My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM M. HOBART, the son of John H. and Mary (Mintzer) Hobert, was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1840. His father was a native of Philadelphia and his mother of Pottstown. John H. and Mary Hobart had six children: Robert Enoch, deceased; Captain William M.; David Potts Hobart, of Williamsport; John Henry, of Philadelphia; and two who died in infancy.

John H. Hobart was an attorney in Norristown for many years and afterward removed to Pottstown where he practiced for some years, dying there in March, 1888, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1860. In religious faith they were Episcopalians. John H. Hobart was a graduate of West Point Military Academy but never entered the army. During the emergency in the Civil war he took a company and went with it, but saw no further service. He was district attorney of Montgomery county for a number of terms, first by appointment and afterwards by election.

Robert Enoch Hobart (grandfather) was born in Philadelphia. He was a dealer in real estate and insurance. He was married at Pottsgrove, by Rev. Slater Clay, to Sarah May Potts, born January 18, 1770. In his later years he removed to Pottstown, where he completed the house on the hill commenced by his brother-in-law, David Potts. In 1825 he became one of the incorporators of Christ church of Pottstown. Robert Enoch Hobart was a member of the legislature, and while serving in that capacity he died at Harrisburg, March 17, 1826. His wife died January 2, 1826, and both were buried in the family graveyard.

Enoch Hobart (great-grandfather) was born in Philadelphia, April 25, 1768. He was educated as a lawyer and pracited in that city. His wife was Anna (Pratt) Hobart, of Philadelphia.

The founder of the Hobart family in this country was Captain Joshua Hobart, who came from Hingham, England, and settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1633. Captain Joshua was distinguished in the early annals of Massachusetts as a member of the house of assembly for twenty-five years, and speaker in 1674.

William Mintzer (maternal grandfather) was a native of Pennsylvania, and his history is in the biographical sketch of General William M. Mintzer in this work.

Captain William M. Hobart lived in Norristown until he was sixteen years of age, attending Treemount Seminary and the Hill school of Pottstown. He enlisted in Company C, Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served three months as a private, and then re-enlisted as first lieutenant of Company A, One Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving nearly four years. He was mustered out as captain of Company A. He took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac in which the Second Corps was engaged.

After the war he was engaged in civil engineering in the oil country of Pennsylvania, where he built railroads. He remained thus employed for four years. He then accepted a position with the Pottstown Iron Company, where he remained twelve years. Becoming interested in the lead and zinc mines of Missouri he went west. He still owns an interest in the Montgomery Lead & Zinc Company and other enterprises.

December 18, 1867, Captain Hobart married Miss Elizabeth Wills Rutter, daughter of Charles and Mary (Ives) Rutter. They have four children: Anna P., married Joseph Hartshorne and resides at Stowe. They have one child, Josephine. Mary Ives (deceased) was the first wife of Joseph Hartshorne and they had one daughter, Merriel. Elizabeth Rutter and Samuel Osborn Hobart are the younger members of the family. Captain Hobart and wife are members of the Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican.