CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: J. R. HOBBS - Van Zandt County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Peggy Brannon - peggybrannon@hotmail.com 23 October 2001 ***************************************************************** TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson J. R. HOBBS John R. Hobbs, of Mars, is among the substantial and useful citizens of Van Zandt County, loved and honored, is Mr. Hobbs. The family came from Alabama, where William Hobbs, his grandfather, who was a good old-time farmer, lived and died. Louis Harrison Hobbs was the father of John R. Hobbs, and was reared in Logan County, Kentucky, but died in Texas. He was a farmer and came to Texas in 1850, along with families of Rileys, Sides, etc. He married Miss Wincie Sides, who was reared in Alabama. They were married in 1836 and became the parents of fourteen children. They died in Van Zandt County. He died January 15, 1874, she September 25, 1896. John R. was born in Talledega County, Alabama, on December 4, 1842. As will be seen therefore, he was 18 years old when he came to this County, where he was educated. He adopted the vocation of farming, and has engaged in it ever since he was large enough to perform its required duties. February 27, 1868, he married Miss Amanda A. Mayfield, and they have three children. Elder Hobbs has therefore lived in Van Zandt County fifty-three years, and is universally regarded as a man of rare wisdom and great usefulness. He is a minister of the gospel, having been ordained to the gospel ministry in June, 1899, since which time he has been extraordinarily zealous in his ministerial work. He served in the Confederate army as a private soldier, and bore the hardships of soldier life and well performed his duties as a good soldier.