she was looked up to and made much of by her brothers. The younger brother on realizing that she had mar- ried and was not going to live at home any more, was heart-broken and could hardly be reconciled.
At the age of 12 or younger, she was stricken with scarlet fever which destroyed the hearing of one ear and so injured the other that it grew worse and worse and now she has to resort to
294 THE HOBSON FAMILY
an ear trumpet, in order to hear at all. How much farther her deafness will go, none can say, but we pray that she may never be wholly bereft of her hearing. This fever left her for years in such condition that her life was often despaired of but still she lives and we thank God most hearti- ly that she does. What would we brothers have done without the sweet influence of at least one sister? Not to have known the meaning of the word "sister" would have left a vacuum in our hearts. In Missouri she performed her "first work in life" by teaching school at Cherry Grove, near Uncle Mackey's. She was well-liked and had a good country exhibition at the close of the term which delighted all. She next entered a millinery shop in Savannah, to learn the trade; while here her parents moved to Iowa, near Hills- dale, although the town was not started until three years later when the Burlington R. R. was built. Lizzie was left behind but she followed the next fall. Not forgetting her baby brother she had made for him with her own fingers, a beautiful brown suit, covered with bright buttons and made in fine style. Proud of it! — it was the suit of his life.
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295
She was married April 4, 1872 at Plattsmouth, Neb., to William J. Anderson. For a number of months they kept a restaurant, then as her hus- band was a splendid school teacher, they went to live at Wahoo, Nebraska, where he taught several terms. Here her first child, a daughter, was born. This babe was the idol of her brothers.
Albert obtained permission to name her "Birdie St. Isadore" Anderson. In after-A'ears when liv- ing at Hillsdale, Iowa, near her parents, little Mace}T came to them. She, poor child, was taken sick and died in Missouri when her parents were there on a visit. She was brought home for burial. Here also Grace Laura, her third daughter and last child was born Jan. 13, 1S78.
296
THE HOBSON FAMILY
She makes her home in Denver, Col. She has never been very strong in health and is unmarried.
Lizzie became her father's comfort and support during his old age and last sickness. She lives most of the time in Denver with her eldest daughter who married Peter Breen. One grand-
"Baby Breen." child is hers, young Peter or "Baby Breen" as he is lovingly called, a sweet child who will no doubt gladden her life as she glides on into old age. Lizzie was not large, had black hair and large
THE HOBSON FAMILY 297
black eyes. As a girl she had great ambitions to make her own way in life but the frailty of her body has given her disappointment. The follow- ing is by her brother A. W. Hobson:
"I shall always remember my sister and how lonely I always felt because she was not nearer" my own age so we could play together as chil- dren. She was nine years my senior and a bright young lady at the time my memory first holds her in view. I loved her most truly but the dif- ference in age turned the love into longing for companionship of a sister of my own age. I shall never forget howT I prayed for her recovery once as she lay bruised and unconscious, having fallen from a wagon, on our return home from the funeral of a neighbor. Little did she ever know that her suffering developed my praying capacity."
"Again how proud I used to be of her as she would ride home from school at evening time. She rode from home on a pony. She was a per- fect beauty to me as she gracefully sat upon the back of the pony and swept up to the block at a splendid pace. She was a picture for an artist at such a time. Never will I forget the good effect
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THE HOBSON FAMILY
one bad act — I thought it bad at first — had upon
my life. I obtained my first New Testa- ment and it was a beauty and I loved its appearance as well as its teachings. Lizzie had always had a habit of pick- ing up a book, read- ing perhaps a few moments and then scribbling some- thing here or there upon its pages, mar- ring the appearance. On taking up my- Testament, behold
' he fly leaf had not escaped her deft fingers. I
was about to chide her but changed my mind
when I read the following quotation:
"Kind hearts are the gardens
Kind thoughts are the roots
Kind words are the blossoms
Kind deeds are the fruits.
Love is the sunshine that warms into life
For only in darkness grow hatred and strife."
BIRD BREEN
LIZ7TE ANDERSON
.IE MIMA HOBSON BABY BBEEN
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The sentiment appealed to my young heart and peculiar state of mind. I went and, putting m}T arms about her neck, pulled her down and kissed her. That quotation written, as it was in my favorite book, immediately became and has continued to be of inestimable value to me and entwined my only sister forever in my affections. How beautiful the handwriting toda}- as I look upon it and remember her.
JAMES R. HOBSON
By A. W. HOBSON
The name James Rardon was given by his mother out of love to her brother of that name. This faithful child of Stephen and Jemima was born Sept. 14, 1849, while they lived at the mill. Owing to conditions produced by the Civil War he did not have the good privileges of schooling as the others and when schools reopened after the war he was large enough to help on the farm and, in the demoralized condition of his finances, his father could not spare him to go to school. Father endeavored to make up for this deficiency
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THE H0BS0N FAMILY
and repay him for his faithful work by boarding
him and sending him to school one winter at Cherr}' Grove after he was of age. Then James wrent to Col- orado where he had various ex- periences as a cow- boy or cattle driver. I remem- ber in one letter he wrote "Dear mother, if you could only see me come riding in to the cabin on my bucking bronco you would sure- ly want me to oim h)me. The bronco bucks ever}' time I get on him and I have to watch every move he makes through the day. I am in the saddle all day and come in at night so tired and you wouldn't know me for the blood on my face and clothes which comes out of my ears and nose because I have been bucked so hard. I am
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301
going to quit it and come
home." In the fall of 1872 he came home by wa}r of Missouri where he met his brother Al- bert then and there on a visit. Here they had a happy time together visiting the scenes of their boyhood, the old mill, the last home, the neighbors, "Uncle Si- mon" and other rela- tives and not forget-
t'ng the cemeteries of theird *i d.
Ada and Georgia Hi baox.
Cbildr r of James P, I;o' sor.
Two years later J'aircs re- turned to make "Uncle S'mon" another visit, and carried away in marriage, his young daugh- ter Mar}' Alice Mackey, Sept. 23, 1874. They soon moved from Iowa to Burt County, Neb. and bought a beautiful
302
THE H0BS0N FAMILY
quarter section of prairie, partly improved, for $900. The village of Bertha in now located on the southeast corner of it. Here they lived hap- pily, yet not without many struggles incident to
pioneers. Three or four of their children were born here. He and his brother Thomas entered the mercantile business in the village of Lyons, Neb., but this proved a losing proposition and so the farm was sold, the debts paid and all s ough t new
fields of activity in Crawford county in the north- west part of the state. The land moved poor and Thomas returned soon and did not move, James remained for years, proved his claim, and finally went back to his father's in Iowa, but be-
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303
fore leaving he had the awful sorrow of a lifetime
to come upon him. His beloved wife sickened and died leaving five chil- dren to be cared for in a land where there were no schools accessible and but few neigh- bors. But it seems God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. A near neighbor who had been most kind in helping the wife and taking care of the children during the last illness, soon had the misfortune to lose her husband and she was left with three children. Her S}'mpathy for James' condition and his sympathy for her brought them near to- gether and led him on July 26, 1891, to marry her. Her name was Marian (now lovingly called "May" by us all) Ma}Tnard, and a loving wife and devoted companion has she proved to be to him.
304 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Soon after their marriage sickness came among the children and that dread disease, diphtheria took away two of the younger children of his wife but all his own recovered. James mourned for them as his own and tried to comfort his broken hearted wife. Shortly after, James, at the request of his brother Tip, went to Colorado and New Mexico to look after some mining propositions. He was there three or four months being called back to Iowa by a sad accident which had be- fallen Burt, his only son. Burt had gone to Iowa to work for his grandfather and one Sunday in attempting to ride a young horse, the animal reared and fell over backward crushing Burt's leg beneath the saddle. He was cared for but gangrene set in and in ten da}Ts he died having passed through terrible suffering. James from Colorado and his stepmother May from Ne- braska arrived before he died.
The Crawford county homesteads were now sold and they proposed to stay near father a year or so, then they moved to Pueblo. Here the only child May had left died after a painful operation. Bereft of Lewis, her beloved son, now in his twenty-first year, she indeed felt stricken and
THE HOBSON FAMILY
305
had to lean still harder on the comfort and sup- port of her husband who has never failed her. They have struggled together and have bought them two small homes up on the Mesa about four miles west of Montrose, Colorado, where they are now living, making a happ}' home for their advancing years. A few years since James was thrown from a load and had one leg broken and the fracture being improperly attended, that leg is perhaps two and one-half inches shorter than the other, but he complains not. He is a
God-fearing man and very much of a home com- panion for his family. He is benevolent beyond his means and is well liked in the communit3'in which he lives. His children were all born of his first wife and are as follows: Burt, died in early man- hood.
Nellie, married Will B. Al- Bi'kt, Nellie and Georgie ■ • j *.u«. u^,r^
HOBSON. llSOn aDd the> h3Ve
306 THE HOBSON FAMILY
three children, Ralph, Bell and Ross. They live in Custer, South Dakota.
Georgia, living in Montrose, Colorado.
Addie, living- in Montrose, Colorado.
Fannie, married J. M. Barnard, Jul}^ 4, 1904 and has one son, James Fitts Barnard, born Aug, 28, 1905. The}' have been living at Ouray, Colorado.
ALBERT W. HOBSON
By E. W. HOBSON.
Albert Weatherman Hobson, so named by his uncle, Isaac Weatherman, is the seventh child of Stephen and Jemima, and is the preacher of the family. He was born June 15, 1855 in the small house in Savannah, Missouri. While still an infant the reverses in business came to his father and they moved to the farm, their last home in Missouri. As Albert grew into boyhood, the troublous Civil War spread its clouds of sorrow and desolation over the land. Its harrowing de- tails told over and over again, doubtless had much to do in setting his heart irrevocably and
THE HOBSON FAMILY
307
forever against war and made him a staunch ad- vocate of universal peace, the old Quaker stock and principles, silenced for nearly a generation,
now cropping out. He has always been a man of peace and through all the struggles and difficul- ties of his life he has tried to bear and forbear, al-
308 THE HOBSON FAMILY
\va}^s insisting that forgiveness even of an enemy is God-like and he tries to lead others into the way of the lowly Nazarine. He espouses the cause of the poor since the Savior had not where to lay his head, and he labors that all may be brought into the Kingdom.
His boyhood was spent in Missouri and after- ward in Iowa learning from Nature and his Chris- tian mother, to love God. In his life we see the Polk and Colburn blood cropping out in the love of books and the Hobson trait developing in its sturdy industrious and fearless points.
His early bo3Thood experienced the sensations at school, of the old slabs for benches, and desks, with holes bored in the log walls, pegs put in and split boards lain across. He saw the transition to the better school facilities of the present and has, in fact, helped to make them. Not satisfied with the knowledge gained in the common schools in his youth he was daring enough after marriage to take his family and enter college for a classical course. The Western College at To- ledo, Iowa, a denominational institution of the United Brethren in Christ, was his alma mater. While there he sent for his youngest brother
THE HOBSON FAMILY 309
Edward to come and live with him and he did so, taking his degree in the business course. Their college days were happy together. Together they published an educational journal, 'The Teacher and Student" and also a religious semi-monthly, "The Palm Tree," a conference paper for the Brethren. This was during their college life and in addition to their studies. At the close of their school days, the younger brother accepted a good position in Glenwood, his home town, as book- keeper and Albert accepted a call to preach at Avoca, Iowa.
He formed the habit early in life of arranging all acquired knowledge in compact and exact form and preserved documents of all kinds, clippings, quotations from poetry, clippings of what others said of him, favorably or against, which seemed likely to be of any future uee to him or others. These of course accumulated until now any book- lover would be delighted to spend a day in his den.
Another habit resulting first from circumstan- ces and his large study, coupled with the early training of parents, that it is honorable to work, was that of turning his hand to numerous and di-
310 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
versified persuits such as farming, teaching school, job printing, managing a large daily pa- per, painting, preaching, building, legal form writing, newspaper correspondent, tax collector, keeping tax list, working in assessor's office, all these and others to which he has turned his hand and succeeded. He says diversified employments are a means of greater happiness and larger in- dependence than a? specialists. He is able to turn his hand to more avocations and make his living by them than an}7 man I ever met. He says by this means, wherever he is upon the earth, he feels at home and able to sustain life as long as God gives him health.
