COBBS COUNTY, GA - BIOS Thomas Jefferson Dobbs ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Hodson The Southland: Vol. XI, No. 1 Waco, Texas; February 1903 [pg. 6] Thos. Jefferson Dobbs, Chandler, Texas At the beginning of the 19th Century Josiah Dobbs came from Scotland to Elbert County, Georgia. He located there and became the father of seven sons, who in turn reared families and have settled in various portions of our beautiful Southland. The 5th son was named Josiah in honor of his father and was born in the Georgia home in the new century’s dawn. He was reared on a farm and in due time married Miss Elizebeth [sic] Prothro. They afterwards moved to Cobb County, Georgia where they were reared and died, farmers all their lives, slave holders. Col. David Dobbs who fought in the Seminole [War] was a brother to Josiah and an uncle of our subject. Josiah had 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. T.J. was the 4th boy, his four sisters were all younger than himself. During the rearing of the children, the family lived in the Cobb County home. Tommie grew up a stout robust boy. The great calamity of losing both parents befell the children when Tom was 9, and the eldest 16. This made many hardships for them all. The school days of T.J. were limited on this account but he secured a good common school education. At the age of 20, he married Miss Francis Leverett whom he had met in school. Two children were born unto them before the Civil War. She died however while her husband was confined in the siege of Vicksburg, and she had been dead quite a period before her husband knew it. Later he married Miss Mary E. Leverett, a sister of his former wife, to this union, eight children have been born 5 boys and 3 girls. The Leveretts were a family of teachers in Georgia and remembered with great satisfaction. It is said that Hon. Joe Brown of Georgia erected a monument over one of these teachers as his grateful expression to a benefactor. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs came from Georgia to Texas in 1869 and settled 2 1/2 miles from Chandler. Later Mr. Dobbs moved to Tyler, and was 17 years a merchant there, while in Tyler he was alderman for 4 years and city mayor for a short period but filled all these positions with satisfaction to the people. In 1891 he erected his present residence in Chandler retired from business and moved to his new home where he has lived in comfort, superintending his farm which lies 2 1/2 miles north of Chandler. He has 1000 [?] acres in his tract with 400 acres in cultivation. This land is advancing in value and Mr. Dobbs says he would be afraid to set a price on it. The family now is composed of Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs and two daughters Miss Eugenia and Tiny. Mr. Dobbs has taken great pains and much pleasure in giving his children the best advantages. The family seem to enjoy life and look well to the interests and welfare of their growing little city. Miss Eugenia is the president and one of the promoters of the Village Improvement Society in Chandler and they all take a lively interest in whatever is for progress and culture. Miss Eugenia was educated in the Tyler schools and finished in Visitation Convent, St. Louis. Miss Tiny had the best advantages. Mr. Dobbs was Capt. of Co. B in 41st Georgia Regiment and made a good record and is generally known by his friends as Capt. Dobbs, and is now commander of the local camp of Confederate soldiers. [the original article includes an image of T.J. Dobb’s residence in Chandler - a large two-story Edwardian structure with two fireplaces, a complex pitched roof and open porch; surrounded by high hedges and a stately picket fence] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1860 Cobb County, Georgia - Gritter District [Marietta post office] dwelling 1578, household 1348; orig. pg. 194 [previous page stamped #416] enumerated 08 August 1860 by W.H. Tucker, Ass’t Marshal John Leverett 65 Farmer real estate $800 personal $3500 born South Carolina Ursly [sic] 50 born South Carolina M.E. 17 born South Carolina John B. 14 born South Carolina Nancy H. 13 born South Carolina E.M. [male] 10 born South Carolina M.W. [female] 7 born Georgia all children attended school the previous year - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1860 Cobb County, Georgia - Gritter District [Marietta post office] dwelling 1579, household 1349; orig. pg. 194 [previous page stamped #416] enumerated 08 August 1860 by W.H. Tucker, Ass’t Marshal T.J. Dobbs 21 Farmer real estate $ -- personal $1400 born Georgia S.F. Dobbs 19 born South Carolina - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1870 Cobb County, Georgia - Gritter District [Marietta post office] dwelling 682, household 683; pg. 88 enumerated 15 July 1870 by James C. Bell, Ass’t Marshal John Levirette [sic] 70 Farmer real estate $500 personal $300 born South Carolina Nancy 23 Keeping House born South Carolina Martha 16 At Home born Georgia - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1880 Henderson County, Texas - Justices Precinct #4 Supervisor’s District 1, Enumeration District 34 dwelling 270, family 274; orig. pg. 28 [stamped pg. #173] enumerated (date blank) by A.A. Faulk T.J. Dobbs 40 Farmer born Georgia [both parents born Georgia] M. E. 35 Wife housekeeper born South Carolina [father Virg; mother So. Carolina] T. J. 18 Son Farmer born Georgia [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] L. P. 14 Son Farmer born Georgia [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] N. J. 12 Son Farmer born Georgia [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] C. E. 10 Son Farmer born Texas [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] M. F. 6 Daughter born Texas [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] J. L. 4 Son born Texas [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] I. W. 2 Son born Texas [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1900 Smith County, Texas - Tyler City Ward #3 - (part of) Justices Precinct No. 1 Supervisor’s District 7, Enumeration District 97 dwelling 359, household 386; sheet 19-A enumerated 15 June 1900 by L.E. Shaw owns home at 700 Dobbs Street Thos. J. Dobbs Head Mar 1839 61 born Georgia [both parents born Georgia] Farmer Mary E. Wife Nov 1842 57 born South Carolina [both parents born S.C.] John L. Son Jan 1876 24 born Texas [father Georgia; mother S.C.] [**see below] Eugenia Daughter Sept 1880 19 born Texas [father Georgia; mother S.C.] Tinnie R. Daughter May 1883 17 born Texas [father Georgia; mother S.C.] at school E.M. Leverett [BIL*] June 1853 46 born South Carolina [both parents born S.C.] *Brother-In-Law, Widowed Thomas and Mary have been married 35 years; Mary has had 9 children of whom 6 are still living John is a salesman in a gro. store, employed three months Tinnie attended school 8 months during the previous year - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Federal Census, 1920 Henderson County, Texas - Justices Precinct #5 Supervisor’s District 3, Enumeration District 22 dwelling 125, household 125; sheet #7-A [stamped pg. #178] enumerated 10 January 1920 by George B. Boyd owns farm on Massey Road Thomas J. Dabbs [sic] Head 80 born Georgia [father Va.; mother So. Carolina] Mary E. Wife 77 born So. Carolina [both parents born So. Carolina] Tiney R. Clark [?] Daughter 30 born Texas [father Georgia; mother So. Carolina] Thomas S. Grandson 6 born Texas [both parents born Texas] Thomas J. Dobbs’ occupation is entered as “none”