Joseph Henry Hobkirk was the son of Robert HOBKIRK and Margaret BLEAKIE and was born in Wilton, Roxburghshire, Scotland on 1 March 1819.
In 1842 he immigrated from his home in Howdenburn, Roxburghshire, Scotland, along with his mother and three siblings.
On 7 December 1848 he married Almira Jane COOPER at Beaver Damn Dodge County, Wisconsin
In 1860 he was farming in Utica Township, Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
In 1870 and 1880 he was farming in Rock Township, Mitchell County, Iowa.
Almira Jane (Cooper) Hobkirk passed away on 18 January 1894 in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, at age 68. Almira was born 10 September in New York. She is buried in the Osage City Cemetery.
Joseph died 29 February 1904 in Burr Oak Township, aged 85 years. He is buried in the Osage City Cemetery.(See obituary below)
According to the 1900 Iowa Federal Census, Joseph was a widower and was living with his daughter, Anna Duncan.
Following are the children of Joseph and Almira:
Robert Stephen HOBKIRK, born 18 December 1849 in Rosendale, Fondulac County, Wisconsin
Wallace Joseph HOBKIRK, born 6 December 1851 in Rosendale, Fondulac County, Wisconsin.
Anna HOBKIRK, born 2 January 1855 in Springdale, Wisconsin.
Following is the obituary of Joseph Hobkirk, from the Osage News, March 10, 1904:
Joseph Hobkirk was born on March 1, 1819 in Howdenburn, Roxburghshire, Scotland. He died at the home of his son, Wallace, five miles southeast of Osage, February 29, 1904, thus in one more day he would have reached the age of four score and five years.
In 1842, he with his mother, one sister and two brothers came to America amd settled in Delaware Co., N.Y., and began at once to clear up a farm in the timber country and to provide a home. After more than two years at toil he yeilded over all that he had and came farther west to Wisconsin, settling at Waupon. Here and at Rosedale, he remained for about 10 years, part of the time engaged as a clerk in a store and later engaging in mercantile business for himself. Later for about fourteen years he was a farmer living near Utica, Wisconsin. In 1869, he moved to Mitchell County, bought a farm and settled in Rock Township being one of the earliest settlers there, where he lived until about thriteen years ago when he came to Osage. After about two years residence here occurred the death of his wife since which time he has found a most comfortable home with his son, Wallace, who with his family cared for him with true devotion and affection. Until her death some eighteen months ago, his daughter-in-law had been to him as a daughter and since his grand daughters have tenderly ministered to his needs.
In 1849, at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, he was united in marriage to Almira Jane Cooper. They were the parents of three children, two sons, Robert of Lyle, Minnesota, and Wallace J. of Osage, and one daughter, Mrs. Anna Duncan of Kenniwick, Washington. There are living 16 grand children and one great grandchild. They were a source of great comfort to him and but a few moments before his death he summoned one of these little ones to him to give her a parting handshake.
Mr Hobkirk was a man of genial temperment, unusual vitality, of vigorous constitution. He was a great reader well informed as to current events and almost to the last took an active interest in affairs.
The funeral services were held at the home of his son, Wallace, last Thrusday, conducted by Rev. D. I. Coon and the body was laid to rest beside that of the wife in Osage cemetery.
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This page last updated on March 20, 2001