In earl}7 life he was very active in Sunday school work and at the age of 12 committed to memory the first 16 chapters of Matthew, 135 verses being committed in one week while bind- ing "half a station" in the harvest field, in com- petition for a prize He says he is glad to have it recorded that he did not win the prize as a neighbor, Josie Burns, had gotten into the 17th chapter and his joy over her success revealed to him that no place could be found in his heart for jealousy.
THE HOBSON FAMILY
311
He is a specialist in one line however and that is the Scriptures and he says if a person can study medicine three years and be called a "specialist" he surely has earned the title of "specialist" in the interpretation of the Scriptures after forty-five years of study, observation and experience.
312 THE HOBSON FAMILY
At the age of a little more than 21 he married Miss Elnora Adel Maryott, a daughter of Asahel K. Maryott, who had moved in an early day from New York to Wisconsin, where his daughter was born at Hustisford, April 7, 1861, and then came to Burt county, Neb., where the marriage took place January 14, 1877. After his marriage both he and his wife were baptised by immersion and united with the United Brethren in Christ. While he was teaching school, the quarterly conference of that church, without his solicitation or knowl- edge sent him a "license to preach" and while he detests titles and degrees, believing this to come from God, he left his plow r.nd farm to prepare himself at college, for the work. After his col- lege days were over and he had preached awhile, his finances running low, he was compelled to return to his little farm. There being no organi- zation of his church near at hand he would drive for miles on Sunday organizing Sunday schools and preaching the gospel never expecting re- muneration other than the consciousness of work performed for the good of others.
Next he took up printing a second time and established a weekly paper in Lyons, Neb., called
THE HOBSON FAMILY 3[3
the "Logan Valley Sun," in 1888. It is still being published under the name of the "Lyons Sun." This brought him into relation with the Metho- dist church and he aold his paper and took up pastoral work with them. He also sold his farm and invested in village property. He passed through the courses of study required by the church and was ordained as an elder by their bishop at Wayne, Neb. After several years of pastoral work his throat began to trouble him with asthma and, his brother Tip, inviting him to take -charge of a large printing plant which he controlled, he left the pastoral work end became manager of the Central Printing Company, then the largest job office in Pueblo, Col., running eight presses, with lithographing and book bind- ing departments. This was soon sold and he or- ganized the A. W. Hobson Co-operative Pub. Co. with a membership of twenty or more practical printers, and established the "Daily Pueblo Herald," Disposing of this later he returned to his property at Lyons, Xeb., and went to selling agricultural implements. During these years he improved every opportunity to preach and now once more devoted his Sabbaths to going out into
314 THE HOBSON FAMILY
the school houses of the county. The world has already heard from him and in his quiet, unob- trusive way it will still hear from him both by pen and word of mouth.
I must speak of his love and devotion to his ex- cellent wife and of her faithful service to aid him in earning a living for themselves and doing good to others. But one son having been born to them, they have taken into their home and cared for no less than a dozen infants, for periods ranging from one to eight months. They have one daughter (adopted) an aimable child, whom the father and mother delight in greatty. Her name is "Beth." She was born Dec. 8, 1895. Their son's name is Edgfir Eugene and he was born at sun-rise Wednesday October 24, 1877.
Early in life Albert formed the best of social habits and was ever distinguished b}^ dignified affability and politeness. He was quiet, truthful, and always in deep earnestness when in conver- sation. Nothing annoyed him more than vul- garity or coarse stories. If any were uttered in his presence he would endeavor, in a quiet way to counteract the possible evil influence by call- ing attention to their evil tendencies. Always
a
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cheennl and happy, he was not jolly or even un- truthful. In height he was 5 feet 6^ inches, weighs 150 pounds, rather small yet of com- manding carriage. He has blue eyet, light hair and is rather bald as a result of having the measles.
Their permanent home is Lyons, Nebraska, where is situated the lit- tle White Church which he owns. They have a home in Pueblo, Col., where they spend a portion of their time in order to be near their son, Ed- gar who was married on his 21st birthday to Bes- sie M. Denham, at Sabatha, Kansas, Oct. 24, 1898. He is a trusted emplo}^e of the Santa Fe R. R. Edgar has two sons, Albert Diavolo, born July 22, 1902 at Pueblo and Josiah Asahel, born March 28, 1904, at Fayetteville, Arkansas. The grand-
316
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father and grandmother take great delight in the children.
ASBUmf EUGENE HOBSON
By E. B. HOBSON.
The eighth child of Stephen and Jemima Hob- son, was born in their last Missouri home, Oct. 12, 1859, and was named Asbury Eugene by his
uncle, Wm. Reece. Here his boyhood days were spent during the Civil War period. His youth was spent and manhood de- veloped on the prairie farm at Hillsdale, Iowa. He was the hu- morist of the fami- \y, a practical jo- ker, a good talker.
THE HOBSON FAMILY 317
quick at repartee, always having an answer for ever3rone, so different from all the other children. Different, too in the color of his hair, he was called the "red head" of the family but his hair was really a beautiful auburn. He could remem- ber and tell jokes and could keep a crowd roaring with laughter for hours, with his jokes and comic songs. This trait naturally gave him a longing for society and in this also he was different from the others, who loved solitude rather than society. Once it was his duty to carry water on a horse to the hands in the harvest field and he did the work satisfactorily all one forenoon. In the after- noon there was a base ball game at Hillsdale and he wanted to see it. After dinner he took the wa- ter to the field and on the next trip to the house he procured an umbrella and when he reached the field, asked his father if he did not want to take the umbrella and horse and rest by going af- ter the next jug of water. It was very hot and his father accepted the chance for a little rest and whed he was gone 'Gene scooted for the ball game and his father was in for a cool job all after- noon.
