JOE S. HOBBS. The subject of this sketch is the senior member of the firm of Joe S. Hobbs & Son, real-estate and insurance agents in Centralia.
His birth occurred October 9, 1832, in Wabash County, this state, while his father, A. L. Hobbs, was a native of Kentucky, where he was reared to man's estate. In early life he came to this state, where he was one of the pioneers of Mt. Carmel and a well-to-do merchant.
The mother of our subject prior to her marriage was known as Miss Mary Coleman. She was the daughter of Isaac Coleman, also an early resident of Mt. Carmel, where he was engaged in the milling business. Jeremiah Coleman, the maternal uncle of our subject, served as a soldier through the entire period of the Black Hawk War.
In 1839, A. L. Hobbs removed to Mt. Sterling ILL., where he conducted a store, and resided until his decease, which occurred in 1850. The parental family numbered six children, all of whom grew to mature years, and five are yet living. Mrs. A. L. Hobbs has reached the age of eighty-live years, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Brown, in Hutchinson, Kan.
Joe S. Hobbs grew to manhood in Mt. Sterling, this state, where he was educated in the public schools. In 1855 he came to Centralia and began clerking in the postoffice under Postmaster J. A. O'Melveny. After three years thus occupied, young Hobbs started out as traveling salesman.
In 1864 he returned to Centralia and established an insurance business. Two years later he abandoned that branch of trade and engaged in running a grocery in company with with his brother E. D. Hobbs, with whom he remained for three years, when they divided the stock, our subject taking as his shaer the crocery department, and continuing to deal in that line of goods for the succeeding eleven years. Shortly after opening up his fine crockery store, Mr. Hobbs combined with the business that of local insurance, loans and collections, which he found to be very profitable, andin 1880 sold out his stock of chine and put in a large assortment of dry goods. This he cararied on for eight years, when, his insurance business having reached such proportions as to demand more of his time, he disposed of his mercantile interests, and since that date has given his undivided attention to real estate, etc. He represents the following insurance companies: Westchester, of New York; Northwestern, of Milwaukee; the Delaware, of Philadelphia; Security, of Connecticut; and Hockford, of Rockford, ILL., besides several life and accident companies.
Joe S. Hobbs was married June 4, 1868, to Mrs. Mary A. (Bishop) Clark, the daughter of George Bishop, and the widow of John Clark. Their union was blessed by the birth of one child, a son, Amos A., who is engaged in business with his father.
In politics, Mr. Hobbs is a strong Republican, and is a prominent Mason, having attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is one of the oldest members of that order in Centralia, and for the past eleven years has been Secretary of the blue lodge, chapter and council, and for two years was Recorder of the commandery.
With his wife, he is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has aided very materially in furthering the good work in Centralia. Mr. Ilobbs is one of the corporators and is Vice-President of the Centralia Building & Loan Association, of which he is also a Director.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 331
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer