Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

George E. Hobbs is classed among the old and highly respected citizens of Buena Vista county and is also one of the wealthiest landowners of this section of the state, his possessions comprising four hundred and eighty acres on section 29, Nokomis township.  He was born September 27, 1847, in New Hampshire, not far from Lowell, and is a son of Francis Hobbs and a brother of Samuel L. Hobbs, of Storm Lake, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.

George E. Hobbs was reared on a farm within twenty miles of Boston, Massachusetts, and acquired a common-school education.  Believing that the new and rapidly developing west offered good opportunities, in 1871, he made his way to Iowa and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, which comprises a part of his present home farm.  He broke a portion of the land and erected a house preparatory to moving his family, and made a permanent location here in 1875.  As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings he added to his landed possessions and now has four hundred and eighty acres on section 29, Nokomis township.  He also at one time owned farm property in Woodworth and Plymouth counties but has disposed of that.  His home farm is a well improved place, supplied with barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock.  In 1906, however, he had the misfortune to lose his house and all its contents by fire, but he has replaced it by a nice residence.  In addition to carrying on general farming, he is also engaged in raising and feeding stock, shipping three to five carloads of cattle and hogs each year.

In August, 1870, Mr. Hobbs was married in Massachusetts to Miss Joanna Hennesy, who was born in the old Bay state.  They have become the parents of seven children, of whom three died in early childhood, while Frank passed away when nine months old.  Those living are:  George E., Jr., who is married and is now engaged in business; Frank, who is married and assists in the operation of the home farm; and Mary, the wife of Al Larson, who is a musician of note and a member of the Larson Orchestra, while Mrs. Larson is also a talented musician and is a teacher of music.

Politically Mr. Hobbs is a democrat and in 1885 was elected county treasurer on the democratic ticket, carrying the vote of twelve townships, although the county had formerly been a republican stronghold.  He has also served as township treasurer and has been a member of the school board for several years.  He was reared in the Unitarian faith, while Mrs. Hobbs is a communicant of the Catholic church.  During a residence covering more than three decades Mr. Hobbs has seen Buena Vista county develop from a practically unimproved district into one of the fine farming sections of the state and has seen Storm Lake and Alta grow from mere hamlets into thriving towns.  He has worked his way steadily upward and through judicious investments has accumulated a valuable property which now supplies him with all of the comforts of life and today he is given prominent place among the substantial citizens of the county.