2.4.3.2 Joseph Overton Hobbs

[Last amended: July 12, 2003]

Joseph Overton Hobbs was the second child of Mary Barnett and Joseph Hobbs. He was born on July 18, 1841 at Cookham, Berks and baptised in the parish church on September 29, 1841.

Joseph left England when he was 18 years old and traveled to New Zealand arriving in the late spring or early summer of l860 and staying for eight years. On arrival he became acquainted with some people with the surname of Hobbs, who, as far as he could learn, were not related to him but were very friendly. They invited him to live with them which he did for some time. He also worked for them in their business which was called Hobbs and Sons, and was located on Colombo Street, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Joseph sailed to San Francisco. In a short diary he wrote "Left Auckland, New Zealand, on the Alice Cameron, March 5, 1868 for California." The Alice Cameron was a famous "clipper ship".

Entries in his diary reveal he spent the next three years in the western states and finally homesteaded a ranch.

Joseph married Catherine Malone Devlin on April 14, 1881 at Tooele, Utah. This was the widowed Catherine's second marriage. She brought to the union two children by her previous husband. They were George and Emeline Walters.

Joseph and Catherine were wise parents and taught their children well. All his life Joseph had a great interest in and knowledge of astronomy, other branches of science, literature and history. He had a great love of learning, which he displayed throughout his life.

In 1920, the US census recorded Joseph and Catherine living in Salt Lake County, Utah. Joseph was 79 and catherine 69. Joseph was listed as a farner. According to the census information, he had arrived in the US in 1868 and had been naturalised in 1874. Catherine had arrived in the US in 1881 and was naturalised in 1888. Both could read and write.

He continued to operate his farm and sell his produce until his death on October 28, 1924.

He never again saw his family or traveled to his native land although he maintained contact with his family back in England through letters and the exchange of photographs. A number of the letters he received from family members survived.

Catherine Malone Devlin was born on March 5, 1849 at St Helier on the Isle of Jersey. She was known as Kate. She had married George Frederick Walters st St Hellier on January 14, 1868. Two children were born, Emeline Mary in 1870 and George in 1872, before Kate and her family emmigrated to Utah. Unfortunately her husband died on October 4, 1878, leaving her a widow with two young children.

Kate was struck by tragedy just before Christmas in 1896, as explain by Merle Hobbs Casper:

George Walters, who was twenty-two years old, left home on Friday, December 18, 1896 to take a load of hay to the hay market in Salt Lake City, hoping to sell it to earn some money for Christmas. After spending much time there and not being able to sell his hay, he evidently became discouraged and started home on Saturday. He left his load of hay at the hay market and rode one of his horses while leading the other. His dead body was found the next morning near the intersection of Vine Street and 5600 South by Frank C. Howe who operated the Elgin Dairy on northeast corner of the intersection. Dr. Rauscer who lived close by was called to examine the body. He said the death had been caused by violent contact with the ground causing a blood vessel in the brain to burst. From the evidence at the scene of the accident it appeared that the horse George was riding stumbled on the hard frozen ground and fell taking George with him and causing him to hit his head on the ground. He body was taken home and prepared for burial as was customary at that time and was buried in the Murray City Cemetery.

Children of Joseph Overton Hobbs and Catherine Malone Devlin:

Photos on this page courtesy of Melba Hobbs