William Right Hobbs

Born on 13 August 1823, in Jefferson County, Alabama. He came on horseback to the Republic of Texas in 1839, joining older brothers who were already in Texas. William received an Unconditional Certificate #1360 for 320 acres in Bastrop County on 26 August 1845, from the Republic of Texas General Land Office. He had stated in his application for land that he had been in the Republic since 1839. On 15 September 1845, William joined the Texas Rangers under command of Captain D. C. Cady, fought in the Mexican War (1846-1848), and later enlisted in the Confederate Army but was furloughed on a Surgeon’s Certificate. William married Eleanor Jane Smith on 1 July 1847 and settled on his land grant, When Burleson County, Texas was organized in 1846, William’s homestead was in the new county until Lee County, Texas was organized in 1874, never moving from the Sand Fly area.

William became the Postmaster at Sand Fly, Bastrop County, Texas on 7 November 1853, and was made a Master Mason on 22 December 1855 by Post Island Lodge # 181 A.F. and A.M. William and Eleanor Hobbs had 14 known children. They are buried in the Lawhon Springs Cemetery, in Lee County, Texas. [1] Postmaster Hobbs, was a Texas Ranger, Master Mason, and Veteran of the Mexican-Indian War before being appointed Post master. [2]

An Obituary of William Right Hobbs

To the W.M. Wardens, and Breathern:
Of Post Oak, Island, Lodge No. 181 of A.F. & A.M.:

We your Committee beg leaf to submit, the following in memory of our deceased, Bro. W.R. Hobbs. Bro. Hobbs was born in Jefferson County, Al abama, April 13, 1823. He came to Texas in 1839; was married to Miss E. J. Smith, July 1, 1847 and settled in Lee County, then Burleson County, and later Bastrop County, Texas where he lived till the Mallet, of death fell, and his Spirit was summons'd to return unto God who gave it.

Bro. Hobbs, was made a master mason in 1855 on Dec. 22nd., by Post Oak Island Lodge, and loved the teaching of the order. Bro. Hobbs, loved his country, and fought many Engagements to repel the Indians, Mexicans, and Out-laws, who dared to tresspass, upon the rights of his Fellow Citizens. Now Whereas it pleased God, in his wisdom, on the 21st. day of December 1902 to call the spirit of our Bro. from labor on earth, to eternal rest. There-fore be it Resolved.

1st. That we bow in humble, to the will of God.
2nd. That Post Oak Island, Lodge has lost a true and worthey member.
3rd. That his Wife, and Children, have lost an indulgent and a kind husband, and father, and the Community a good Citizen.
4th. That we wear the usual badge of mourning 30 days.
5th. That these resolutions, be inscribed in our record, and a copy furnished the Elgin Courier for Publication and a copy furnished the widow, of our deceased Bro.

(Committee) J.W. Spencer
J.O. Lee
M.L. Burk
(A copy) For the Widow.[3]

For more on William Right Hobbs read Life in Frontier Texas.

View the profile on this tree for my 3rd great uncle, William Right Hobbs (1823 - 1902) - JB

1. mostly copied from Hobbs of Sand Fly
2. excerpted from "History of Lee County" Sand Fly Post Office
3. Posted 28 Jun 2011 at Ancestry.com by user "fairladyz1"