Biographical Sketch of Charles William Hobson, Dent County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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Charles William Hobson, farmer and stock dealer and raiser, of Norman 
Township, was born in Randolph county, Ind., October 27, 1837, his 
parents being Arthur and Catherine (Moffatt) Hobson, natives of Chat-
ham county, N.C., born in the early part of the nineteenth century. 
They were married in their native state in about 1831 or 1832, and
removed, probably, to Randolph county, Ind., and from there in 1838 to
what is now Dent county, Mo.  They settled near the head of Dry Fork,
and here the father improved several farms.  Later he moved to Henry
county, Mo., but about two years later returned to Dent county, where
the mother died about 1864.  In 1866 the father went to visit a son in
Iowa, and shortly afterward started to return to Missouri, and from 
that time no trace of him has ever been found.  He was one of the first
settlers of Dent county and one of its honorable and industrious citi-
zens.  He was of a roving disposition, and was a wagon maker and black-
smith by trade.  He was a natural mechanic, and could make anything 
from wood or iron.  The mother was of Scotch-Irish descent, and her 
father, Charles Moffatt, was probably born in the old country, and died
in North Carolina.  Charles William Hobson was the sixth of six sons 
and six daughters, seven now living, four in Dent county.  He received
a limited common school education, and March 29, 1857, he married Miss
Cynthia A. daughter of James D. and Levisia (Coppedge) Watkins, natives
of Virginia and Kentucky, and born in 1800 and 1807, respectively.  Mr.
and Mrs. Watkins came to Dent county when young, were married there, 
and settled on Dry Fork about 1830, where they improved a good farm.
They were among the first settlers of that creek, and Watkins township
was named for Mr. Watkins.  He died in June, 1863, and the mother in
November, 1883.  Mr. Watkins was justice of the peace for a number of
years.  To Mr. and Mrs. Hobson were born nine children, five sons and
two daughters now living.  Since the war Mr. Hobson has lived in Norman
Township, with the exception of a short time.  He has improved five 
good farms, and has lived on his present farm for three years.  This
consists of 272 acres, 100 under cultivation.  In 1872 and 1873 he 
followed merchandising on his farm near Plank Bank.  He is a Democrat
in his political views, casting his first presidential vote for J. C.
Breckinridge in 1860.  He is a member of the Grange, the Wheel, and he 
and wife and two sons are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
His eldest brother, Joab, served as a private in the Mexican War, and
was also in a Missouri regiment during the late Civil War.  He is now
farming in Newton county.  Another brother, Aaron S., was for three 
years in the United States Cavalry.  He is now in Iowa, farming.

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