In business 'Gene was always alive to his own
318 THE HOBSON FAMILY
interest and constantly looking- after the little things where there is so much waste if left to themselves. He was not close or small in his dealings but was generous. He spent one year in obtaining a business education at the Burling- ton Business College; after this he went to Wahoo Neb., and established the "Good Luck" grocer}^; here he did well financially and soon induced Ed- ward, his brother, to take a half interest in the store. This life soon proved too prosy for Eugene and they sold out, Edward going to Kansas City, and later to Pueblo, as assistant cashier in the stockgrower's National bank while Eugene went to Crawford, Neb. and obtained position as assist- ant cashier of a National bank. He was married
soon after leaving college and before entering the business at Wahoo, to Miss Cornelie Prindle, at Hastings, Iowa, March 31, 1883. At Crawford were born to them a son and a daughter, Stephen and May. They prospered here and acquired considerable property; however in the- panic of 1893 the bank went to the wall and he suffered a great deal from it. He managed to save a small house.
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319
He is seeking an opportunity to rise again and we believe he has the pluck to do it, too.
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THE H0BS0N FAMILY
EDWARD BUTLER HOBSON
By REV. A. W. HOBSON
n one of those peculiar days in October that makes one think of the passing of the harvest days, the falling of the nuts and the coming of Christmas- tide, Eugene, my younger brother, and myself both mere lads, of 4 and 8 years, on re- turning from a visit to Uncle John Colburn's were led up to the bedside of our mother and a neighbor lady turned down the cover and showed to our dumfounded gaze a baby brother, destined to be the "baby" of the family for all time. As the days went by I felt so proud of him and I soon grew to regard him as more to me than a brother, as a companion necessary to my joy. It is perhaps well to state that among the boys of my father's family, Tom and Tip, his Hoosier sons, were close companions, being set
THE HOBSON FAMILY 321
apart by events incident to age and the Civil War, from companionship of the younger chil- dren, Jim and 'Gene became companions, sepa- rated from the other two, "Al" and this "baby," whose natural tastes, were for books and study. They could keep their things together in one box without jar or hitch and so could the other two in their box and any other arrangement brought on a "racket."
It was hard to find a name suitable for the babe and many were proposed such as Stephen, for his father; Joseph Hooker and Burnside, two gener- als, and a host of other family names, but the selection being left to Tip, who was "at the front" lighting for his country, he sent back word, "call him Edward Butler, after General Butler and I will give him my sword as a keepsake." So Edward Butler Hobson was born into the home of Stephen and Jemima Oct. 5, 1862, at the old farm house in Missouri, a house made of lumber sawed at the Hobson mill and covered witn hand shaved shingles. Its location was at the edge of the woods where it skirts the prairie. In the back yard a half acre of holly-hocks made a play ground for innumerable bees and humming birds.
322 THE HOBSON FAMILY
There also stood the old locust tree where the swing always swayed. Memory still holds in mind the ash-leak beside the cherry tree and the old orchard with its precious fruits for body and mind. How often have we gathered nuts from the nearby- woods and cracked them on the stone steps. The old well with its open curb and wind- lass, a terror and a joy combined, a terror lest we should topple over the curb and a joy from which to slake our thirst and carr}r water from it to the fields for father and then ride the horses through the never-to-be- forgotten pasture to the watering place for stock.
Here Edward's tenderest years were spent and how prothetic now seems to have been the epithet which our loved grandfather invariably applied to him in calling him "Bud," and the dawning period for blossoms leads us to look for the fulfillment of Scripture, "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace; that our garners may be full, affording all manner of store. Happy is that people that is in such a case, yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord."
AHT1:
\ ai;d B Hob
obson
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323
Early in life he demonstrated fortitude, great will power and heroic daring which inspired us all to hope that his life might some day be wholly de- veloped along these noble traits. Father especially cherished, for years, the hope that his 'baby" might remain with him to comfort his old age but this was not to be as the misfortune of our sister necessitated her living with father, who took great comfort in the fact that his only living daughter could com- fort his old age and allay the pains of his last sickness and follow his body to the grave where it was laid beside her own darling. Macey in the Hillsdale cemetery.
One incident I must mention of his childhood which shows the first budding d?sire for great riches in order that benevolence might have ample soil for cherished development, and right
324 THE HOBSON FAMILY
here let me say that all through his life he was ever tryingto aid others by his influence, sparing- no pains to make the pathway of others success- ful in this world. His ambition for riches to carry out his noblest purposes, has, up to the present been denied him by reason of two or three causes. First his lack of good health and then through the scheming of others his hard- earned treasures, even his brother's sword, went from him. It was shortly after father had been baptized "for the remission of sins" ahat the gray and aged Baptist preacher called at our old home and remained over night. The visit over, just be- fore leaving, all the family being gathered about the style-block, he bade each good-bye. Coming to the "baby" toddling after him, he once more laid his hand upon the child's head and at this the child looked up into the minister's face and said "when I am a man, let's you and I build a church;" "Amen," said the man of God. Suffice it to say, in after life, the Baptist church was the choice of this young would-be church builder. But as to his church building we are reminded of the words of "Bobby" Burns
"The best laid plans of mice and men Gang- aft aglee."
THE HOBSON FAMILY 325
Sometime before this while playing around this style-block a cow which our mother was milking left her feed and ran upon the child, bearing him down to the ground and goring her horns into the earth on either side of his little body. She would surely have killed him but for the sturdy strokes from a heavy crutch in the hands of our father, who with a fast-healing broken limb, hap- pened to be resting on the block.
March 23, 1868, our father in a "Prairie schooner" and two neighbors' wagons, moved to Mills county, Iowa, and our baby has not seen the place of his birth since, but how many memories of that early home still cling to him.
