Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Stobo, Thomas 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 27, 2007, 5:38 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) THOMAS STOBO. Thomas Stobo was born on Sand Creek, in Rock Creek township, on the 5th of January, 1843, and is a son of David and Catherine (Harvey) Stobo. The father, a native of Scotland, was born near the city of Glasgow in the year 1822 and when a young man he left the land of his nativity and crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world, taking up his abode in Connecticut. After a short time, however, he went to New York, where he was employed as a salesman in a wholesale dry-goods store for six years. Thinking that he might have better opportunities in the west, however, he came to Bartholomew county, Indiana, and began farming in Rock Creek township. Purchasing a tract of sixty acres of land, he cleared this, began its improvement and transformed it into a productive tract. He also bought a farm of eighty acres in Haw Creek township and thereon died in 1859. He was a self made man and all that he possessed was obtained entirely through his own efforts. He possessed strong determination and indefatigable energy and gradually he accumulated a competency. His political support was given to the Democracy and he was a member of the Presbyterian church. In his family were six children: David, who is now living on Franklin street in Columbus, is the owner of town property and also a tract of eleven acres of land in this county; Thomas is the next younger; John, who likewise lives on Franklin street, is engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business and is the owner of town property; Margaret; Joseph, living on Franklin street, is a blacksmith by occupation and is also the owner of city real estate. William J., who was also a blacksmith, died in early manhood. Thomas Stobo was reared under the parental roof, pursued his education in the public schools and was a youth of sixteen years at the time of his father's death. After arriving at years of maturity he was united in marriage, on the 12th of January, 1881, to Mrs. Ellen M. Cox, the widow of Samuel Cox and a daughter of James and Ann (Heilman) McCleaster. Her father was born in Ireland, but when a young man left the Emerald Isle and, crossing the ocean to the new world, took up his abode in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he followed farming and teaming. When he became a naturalized American citizen he gave his political support to the Democracy and was active in politics, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. Removing from Ohio to Indiana, he became the owner of a farm of sixty acres near Columbus and in his business affairs he prospered, winning creditable and desirable success. He died in this county in the year 1879, respected by all who knew him. In his family were the following children: William, deceased; Campbell died in Butler county, Ohio; Ellen; Eliza, deceased; Samuel died in Butler county, Ohio; Nannie; Josephine; Frank, deceased; Emma, deceased; Albert; James, who died in infancy. Thomas Stobo has led a very active life. He lived for twenty years upon his farm in Clay township, a tract of one hundred and twelve acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and greatly improved. In early life he engaged in teaming and rolling logs. He was quick to obtain any employment which would yield him an honest living and gain him a start in the business world. After securing a farm of his own he raised stock, making a specialty of Jersey cattle and conducting a dairy farm. He sold sixty pounds of butter each week for fifteen years and his annual sales amounted to from three to four thousand pounds per year. The product of his dairy was of such excellent quality that it found a very ready sale and commanded the highest market price. Mr. Stobo continued to engage in farming until 1901, when he purchased his town property and he now has a pleasant home on the corner of Thirteenth and Sycamore streets in the city of Columbus. His rest has been well earned and he is now enjoying an honorable retirement from further labor. Mr. and Mrs. Stobo have had no children of their own, but have reared an adopted daughter, Josephine, who is now the wife of William F. Brockman, who is represented on another page of this work. Mr. Stobo votes with the Democracy and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows society and is true to the beneficent teachings of the order. Success does not come to the man who idly waits, but to the earnest toiler and. realizing this truth, Mr. Stobo at the outset of his career determined to win prosperity through persistent and earnest labor. He worked on year after year, making the most of his opportunities, and now he is the possessor of a handsome competence which enables him to rest from further labor and to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. In September, 1902. Mr. Stobo purchased fifty-three acres of land, southwest from Columbus three and one-half miles, in sight of the court house, where they removed June 24, 1903, and where they expect to make an ideal country home, as they have a beautiful location. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/stobo814gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb