Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 944. CAPTAIN RICHARD HOBSON deceased, was a native of England, born in Derbyshire, October 23, 1829. His father was a hatter by occupation, who lost his wife and sought a new country in which to rear his five motherless children. After some time he decided upon America. With limited means he crossed the ocean, with a party of Mormons, under the leadership of a bishop, who had chartered a ship for that purpose and landed at New Orleans in March, 1843. Thence to St. Louis, Missouri, via steamer. There he made the acquaintance of Miles Ayres, who was organizing a company to go to Oregon, and Mr. Hobson was persuaded to win the train. Dr. Whitman was also there and confirmed their resolution of making the trip. This was the first large emigration to Oregon, and the experiences over the new route were varied and exciting, but the "Mecca" of their pilgrimage was at last reached after six months' travel, and they settled upon Clatsop plains, where Mr. Hobson pursued an agricultural life. Richard remained with his father and assisted in caring for the farm, and in 1853 was married to Miss Kate K. Young, of English descent, a native of Australia, who, with her parents and eight brothers and sisters, emigrated to Oregon, in 1849. Not liking the climate of Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. Young returned to Australia in 1854, and the same year Richard Hobson and wife sailed for the same land. Locating near Melbourne, Mr. Hobson secured and completed several large contracts for the fencing of large estates, and was thus employed until 1859, when he returned to Oregon and purchased a farm on Clatsop plains. He then built a small sail-boat and ran upon the bay between Clatsop and Astoria, doing a general passenger and freight business. After a few years he engaged in steamboating about the river, and securing a pilot's license for both bar and river, operated between the ocean and Portland, as opportunity permitted. In 1871 he removed his family to Astoria, purchased city property and established a home, continuing to operate upon the river until 1876, when, through failing health, he sought a dryer climate and passed the winter in the Sandwich islands; finding relief he again sought these islands, in the fall of 1877, but died at sea, on the bark, Jane A. Falkinburg, while returning to Oregon, May 24, 1878. He was a man with whom honesty was a watch-word; strong and practical in his Christian principles, noble, pure and widely mourned. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson had nine children, four of whom survive, namely: William, now engaged in steamboating on Puget sound; Mary I., now Mrs. John Phair, of San Francisco; Etta, A., wife of H. F. Prail, a business man of Astoria, and diaries, now securing his education. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.