This Iowa home upon the broad expanse of prairie no doubt had a broadening influence upon the life of "Ed" as he was now usually called,
"Eddie Bubber," his own baby way of designat- ing himself, having been left behind with his
birthplace. Here he grew in stature and knowl- edge, although disease early took chronic hold upon him; yet he succeeded well on the farm and, soon growing to manhood, began to teach school. Later I induced him to attend College with me at Western College, Toledo, Iowa. (This was
326 THE H03S0N FAMILY
after my marriage.) Here we enjoyed each oth- er's companionship so dear to us both, as never before. Here he met Miss Emma A. Hottel, an estimable young lady of good family, and they, having loved each other at first sight were mar- ried on Thanksgiving day 1885 and I was called, by th in, to perform the ceremony at her fath- er's house. And what a happy day for me as well as them, and this was a characteristic dis- play of his careful love and thoughtfulness, as well as that of his bride, in giving me this happy duty to perform. It was my first experience in "knot tying" but by no means my last. (I think I can truthfully say at this writing that God truly added his blessing and approval upon each couple I ever pronounced husband and wife, not one of them having forsaken each other or sought a di- vorce.) My new sister was the youngest child of her father's family so hereafter in this biography we have two "babies" to reckon with. His strug- gles are her struggles, his sufferings, hers. In sickness or in health, in riches or in poverty, for better or worse, she has labored by his side as only a faithful wife can. Providence has denied them the blessing of offspring to cheer their
THE HOBSON FAMILY 327
faithful lives. I am sorry to relate. Just prior to marr;affe he had obtained a college diploma, hav- ing taken a business course, so, thus equipped he felt strong enough to ask the world for a place in which to work. For a few months he was given a job of keeping books for a mercantile firm; then he was induced by his brother Eugene to accept a partnership with him in a general store at Wa- ho >, Neb., but this was sold out soon, as it proved a losing venture. From Wahoo, Eugene went to Crawford, Neb., where he got a position as assist- ant c.ishier in the State bank, while Edward went to Kansas City, Mo., and later to Pueblo, Col. wh«-re he, too, became assistant cashier and di- rector in the Stockgrowers' National bank, of which his brother Tip, (George H.) was the larg- est stockholder. Over the desk at this bank he spent twelve years of devoted labor that taxed his always weak frame to its utmost and which on two occasions brought him almost to the grave and from which he has never fully recovered to this day. Here he and his estimable wife, whose devotion to him cannot be over-estimated, accu- mulated considerable property, but he lost it all and was again compelled to start anew. The fin-
328 THE HOBSON FAMILY
ancial panic of 1893 took all he had, even his loved Tenth street home. July 4. 1896, he left Pueblo and, after making a brief visit to his father's home at Hillsboro, Iowa, he went to California and set- tled near hiswife'^ people, who had moved here a fewyears before; Here he soon made another start by renting the Albena ranch near Pomona, and succeeded in buying a beautiful ten-acre orange farm in the suburbs, on Holt avenue. On this he built a beautiful home, doing much of the designing, decorating and painting, himself.
This put him again in debt which would have easily been discharged had the conditions of the orange market remained as at the time of pur- chase but trusts began to be forined and soon controlled the fruit growers' organizations and fruit growing became an ever-increasing expense rather than a profitable business. This discour- aged him so that in 1905 he exchanged his beau- tiful home in which he had hoped to spend the remainder of his life, for property in Los Angeles thus saving what he could. Renting these prop- erties, both he and his wife, neither being in good health, for the third time in life, went out seeking by means of hard labor, to lay up something for
THE HOBSON FAMILY 329
a rainy day. May God grant them respite and peace on earth and may their lives be happy enough to compensate them for all their trials, and I believe He will grant it. Our own father was permitted to accumulate but little until he had passed his fiftieth birthday, a point which Edward has not yet reached, but whatever befalls he may still sing
Over and over, yes deeper and deeper,
My heart is pierced through and through with life's sorrowing- crj-, But the tears of the sower and the songs of the reaper Shall mingle together in jo}-, b3*-and-b}T.
No mention of the name and life of Edward Butler Hobson would be complete or just, with- out a few words concerning his ability as an art- ist. He never had the opportunity" to study un- der the masters; he was without instruction save that gained by hard knocks which this rigid old world generall}' lavishes upon those who have to make their own way, but in spite of the very serious struggle for the simple bread and butter sufficient to sustain life, he has succeeded in pro- ducing some remarkable fine paintings, which shows tnat there is a God-given power underly-
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THE H0BS0N FAMILY
ing the frail body and proves the tenacity of the talent under such conditions. He has produced a number of really fine paintings that will exert
a g;ood influence
on future gener- ations. The few phot o graph i c reprod u ct i o n s found in this book vll give a slight idea of some of the many beautiful paintings he has produced, but cannot in any sense bring out the delicate tints and touches of his colors and
brushes. He did his painting in
his spare time, taking advantage of what to others would have been idle time. Coming in from work, he would sit at his easel for a few minutes
uk-lookwiti'Boav.
UiuW'i'iyiut, rtitt JVaU lYl«»'
iKjj ooavf
4
«>-
THE HOBSON FAMILY 331
or perchance an hour, or on half holidays which others would have spent at the races or ball tfames, putting on canvas that which would aid in purifying the world.
His first effort at painting was when he was about seven years old. He and his two older brothers visited a photograph gallery and while there he saw a painting "Kit Carson Fleeing from the Indians." The photographer overheard liim tell his brothers how much he would like to copy the picture and said "Why, you can take it home with you and copy it if you wish." In a letter to me, speaking of that time he said "I was dumfounded to think he would trust me, a stranger, not even asking my name or where I lived. I took the painting, purchased one brush and four tubes of paint, made of muslin my own canvas, and I do not think Napoleon ever got more real enjoyment out of his achievements than I got from making that first picture."
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THE HOBSON FAMILY
CHAPTER SIX.
JAMES RARDEN HOBSON
Largely By E B. HOBSON.
The infancy and childhood of James Rarden Hobson, son of George and Sally, were spent on the Indiana farm. There among the family in- fluences of that loved homestead he formed those habits and ways that made him the strong and self-reliant man he has shown himself to be.
He migrated with his parents from Henry
THE HOBSON FAMILY
333
County, Indiana, to Andrew Count)-, Missouri, where he married Kisiah Cox. They moved irotn Missouri to Mills County, Iowa, driving "Old Buck and Berry," the oxen that had drawn Stephen Hobson and famity from Indiana to Mis- souri, had drawn the logs to build their cabin and many a load of flour to market and served him
faithfully for 16 years. No wonder tears came to the eyes of mother and chil- dren when they had to be sold. James bought the oxen and left Missouri, only a few months before his mother and father died, the one soon after the other. He never saw them again. From Iowa, not later than 1852, and probably earlier, he went in an ox team, to Cali- fornia. Of the hardships he and his family endured on this terrible journey we have no tangible record.
