Biographical Sketch of Millard Hobbs, Johnson County, Missouri, Jackson Township. >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Millard Hobbs, proprietor of "Cloverdale Stock Farm" in Jackson town- ship, is one of Johnson county's most successful and progressive farmers and stockmen. Mr. Hobbs was born in Pike county, Illinois in 1853, a son of a highly respected Mexican War veteran, D. K. Hobbs, who was a son of Solomon Hobbs, a native of Kentucky, who, in early pioneer days, moved to Illinois, where he became a very prominent farmer. The Hobbs family trace their descent back to three brothers, who came to America in the earliest colonial days and from whom the Hobbs family in this country have all descended. The three Hobbs brothers were natives of Germany. Millard Hobbs' father was a leader in his community in Illinois and for many years filled the office of township assessor. Mr. Hobbs, Sr., enlisted in the Mexican War and he and a brother, David, left home together to answer the country's call. Mr. Hobbs came back alone. He had buried his brother out on the plains. He died before the troops reached Mexico, from exhaus- tion, due to the long march. Mr. Hobbs returned to his farm after the war ended and became prosperous and influential. He and Mrs. Hobbs were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now living: Millard, the subject of this review; Mrs. Catherine Howard, Holden, Missouri; Edith, Holden, Missouri; and Frank, Kingsville, Missouri. The father died in 1893. Mrs. Hobbs had preceded her husband in death a few years, in March, 1887. The Hobbs family came to Johnson county in 1868. At Raulston schoolhouse in Johnson county, Millard Hobbs attended school. R. T. Fryer was employed as teacher there when Mr. Hobbs was a school boy. He knew personally several of the pioneer preachers, among them: Reverend W. W. Sisk, Reverend Pitts, and the Cobb brothers. When Millard Hobbs was a youth, practically all of Johnson county was open prairie and wild game of many different kinds abounded. One year, the Hobbs family obtained all their meat from game and never left the doorstep to hunt for the animals, and wild prairie chickens. As a lad, he has often seen the virgin sod broken by men and boys, who drove yokes of oxen while at this work. Crops were abundant in the early days, when the soil was new. Mr. Hobbs made his first money raising wheat, which he sold for one dollar and ten cents a bushel. He enjoys recalling the happy times of his youth, when the boys and girls would ride horseback across the prairie to attend dances and parties. Mr. Hobbs states that in those days of perfect freedom the moral conditions were apparently far better than today. In 1892, he purchased 160 acres of land in Kansas and two years later sold this tract and bought 130 acres of land in Cass county, Missouri. Mr. Hobbs sold his Cass county farm six years ago and moved to Johnson county, where he purchased 290 acres of land in Jackson township. He is devoting his attention to raising cattle, hogs and grain. He has at present a large herd of registered Here- fords and more than 50 head of hogs. The farm is well equipped for handling stock, having three large barns in good repair and the fencing well in order. Mr. Hobbs harvested 800 bushels of oats and 50 tons of hay this season, of 1917. He had 50 acres in corn and is planting, at the time of this writing, 35 acres of his place in wheat. In 1884, Millard Hobbs and Alberta Sutlief, of Kansas, were united in marriage. Mrs. Hobbs is a daughter of George Sutlief. To this union have been born ten children: Mrs. Mable Beasley, Pleasant Hill, Miss- ouri; Mrs. Cora Curran, Santiago, California; Mrs. Cula Grey, Mt. Grove, Missouri; Mack, who is serving in the army of the United States; Mrs. Helen Carter, Holden, Missouri; Morrill, Holden, Missouri; Hazel, Kenneth, and Gilbert, all at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs are excellent citizens and they are rearing one of the best families in the county. They are well known and highly regarded among the most substantial and public spirited people of the township. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================