WI BIO - Dane Co - HOBBINS, Joseph
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 536-537

Dr. Joseph HOBBINS has been identified with the best interests, of not only 
Madison, Dane County, but the State of WI for many years. He was born in the 
village of Wednesburg, Staffordshire, England. [p 537] His father, also 
Joseph, was a native of the same place, and at the age of eleven years 
entered the British naval service, in which he remained some years, until he 
was honorably discharged. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits in his 
native town for some years, after which he retired from business, and took a 
trip to the U. S. He remained in the U. S. two or three years, and then 
returned to England, where he spent the remainder of his life. The maiden 
name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth SMITH, also a native of 
Wednesburg, Stafforshire, England, who spent her last days in her native 
place. She reared five children: Syndonia, Joseph, Elizabeth, William, and 
Mary.

Dr. Joseph HOBBINS was liberally educated at Colton Hall, Rugby, England, and 
in his sixteenth year turned his attention to the study of medicine. At the 
age of twenty-one he entered the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons at 
London, England, from which he graduated in 1840. He then visited the 
hospitals of Dublin, Edinburgh, Brussels, and Paris, and then settled down to 
practice in London, where he remained until 1844, and then came to the U. S., 
and settled in Brookline [Norfolk County], MA, and practiced there three 
years. He then returned to London and pursued his practice until 1859, when 
he came to the U. S. again and settled in Madison, Dane County, WI, in which 
city he has since resided. During the course of the years he has spent in 
WI, Dr. HOBBINS has become one of the leading physicians of the State.

When Fort Randall was organized, he, acting for the State, took charge of the 
sick there, and when the rebel prisoners were brought there he was appointed 
Surgeon-in-Charge. The Doctor served four years on the first City Council. 
In 1855 Dr. HOBBINS was requested by Governor and Board of Regents to 
organize the medical department of the State University. The Doctor has an 
inherent love of fruits and flowers, and is a horticulturalist of no mean 
ability. For many years he was President of the City Horticultural Society, 
and also of the State Horticultural Society. In politics he is independent, 
but was a stanch Union man during the war.

Dr. Joseph HOBBINS was married for the first time in Liverpool, England, to 
Miss Sarah Russell JACKSON, on 11 Oct 1841. She was born in Mendon 
[Worcester County], MA, and died in 1870. His second marriage occurred in 
Baltimore, MD, on 16 Apr 1872, to Mary McLANE, youngest daughter of the late 
Louis McLANE, of DE, and sister of Hon. Robert M. McLANE, Minister to France 
under the first administration of Grover CLEVELAND, and sister of the late 
Mrs. General J. E. JOHNSTON, whose husband was of national fame during the 
late Civil War. The Doctor had three daughters by his first marriage: 
Josephine, Alice, and Helen. By his second marriage he has one son, Louis. 
The Doctor and his estimable wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly