My Genealogy Hound

Dobbins & Collins, general merchants, Hazen, Ark. W. G. Dobbins, senior member of the firm, was born in Warren County, N. C., in 1844, and was the fourth in a family of five children born to the union of N. J. and Rebecca (Baker) Dobbins, natives of Virginia and North Carolina. The parents were married in North Carolina in 1830, and later moved to Mississippi, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits. Their children were named as follows: Elizabeth (deceased, was the wife of John E. Brown), John J. (married and resides in Mississippi), Edward B. (was killed at the battle of Shiloh), W. G. (our subject), and Joseph S. (who is married and resides in Mississippi). N. J. Dobbins is a member of the Baptist Church, is a public-spirited citizen and an earnest Democrat. His wife died in 1888. W. G. Dobbins moved to Mississippi with his parents in 1856, received his education in the common schools and began life as a sturdy son of the soil. He was married in 1877 to Miss Minnie C. Collins, daughter of Jared and R. J. (Erwin) Collins, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia. To this union were born five children, two now living: Viola D. and Edward B. Those deceased were named: William I., Clyde and Ada I. Mr. Dobbins moved to Arkansas in 1888, and engaged in merchandising at Hazen, where he still continues. He is an active man in the building up of the country and is universally respected. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Baptist Church. In 1862 Mr. Dobbins enlisted in Blythe’s battalion for twelve months, State service, and in 1863 he enlisted in Chalmer’s battalion Eighteenth Mississippi Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Fort Pillow, Guntown, Harrisburg and several skirmishes. At the close of the war he returned to Mississippi and there remained until coming to Arkansas.