They lived at Oroville, in northern California, for some time and at Tehama during another period. They prospered and reared a large fam-
334 THE HOBSON FAMILY
il3r, all of whom are living in California, the loca- tion not being known to the author, nor can we give the names of any, save two, Isaac and Lean- der. The large fields of wheat or barley which James raised, sometimes 1800 acres in one field would make some of his eastern relatives open their eyes. The following is a letter written by him in 1868:
"Willow CREEk, Colusa County, California, March 29, 1868. Dear Brother & Sister. I now take my pen in hand to inform you that we are all alive and all well, except Kisiah, she has not been well for a week, tho' she is about, and hope these few lines ma}' find }'ou all well and doing well. Stephen, I would like to have you out here if possible. I have got me a new place again. I have got land that is off of the grant ihis time. I have 12 fortys, all joining and there are six fortys more that I will get. It is school land and I will have five years to pay for it in and it is as fine land as you ever saw It is all good plow land, level and nice. There is a creek running through it. I have about 250 acres in grain and some of it is jointing now. We have had a great deal of rain here this winter and one little snow
THE HOBSON FAMILY 335
that lay on the ground four days. It would melt a little every day until it was gone.1
Passage is cheap now, you can come from New York (Note: Stephen lived in Missouri —A. W. H.) to San Francisco and back to New York for $50, and stay one year, so that is cheap, if a man wants to see the country, he has time to look over the most of it. I will give you the prices of pro- duce. Wheat from $2. to $2.50 per 100 lbs., Bar- ley $1.50 to $1.75, Potatoes $2.25 to $2.50 per 100 lbs., Beans 5 to 6 cents per lb. Flour $4.25 per 100 lbs., even meal the same. Dried fruit from 14 to 16 cents per lb., coffee 25 cents. Sugar, 5y2, Bacon 16 to 18 cents per pound.
If you was here with a few thousand dollars of your greenbacks, you could enter land that would make you better interest than anything else you could go into. The railroad takes so much of the land that all the land outside of that line will double fast, for the land in the boundary of the Railroad cannot be settled until the road is fin- ished, and that will be 4 or 5 years yet and then the Government's half has to bring $2.50 per acre and all good land on the outside will bring a good price before that comes in the market again.
336 THE HOBSON FAMILY
T wrote Tip a few weeks ago though I have not «rot an answer yet. I want you to tell "T W" & "J. R" and ' W P" (Capt. Hohson) to be sure and v rite to me and tell Pereilla (Elizabeth Priseilla) to write too, and write soon."
James R. and Kisiah Hobson To Stephen & Jemima Hobson & Family.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
SARAH A. and ISAAC WEATHERMON
By SARAH B. JONES
Sarah Ann, was the youngest child of George and Sally Hobson; born in Henry County, Indiana, February 9, 1831. She was married to Isaac Newton Weathermon, September 7, 1848 at four o'clock p. m. About eight o'clock that evening, her father coming in, sat down by her side, and placing his arm around her said: "Sis, you are the last child I have, and if I had thought of
something a little sooner, you would not be mar- ried now." Being somewhat surprised, she ex-
THE HOBSON FAMILY 337
claimed; "Why, father, what is it?" He replied, "Forty-one years ago tonight, about midnight, I was married to your mother. If I had thought of sooner, you snould have waited till midnight to be married." The story of his marriage he then related to her, as she remembers it through the passing years, is as fallows: His father. William Hobson, was starting to move from North Caro- lina to Ohio. Though George was not eighteen years old, 'he had no mind to leave behind," the girl he had chosen to be his bride. He helped to get his father's moving train read}', and started on their long journey; then he went on horseback to the home of Revel Colburn, the father of Sally, his betrothed. Her parents willingly agreed to their marriage, if they wrould remain in North Carolina; but objected to them going so far away. Mr. Colburn therefore hid the young man's horse in the smoke house, and locked the door; think- ing, that, if he could delay them a day or twro, un- til his father's emigrant train, had proceeded be- yond his knowledge of the way, George would consent to remain there. But finding them both fixed in their purpose to go, her father yielded; and about midnight, they were married. As soon
338 THE H08S0N FAMILY
as the marriage ceremony was performed, and the congratulations expressed, they started out to overtake the Hobsoti wagons. The youthful George and his bride on the same horse, Sally's father going with them, and taking her clothes and bidding outfit on the horse with him. The next morning, tjiey came to the place where the Hobsons were encamped for the night. (See pict- ure "George Hobson's wedding journey.") After camping that night with them, Revel Colburn returned to his home. Sally did not see her pa- rents again, until twenty years later, her husband went to North Carolina, and brought them to her home at New Castle, Indiana.
When William Hobson's had proceeded on their journey as far as the top of the Blue Ridge mountains; and had stopped for dinner; they were overtaken by Ends Blair, who came bring- ing a minister with him, to claim his promised wife — George's sister, Rachel. She had promised to marry Enos, when he would come, a year later, to their home in Ohio. kBuIj after she had started, he concluded that a year ,\^asi;fcoo long to wait. He therefore followed thefti; and there was a wedding at the camp, on the very top of the
THE HOBSON FAMILY 339
mountain. Rachel returned to North Carolina with her husband, and George did not see her again, for more than twenty-five years.
After George and Sally reached the end of their wedding journey, and settled in Ohio they lived one year in the house with his parents. According to established mode, George had to work for his father till he was twenty-one 3^ears old. At the end of the first year, he built a room close to his father's cabin, and lived there, tilt he worked out his time, and became "his own man," as they used to say. Some years after that, he took his wife and babes to Wa}Tne County, Indiana, and lived a while at the Indian fort. While there, he accompanied some surveyors, who were surveying the boundaries of Henry Count}T, as cook and chain bearer. Then he soon after settled where New Castle is now located— the first white settler there, and for months Sally did not see a white woman, but the Indian women were kind to her. Though the Indians were not trustworthy as is shown by the follow- ing reminiscence:
One morning George Hobson and another man went after their horses that had been put out to
340 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
graze. When they started, they could hear the bells on the horses, not far off; but they went on, and on, never coming in sight of the horses, though they could still hear the bells, until sun- down, when they found them busily grazing. They thought some Indian had stolen them and ridden them away, and finding they were pur- sued, they had turned the horses loose, and hid. When George and the man returned to the fort, their friends were about ready to start on foot, to another fort three miles distant, supposing that they had been killed by Indians. There, was great rejoicing at their safe return.
