Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Dobbins, Joseph K.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Warrington Township


   JOSEPH K. DOBBINS farmer, P.O. Neshaminy, Pa., is a 
grandson of John dobbins, a native of Mount Holly, N. J., 
where he owned a farm.  His son Joseph was father of the 
subject of this sketch.  He was born in the same place and 
died there in 1859, in the sixty-first year of his age. He 
was also a farmer.  His wife, Mary Hilyard, came of a 
prominent English family.  Her father was the builder of the 
old historic fort, Castle William, on Governor's island, in 
New York harbor.  Another of the ancestors was Sir Richard 
Summers, from whom the Sandwich islands derived the name by 
which they were first known, as the Summers islands.  Mary 
Hilyard was born at Fort Columbus, and died in 1872 in her 
sixty-first year.  John Dobbins was vice-president of the 
first meeting organized to aid in building the first 
railroad projected in this country.  Joseph Dobbins' 
children were:  Eber H., John J., Richard J., Joseph K., 
Edward T., Murrell, and Mary A., all now living; and Susan 
and Sarah, deceased.  Joseph K. was born in Pemberton, N. 
J., December 27, 1838, and learned the trade of iron 
moulding, at which he worked four years, and in 1861 went to 
Washington, where he superintended the building of many of 
the forts for the defense of the capital, having thousands 
of men under him, he being in charge of one of three 
divisions into which the defensive works were organized.  He 
discharged his duties in a way to win commendation from the 
government, and on the completion of the chain of works, he 
did other government work, but on the approach of the rebels 
to the capital in 1863 he was again placed in charge and 
remained until the close of the war.  Returning home, he 
bought the farm in Bucks county, which he occupied for two 
years, when he sold it and removed to a farm near 
Philadelphia, and two years later went to Orange county, 
Va., staying there eight years, when he returned to 
Philadelphia and repurchased the farm in Bucks county, which 
has since been his home.  In 1862 he was married in 
Washington to Sarah Malvina, daughter of Thomas Jenkins, a 
native of Maryland, where she was born.  Her ancestors were 
well known in Maryland and the District of Columbia, where 
they resided many years.  Both of Mrs. Dobbins' grandparents 
had been in the war of 1812, and her mother's ancestors had 
been in the revolutionary army.  A granduncle of Mrs. 
Dobbins was one of the defenders of Baltimore, and fell in 
the successful defense of the city against the British in 
1814.  His name is inscribed on the monument erected to 
their memory in Baltimore.  Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins have nine 
children:  Joseph T., who is in New Jersey; Florence A., 
Susan C., Clara M., Salie L., Mary H., Edward J., Merrill 
F., and Gertrude V., all making their home with their 
parents.  Mr. Dobbins is a member of A. Y. M., and is 
regarded by his neighbors as one of the substantial citizens 
of the town.  In politics he is a republican.