Frederick A. Hobbs

Frederick A. Hobbs, of Benton Harbor, Mich., is the efficient president of the Benton Fuel Company, doing a large wholesale and retail coal and wood business. For several years he has been agent for the Michigan Salt Association, and for the Washburn-Crosby Flour, in which he has a large wholesale trade in connection with the fuel company. In 1890 he entered the employ of the Graham & Morton Transportation Co., in the humble office of clerk, and by his jealous efforts to further the interests of that line, that it might not only be equal to all other similar companies, but that it be superior, he won the confidences of his employers, and in 1893 became its secretary, continuing in that capacity for five years. Mr. Hobbs is a native of the Hoosier State, born November 26, 1859 at Terre Haute, Indiana.

Robinson Hobbs, the paternal grandfather, was of English descent, and Anthony Creal, the maternal grandfather, was a native of the state of New York, the later settling in Indiana in 1820. The parents of Frederick A. Hobbs were Thomas F. and Hulda (Creal) Hobbs, natives of Indiana and Maine respectively. Thomas F. Hobbs was a farmer and also a contractor and builder in his active life; he is now a resident of Benton Harbor.

The boyhood and early school days of Frederick A. Hobbs were passed at DeWitt, Iowa, and later he attended school in Davenport, in the same State. He clerked for several years in the post office at DeWitt. In 1885 he came to Benton Harbor, became interested in the Palladium, and was connected with the paper and office for upward of three years, when he retired from the editorial chair, selling his interest to his partner, Mr. Gibson. Subsequently he engaged in the coal business, to which from year to year he has not made additions until, by careful oversight and close attention to details, he has built up a great business, both wholesaling and retailing coal, coke and wood. Mr. Hobbs is one of the enterprising and active young business men of the city, and has given his talents and energy to its promotion. During his connection with the Palladium, a daily paper was started, and it is yet being published. On its incorporation as a young city Hobbs became the first mayor of Benton Harbor. He is alive to the marine interests of the twin cities and the commerce of the lakes.

On May 4, 1884, Mr. Hobbs was married to Miss Nettie Stephenson, of DeWitt, Iowa, daughter of George Stephenson and their children are Laura and Edith. Our subject is one of the charter members of Benton Harbor B. & L. Association, and in politics he is a Republican. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.