Another time when George Hobson came in late at night he went to his corn field to get corn to feed his horses, and came out safely, but the next morning another white man from one of the forts, passed that same field and was shot by
Indians. The Indians had dug a hole in the ground, in the fi±Id, and evidently, had been hid- ing there for several days to get the man they ac- cused of doing' them an injury.
During those times it was not safe for a person t>g^outa,nv where, even to feed the horses, milk the cows, or chop the fire wood, without taking a .gun for protection. ;£ff!.
,.', • ■ :. ■ f' .-ei1 -} ■ "I! :
THE HOBSON FAMILY 341
SOME INDUSTRIES.
The pioneer raised sheep and flax to furnish material for the manufacture of cloth; and from these two articles— wool and flax, the wearing apparel for the entire family was made. The flax required more labor than the wool, in preparing' it for the loom. It must be grown; then when ripe enough, pulled up by nand and placed in running Water to rot the pith, or woody part of the flax stems, so it could be separated from the bark or fiber. This was accomplished by putting the rotten flax, (the fiber did not rot,) through a brake, a home-made device, which broke the pith into short pieces. The worker then took a scutch in one hand, and in the other, a bunch of the broken flax; striking it downward with the scutch, till it was sufficiently cleared of the woody part to be ready for the hackle. Then the flax was ready for the distaff, on the little spinning wheel, to be spun into thread, wThich was warped into the loom, then woven into cloth. The sewing thread was also spun from the flax.
George Hobson made leather for ehoes and moccasins, from the skins of animals; they braided straw to make hats; they made their own
342 THE HOBSON FAMILY
spoons from pewter, by means of moulds; they made brass buttons for their clothes and horn combs for their hair. When George Ilobson first moved to Henry County, nearly the whole coun- try was covered with fine timber and it was slow, hard work to fell the trees and clear the land.
About the year 1840, some of the family decided to move to Missouri and Jemima and Stephen did go. Sally had promised her mother just before the latter died, that she would not move away and leave her father, Revel Colburn; so after his death in 1844, she was willing to go and in a few weeks they were on their on the long, tiresome journey which is described elsewhere in this book.
Isaac N. and Sarah A. Weathermon, lived in Andrew county, Missouri for two and a half years after their marriage, then in 1851 they moved to Nodaway county, same state and built for them- selves a home in the wilderness. When they first went, the nearest neighbor lived two miles away and no others lived nearer than four miles; there were plenty of deer, wolves, snakes, etc. It was six years before there were enough settlers, with children in sufficient number to form a school, so their children were taught at hnne. Then wh'ti
THE HOBSON FAMILY 343
a schoolhouse was built and the school organized, a lad}' teacher was hired for one dollar a week, and board. The country was nearly all prairie and it was a magnificent sight in early Spring or in mid-summer when there was an ever-chang- ing displa}- of wild flowers; and yet again in the Fall after frost had killed the vegetation, the)' burned the grass and long lines of fire made a beautiful and sometimes fearful sight, for often the fire would spread beyond the limit and peo- ple would have to fight it for hours. This place was the home of Sarah Weathermon for forty years, the birthplace of all, except the two eldest, of her children; where her children were marr ed and where ten of her grandchildren were born — the scene of many joys and sorrows.
At a camp meeting near Alathus Grove in 1858, Isaac and Sarah were convertedand joined the M. E. church, Anthony Clemens, preacher in charge.
At the dear old homestead, Isaac N. Weather- mon died of consumption, Oct. 3, 1869, leaving Sarah with the care of seven children, but her trust was in the God af the widow and the father- less. June 13, 1878, Harriet M., a dear girl of 21 years, followed her father and then M rgaret, a
344 THE HOBSON FAMILY
precious girl of 19, went to meet them in the home above, April 2, 1880.
CHILDREN of ISAAC and SARAH WEATHERMON
Stephen Hobson, born August 18, 1849. Martha Jane, born December 3, 1850. Mary C, born November 24, 1852. Jemima A., born July 21, 1855, Harriet M., born July 9, 1857; died June 13, 1878. Sarah B., born June 13, 1859. Margaret J., born July 10, 1861; died April 2, 1880.
StepHen. H. and Emma J. Weathermon.
Note — The following- statement is a correct copy of the family record of Stephen H. Weathern on and descendants up to this date, as furnished by the persons interested, and copied by me, Franklin B. Morse, Walla Walla, Washington, 834 Bayer Avenue August 12, 1905
Stephen H., only son of Isaac and Sarah A. Weathermon, was born in Andrew county, Mo., August 18, 1849 and was married to Emma J. Woods, of Marysville, Mo., October 16, 1873; wit- nesses, Jemima D. Weathermon and Alfred Mar- tin. She was born in Belmont county, O.June 20, 1852. Stephen H. died Dec. 3, 1889 in Walla Wal- la, Washington, aged forty years. He was the fa- ther of eleven children, the first seven being born
THE HOBSON FAMILY 345
in Nodaway county, Mo. March 15, 1900, ten years after Stephen's death, his widow married Franklin B. Morse; witnesses, J. J. Kauffman and M. Davis. Mr. Morse was born July 11, at White Hall, New York.
Children of STEPHEN and EMMA WEATHERMON
Alma Viola, born July 27, 1874.
Christopher Frederick, born September 18, 1875.
Anna Maude, born Jan. 14, 1877; died Feb. 23, 1890.
Sarah Harriet, born Nov. 2,1878.
Stephen Caswell, born March 28, 1880.
Mary Catharine, born October 23. 1881.
Ira Isaac Conrad, born May 26, 1883.
Roxie Amanda, born in Oregon Oct. 19, 1884.
George Newton, born in Washington Oct. 14, 1886.
Charles Bruno, b)r i in Ora^on Aug. 22, 1833.
Oscar Lester, born in Washington, Aug. 2, 1890.
