Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 871. REV. JOSEPH HOBERG of McMinnville, Oregon, is a superannuated minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of Yam Hill county's most worthy and respected citizen. Father Hoberg, as he is familiarly known, was born in Prussia, Germany, April 9, 1828. He is the son of German parents, both devout members of the Catholic Church, and with them came to America in 1842 and settled at Detroit, Michigan. In 1847 they moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where they spent the rest of their lives and died at a good old age, his mother in her eightieth year, and his father on the following day, in his eighty-sixth year. Their lives were characterized by honesty and uprightness and they died strong in the faith of the Catholic Church. They had a family of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. Mr. Hoberg began life for himself as a driver on the Erie canal. He was next employed as a steamboat steward on the Mississippi river for some four or five years. After this he married and settled in Lansing, Iowa, where he was engaged in house painting until 1865. He was converted in Galena, Illinois, under the preaching of Rev. H. Crews, a Methodist minister, and soon after his new birth began preaching the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ. He came with his family to Oregon in 1865, and in 1869 joined the Oregon Conference. Here for twenty-one years he preached and labored acceptably in a number of churches, the following being some of the charges at which he was stationed: La Fayette, McMinnville, East Portland, Brownsville, Amity and Monroe. Father Hoberg is a great lover of little children and during his ministry has done much efficient Sunday-school work. In the Sunday-school or on the street or wherever he meets the children he always has a kind word of greeting for them. He was superannuated in 1890. Still, however, he keeps up his Sabbath-School work, and is enthusiastic as ever. He has been a member of the Oregon State Sunday-school Association from its organization, has served as its President and Vice-President, and is now a member of its executive committee. He is frequently invited to make addresses at picnics and similar occasions and has the happy faculty of interesting both the young and the old. While he has not accumulated much of this world's goods, he has devoted his life to the work of the Master and in this way has laid up treasures above. Mr. Hoberg was married in Galena, Illinois, in 1851, to Miss Mary A. Sproule, a native of Philadelphia, and they have had twelve children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Frank R., engaged in business in Mansfield, Coos county, Oregon; Verona J. is the wife of W. W. Nelson, a Custom House Inspector at Portland; Ella Josephine, wife of Hon. P. P. Gates, of La Fayette; J. Grant, in the real estate business at Hillsboro, this State; Georgia M., wife of J. I. Knight, who is also doing a real estate business at Hillsboro; Renne O. is engaged in farming in Coos county; and Eva J. and Charles H., both at home and attending college. Mr. Hoberg has built a comfortable home in McMinnville, where he is surrounded with all the comforts of life, happy in the companionship of the wife of his youth. She has been a devoted Christian since her girlhood, and to her influence, under God, he gives credit for his conversion, and in all he has tried to do and to be she had been his faithful first lieutenant. Politically, Mr. Hoberg is a Republican. Transcriber's additional notes: "Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa" By Ellery M. Hancock S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913; Vol. 1, page 432 Chapter 21: History of Lansing; The Churches, Methodist Episcopal Church "The M. E. church choir was organized in 1858 with Jos. Hoberg leader. Prior to this the few members who worshiped in the little schoolhouse near the park, used the M. E. hymn book and Mr. Hemenway pitched the tune. In 1858 Rev. Sifford kept a singing school. A little later an organ was purchased, and a choir made up of the following persons: W. D. Morgan, Jos. Hoberg, S. M. Baldwin, C. Selle, A. Wood, Robt. Whitney, Mesdames V. K. Houghton, Georgie Berry, A. H. Woodruff, E. D. Hale, Misses Susan Antony, Freelove Baldwin, Adeline Baldwin. Lizzie Morgan, organist. Census 1860, June 8; Allamakee Co, IA; Lansing Twp, p 96 Joseph Hoburg, 32, Prussia, master painter, $900 / $100 Mary J, 28, PA, housekeeper Mary E, 5, IL Francis, 3, IL Varena J, 1, IA Hamil Borde, 11, ENG, att. school John Logeson, 19, NOR, painter 1870, July 19; Yamhill Co, OR; LaFayette Pct, p 526 Joseph Hoberg, 42, Prussia, minister, M.E.C., $50 / $600 Mary, 40, PA Francis, 14, IL, att. school Verona, 11, IA, att. school Ella, 9, IA, att. school Grant, 7, IA Georgia, 4, Or Reynolds, 1, OR 1880, June 1; Yamhill Co, OR; LaFayette Pct, p 422 Joseph Hoberg, 53, Prussia, Prus, Prus, farmer Mary Jane, wife, 50, PA, IRE, IRE Ella, dau, 18, IA, Prus, IRE, att. school Grant, son, 16, IA, Prus, IRE, att. school Georgia, dau, 14, OR, Prus, IRE, att. school Rennolds, son, 11, OR, Prus, IRE, att. school Evaline, dau, 8, OR, Prus, IRE, att. school Charles, son, 6, OR, Prus, IRE 1900, June 19; Yamhill Co, OR; South McMinnville Pct, p 79 Joseph Hoberg, 72, April 1828, GER, GER, GER, mar 49 yrs, to US 1842, glazier & painter, owns home free Mary J, wife, 69, July 1830, PA, IRE, IRE, mar 49 yrs, 12 children-8 living 1910, April 18; Yamhill Co, OR; South McMinnville Pct, p 251; 532 Grant st. Joseph Hoberg, 82, GER, GER, GER, mar 1, mar 58 yrs, to US 1842, Nat., owns home, no occ. Mary J, wife, 79, PA, IRE, IRE, mar 1, mar 58 yrs, 12 children-8 living 1920, January 14; Yamhill Co, OR; McMinnville Wd 1, p 155; 532 Grant st Joseph Hoberg, 91, GER, GER, GER, Wd, to US 1842, minister, vicinity Ella G. Metzgaer, dau, 57, IA, GER, IL, married, sales lady, dry good store Oregon Death Index: Mary Jane Hoberg, died December 18, 1915, Yamhill Co, Cert. # 6282 Joseph Hoberg, died August 15, 1922, Yamhill Co., Cert. # 141 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.