Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 226.
 
WILLIAM HENRY HOBSON

     It falls to the lot of few men to fill so important and influential a place
in a community as has William Henry Hobson, of Stayton, who, after many years of
activity in various lines of effort, is now retired from public and commercial
affairs and is spending the golden sunset years of his life in well earned ease
and comfort. For a long period he was one of the most conspicuous figures in the
business life of his section of the valley, becoming interested in a number of
enterprises, and at the same time contributing of his efforts and his means to
the improvement and betterment of his community.
     Mr. Hobson was born in Jackson county, Missouri, on the 14th of March,
1847, and is a son of Headley and Emily A. (Speinheaur) Hobson, who had gone
from North Carolina to Missouri in 1843. The father was a brick manufacturer and
building contractor, which line he followed there until 1847, when he brought
his family across the plains to the Pacific coast. He was at Fort Sutter,
California, when gold was discovered there, and did some mining in partnership
with his brothers, Alfred and George. In the fall of 1848 he boarded a sailing
vessel and went to Oregon City, Oregon, while shortly afterward he took a
donation claim of six hundred and forty acres of land near the present town of
Stayton, being one of the first settlers in this locality. Here he created a
good farm, cultivating the soil and raising stock. He lived on that place until
his death and his wife died in California some years, afterwards, but was buried
here.
    William H. Hobson secured his early education in the district schools and
then attended Sublimity College, under Professor Milton Wright, the father of
Orville and Wilbur W right, who made the first successful airplane. After taking
a commercial course in a business college in Portland, Mr. Hobson went to work
as a clerk in a general store, where he remained until October 9, 1871, when he
returned to Stayton and opened a general store, starting with eight hundred
dollars worth of goods from a bankrupt store at Aumsville that was indebted to
his father. He was successful in this venture, to which he devoted his close
attention, and he continued in mercantile business for fifty years. Besides the
store at Stayton, he established stores at Salem, Mill City and other places,
all of which were profitable, and he became a prominent figure in the commercial
affairs of this section of the state. In 1875-6 Mr. Hobson, in partnership with
Uriah Whitney, built the Stayton flour mill, which they owned for several years,
Mr. Whitney running the mill and Mr. Hobson confining his attention to his
mercantile business, in which Mr. Whitney also was interested for some years. In
association with Thomas Sims, Lee Brown and John Shaw, Mr. Hobson founded Mill
City, building a large sawmill there, and was identified with that enterprise
for many years, becoming secretary of the Santiam Lumber Company. He also
established a large lumber yard in Salem and became interested in various other
enterprises. He held large landed interests and at one time had over four
thousand acres of land under cultivation. While a very busy man in his
individual affairs, he was in no way neglectful of the civic and moral interests
of his community, his generous nature being evidenced by his support of all
worthy enterprises for the public good. He contributed liberally to the building
of churches and schoolhouses and gave to the Baptist people at Stayton the plot
of ground on which the church was built.
     Mr. Hobson was married twice. On July 2, 1871, he wedded Miss Ella Gibson,
a native of Marion county and a daughter of Guyon Gibson, one of the pioneers of
this locality. To this union was born one child, Mrs. Pearl Perry, who lives in
Portland, Oregon. The mother died June 10, 1878, and on December 12, 1880, Mr.
Hobson was married to Miss Anna Thomas, who was born in Portland, a daughter of
Washington Thomas, a well-known pioneer, and by this marriage there are two
children: Alta, deceased, wife of Dr. W. A. Pintler, and Everett H., who is a
graduate of the medical school of Willamette University and is now practicing
his profession in Salem.
     In his political views Mr. Hobson is a republican and has taken an active
part in public affairs. He served on the first city council of Stayton and for
several terms as mayor, as well as a member of the school board for many years.
In 1895 he was elected to the state senate, where, by successive rejections, he
served for eight years with ability and distinction. In 1874 Mr. Hobson was made
a Master Mason in Pearl Lodge, No. 66, at Turner, being the first man raised in
that lodge, and after he came to Stayton he was one of the charter members of
Santiam Lodge, No. 25, which was organized July 15, 1878, he and Mr. Whitney
being the only living charter members at this time. He was master of that lodge
at different times until his service covered fourteen different years and during
1896-7 he was grand master of the Masonic grand lodge of Oregon. He has received
the degree of Knight Templar and is a member of Portland Consistory of the
Scottish Rite. On November 14, 1870, Mr. Hobson was made a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and became a charter member of Stayton Lodge,
No. 64, which was organized June 29, 1878. He passed through the chairs of this
lodge and in 1906 was grand master of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows. He has
received the degrees of the encampment, and is a member of the Order of the
Eastern Star and the Daughters of Rebekah. Despite his years, Mr. Hobson retains
his mental and physical vigor to a remarkable degree and has never abated his
interest in the affairs of his community, though advancing age has prevented his
taking as active a part as in former years. Heaven has bounteously lengthened
out his life until he has seen the crowning glory of this, the most wonderful
epoch in the world's history, and now, surrounded by comfort and plenty, he has
the satisfaction of knowing that he has lived to good purpose and that he is
well worthy of the affectionate regard in which he is held by all who know him.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2012 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.