Alma Viola, daughter of Stephen and Emma, was married to George Henry Lemont, August 2, 1891. He was born ,at Bath, Maine, Aug. 25, 1854.
Their children. alKborn at St., Helens, Oregon, are: Zina Hvde, bprpjiilyf31, 1894;ii^sther!Minet, born Dec 30, 1899;' Ruth L„ born Oct. 3, 1901; Georgia Viola', t>om iM'ay 28, 190&J
,.,.„ :i -V11£?<
346 THE HOBSON FAMILY
Christopher F., son of Stephen and Emma, and Nellie May Ainspaugh were married Oct. 13, 1897. Nellie was born in Adair county. Mo., Mar 13,1873. Their children were born in Washing- ton and are: William Walter, born July 11, 1898; Boon, born Dec. 8. 1899; Gladys, born Sept. 29, 1901; Pearl Cyrena, born June 5, 1905.
Sarah Harriet, daughter of Stephen and Emma, was married Jan. 27, 1896 to Ed Krumbah, who was born at Dubuque, Iowa, Jan. 7, 1870. Their children, except the oldest were born at Walla Walla and are as follows: Leona May, born in Oregon, Jan. 5, 1897; Hazel Emmojene, born Feb. 5, 1898; Bonnie Ruth, born Jan. 22, 1899; Irene, May 7, 1901, Charles Edward, born April 13, 1904.
Stephen C, son of Stephen and Emma, was married to Josie Hodgen, Nov. 13, 1904. She was born in Umatilla county, Oregon Jan. 20, 1883.
Mary C, daughter of Stephen and Emma, was married March 19, 1905 to Lane Hoan, who was born in Umatilla county, Oregon, Oct. 29, 1876.
Roxie A., daughter of Stephen and Emma, was married to Ennis H. Morrison May 12, 1900. He
THE H'OBSON FAMILY 347
was born in Iowa, April 1, 1875. Children: Fern, born Feb. 14, 1901 and Naomi Kinneal. born July 28, 1902.
Martha Jane and John Brtttain. Martha J., the eldest daughter of Isnac X. and Sarah A. Weathermon, was born in Andrew coun- ty, Missouri, Dec. 3, 1850. She was married to John W. Brittain, April 6. 1871. To them were born four children. Martha wns a consistent Christian and member of the M . E. church at Guilford, Mo. She died April 1, 1896. Their child- ren were: Henry C, born April 2, 1877; died Mar. 28, 1896; Maggie A., born Sept. 2, 1879 and was married to Charles Reynolds, Dec. 28, 1898. Their only child, Leslie Brittain, is a bright boy of four years, born in 1901; Ernest J., born March 12, 1885 married Caroline Stuart Mar. 12, 1905, and Arthur L.,bornNovetnberll, 1887.
Mary C. and L. C. Brittain
Mary C, daughter of Isaac N. and Sarah A. Weathermon, was born in Nodaway count}', Mo.. Nov. 24, 1852; married L. C. Brittain, July 25, 1872. No children came to fill their home, but content- ed and happy in each other's love, they lived un-
348 THE HOBSON FAMILY
til his death, Oct. 7, 1892. Then Mary rented her farm and lived with her sister, Martha J. Brittain and family for five years. In 1897 she built a new home in the little town of Guilford, Mo., and her aged mother spent her remaining years with her there. It was hard for her mother to leave the old homestead where the associations of 40 years produced such sacred memories. When she
moved to Guilford, Mary took up Sunday School work in the M. E. church, of which she was a member, and taught a class of little girls until they became young ladies. She has been so faith- lul and so prompt in attendance, sometimes not missing once in a whole year, that they insist on her continuing to teach them.
Jemima A. and Alfred Martin.
Jemima Ann, fourth child of Isaac and Sarah A. Weathermon, was born July 21, 1855; married to Thomas Alfred Martin, Sept. 24, 1874. To them were born eight children, all in Nodaway county, Mo , as follows: Charles Henry, born Oct. 30, 1875; died Dec, 17, 1880; Sarah Minerva, born Aug. 30, 1877;died Dec. 22, 1880; Vida Catharine, born Dec. 13. 1878; Ida Rosalie, born Nov. 26, 1880;died Jan. 10. 1881; Mary Ann, born Jan. 6, 1883; Eliza Alice
THE HOBSON FAMILY 349
born July 2, 1886; John Alfred, born Sept. 20, 1887; George Esty. born June 12, 1891.
Vida C, daughter of Thomas and Jemima, was married to Walter C. Griffin in Nodaway county, Mo., Oct. 28, 1898. To them have been born four children: a son born April 2, 1900, died five days later; Iva Bernice, born March 24, 1901; Thomas Orland and Bessie, twins, born April 19, 1903.
Mary A., daughter of Thomas and Jemima, was married to John O. Nelson, April 9,, 1902; they have one daughter born October 13, 1903.
SaraH B. and A. D. Jones.
Sarah B., or "Bettie," as she is usuall}T called, daughter of Isaac N. and Sarah A Weathermon, married A. D.Jones, March 18, 1884. Her brother, and all her sisters were married, so Bettie and her husband remained at the home with her mother, until after their five eldest children were born. Now the}7 are living in Gentry count}7, Mo., their post-office being Stanbury. Eight children have been born to them: Isaac Leander, born Feb. 3, 1885; married Virgie Silvers June 8, 1904; Law- rence E., born Nov. 26, 1886; Marville P and
350 THE H0BS0N FAMILY
Stephen H , twins, born Feb. 11, 1888; Therena C. born July 8, 1890; Alexander R, born Nov. 3, 1895. Dale Erie, born March 23, 1898.
Guilford, Missouri, September, 3, 1905.
Sarah A. Weathermon, the subject of the fore- going chapter, dictated for her daughter to write the sketch concerning the Hobsons, and the pio- neer times, at the beginning of the chapter. It was sent me on the above date and just eighteen days later, Sept. 21, 1905, Sarah A. Weathermon answered the call to "come up higher" and dwell forever with the Lord. The manuscript for this chapter was the first that I received for the nis- tory. If they had deferred the work only a few days, it would have been too late to get her inter- esting reminiscence of the past. A. E. C.
ADDITIONAL HISTORY
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