Caton Hoblit Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 511-512

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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CATON HOBLIT, general farmer and stock raiser, residing on section 
fourteen in Fordham township, Clark county, is one of the most 
prominent men of his vicinity. He is a native of Logan county, 
Illinois, and was born December 2, 1850. He was the youngest son in a 
family consisting of four sons and two daughters, born to John E. and 
Rachel (Larrison) Hoblit. He devoted himself to farming in Illinois and 
in the spring of 1882 went to Spink county, South Dakota, with the 
intention of speculating in Dakota lands. He farmed in Tetonka township 
about three years with poor success, and in 1885 made settlement on his 
present farm. He owns one half-section of land and raises cattle and 
horses. He winters from two hundred to two hundred and fifty head of 
stock, and is making a success of his farm. He has improved the 
property and is surrounded by more than usual comforts. He entered upon 
the duties of a farmer's life with a determination to succeed. He is 
not now able to exert himself on account of his increased weight, 
weighing five hundred pounds, but his active mind is ever at work 
planning the methods to be pursued.  

Our subject was married in 1877 to Miss Alwilda Allbaugh. Mrs. Hoblit 
is a lady of rare accomplishments and intelligence, and for twenty-five 
years was a teacher. Two children, both daughters, have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoblit, named as follows: Bessie, deceased, and Gracie, 
who is a young lady of good education and is an instructor in the 
public schools. Since taking up his residence in Dakota our subject has 
devoted time to the study of law and has been admitted to the Dakota 
bar. He is a man of more than usual breadth of mind, and his ready wit 
and jovial manner gain him many friends. He is perhaps one of the most 
extensively known and universally popular men of Clark county. He is a 
Populist in political sentiment, favors state control and equal 
suffrage. As a delegate to the convention at Huron he early mixed in 
the affairs of the Populist party, and has done very efficient work for 
the cause of reform. He has attended as delegate numerous state 
conventions, and is a central figure in the promotion of every just 
cause. His home is one of those pleasant abodes where genial 
hospitality, brotherly kindness and love reign, and he is passing his 
life amid these pleasant surroundings, possessing enough of this 
world's goods to tide him and his estimable wife through life. The 
family is well known in the vicinity where they have resided so many 
years, and are held in the highest esteem by their large circle of 
acquaintances. It is not a usual circumstance to meet with a man of 
contented mind, when physically incapacitated for labor, when life has 
been so filled with the active duties of life, but in the subject of 
this review may be found one of this class. His counsel and executive 
ability are utilized in the management of both personal and public 
affairs, and to the benefit of his associates and business alike.