Born: Shelby County, Ky., 1807.
Died: Liberty, Ill., 1876.
Mr Hobbs was trained up in the Baptist Church. His education was such as the common schools at that time afforded. He came to Illinois in September, 1830, and settled near the site of Columbus. There he taught school as he had in his native State. He also owned and tilled a farm. He early became an earnest and devout student of the sacred Scriptures. This led him to reject the custom of "relating an experience" on becoming a Christian, and to the adoption of the Scriptural order. In 1832 he preached in the residence of John Yeargin, who had preceded him from Kentucky. This was the first sermon in Gilmer Township.
With ten others, he moved to Concord Township. It is claimed that on Apr. 24, 1835, he organized the church, on the Bible as the all-sufficient creed, known now as the Pleasant View congregation. He served this church as elder and its principal teacher till 1850. While a resident of Adams County, he associated with John B. Curl, T. S Brockman, James McPherson and Wm. H. Strong in the pioneer work of the gospel. His ministry was extended into the contiguous counties and beyond. In 1850 he sold his farm and moved to Pike County, where he gave himself more exclusively to preaching.
Mr Hobbs would never accept any civil or military office and held himself wholly aloof from politics. He was six feet and three inches tall, well proportioned and very strong. Having read himself to the apostolic ground, his ministry was fruitful of great good.