A Hobbs family migrated into Covington County before 1860. They had previously lived in Dale County, Ala., and Conecuh County, Ala. This family settled in the southern area of Covington County in the New Hope and Florala communities.

The earliest identified ancestor of this family is Shearley Hobbs, who was born in 1800, but his birth place is not known to this writer. He was 50 years old at his death, which occurred somewhere in Alabama. He was married circa 1822 to Lavina whose surname is not known. They were the parents of at least the following two sons: Thomas J., b. 1823, d. 1890; and Labon, b. 1825, d. 1912.

Labon Hobbs was born in 1825 in Dale County, Ala. When he was of age, he was married to Lourina Sophia Calloway (1834-1880), daughter of John Calloway (1785-1840) and Rachel Mobley (1790-1848). John Calloway was a native of the State of Maryland, but he eventually lived and died in Geneva County, Ala. Lourina died in Conecuh County, but Labon lived until 1912 and died in Autauga County, Ala. Labon and Lourina Hobbs were the parents of the following children: Thomas, b. 1851; Francis, b. 1854; Augustus, b. 1854; Benjamin, b. 1855; Isabella, b. 1856; and Elizabeth Sarah, b. 1866, d. 1931.

Thomas J. Hobbs was born in 1823 in Hancock County, Ga. He was in Dale County, Ala., by 1825 with his parents and when his brother, Labon was born. He was married in 1846 in Daleville of Dale County to Nancy Calloway (1815 -1890). Nancy was born in Hancock County also and died in Conecuh County, Ala., supposedly the same year as her husband, Thomas J. Hobbs. Thomas and Nancy were in Conecuh County in 1852, but they had moved into Covington County by 1854 at which time Thomas purchased 160.60 acres of land in the New Hope Township. In 1888, he homesteaded an additional 40.15 acres, but it was canceled for some unknown reason.

On July 26, 1861, Thomas J. Hobbs enlisted for service in the Confederate Army as a private in Company B, 18th Alabama Infantry Regiment, also known as the Covington Hunters from Andalusia. Fortunately, Thomas J. survived the war and returned home to take care of his family. They apparently moved back to Conecuh County in later years as both are listed as dying there, and they were both buried at Flat Rock in Conecuh County.

Thomas J. and Nancy Hobbs are known to have been the parents of the following two sons: Almenson Jasper Hosea, b. 1848, d. 1876; and George Washington, b. 1852, d. 1925. Almenson was born in Dale County, and George was born in Conecuh county.

George Washington Hobbs was born in 1852 in Conecuh County, Ala. He was married there in 1888 to Safronia “Fronie” Georgianna Quinley (1871-1928), daughter of John R. Quinley (1811-1891) and Elva ? (1825-1905). John R. Quinley was born in Georgia, and his father was born in Delaware. At their deaths in 1925 and 1928 respectively, George and Safronia were buried in the Cedar Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Castleberry, Conecuh County, Ala.

George Washington and Safronia Georgianna Hobbs were the parents of the following children: George Thomas, b. 1890, d. 1985, m. Lillian Lamar Williams (1894-1986); Edna Mae, b. 1893, d. 1964, m. John David Williams (1888-1984); Macon J., b. 1895, d. 1966, m. Lillie ? (1894-1965); Oscar, b. 1896; Hansen Preston, b. 1898, d. 1957, m. (1) Mary Eliza Cutchin (2) 1947 Allie Weeks, but divorced the same year; and Albert E., b. 1905.

The next to youngest son, Hansen Preston Hobbs, was born in 1898 in Conecuh County. He was there with his family in 1910 in the Old Town community. He was first married to Mary Eliza Cutchin (1898-1994). In 1920, a record shows him living in Brewton, Ala., and that is about the time their first child was born. By 1940, they were residing in Covington County where they reared their family. They were the parents of the following children: Preston DeLeon, b. 1920, d. 1974, m. Lavador Jackson; Bernie Mae, b. 1923, d. 2008, m. John L. Grimes; Finley Richard, b. 1925, d. 2008, m. Mary Andrews; Sylvia Eunice, b. 1928, d. 1996, m. Morgan Armstrong (1924-1998); Jack Timothy, b. 1934, d. 2013, m. Valerie ?; and Nita Sue, b. 1938, m. (1) ? Boyd (2) Ernest Clifford Kirkland.

Preston DeLeon Hobbs was born in 1920, probably in Covington County. At adulthood, he was married to Lavador Jackson with whom he had a son, Thalon Preston Hobbs. He died in 1974 in Florala, Ala., and was buried in the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in that town.

Preston’s sister, Bernie Mae Hobbs, was married to John L. Grimes. They were the parents of the following children: Charles, Linda Kay and Rita Faye. Preston’s brother, Finley Richard Hobbs, was married to Mary Andrews, and they were the parents of the following children: Donna Kaye, Richard and Steven. Preston’s sister, Sylvia Eunice Hobbs, was married to Morgan Armstrong, son of Samuel B. “Sam” Armstrong (1882-1952) and Morning Henderson (1889-1970), and they had one daughter, Barbara Jean. Preston’s brother, Jack Timothy Hobbs, and wife, Valerie, were the parents of two children: Linda and Alex. Preston’s youngest sister, Nita Sue Hobbs, was first married to ? Boyd, and they were the parents of the following children: Pattie, Paula, Ernie, Melissa, Jeanie, Ellen and Richard.

The above story is a brief review of this Hobbs family, but much more research is needed.

Resources for today’s writing include the following: Ancestry.com, Wyley D. Ward’s Original Land Sales and Grants in Covington County, Alabama, and a family story in Heritage of Covington County, Alabama, written by Thalon Hobbs.

Anyone who may find an error in the above or who has further genealogy on this family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will be meeting on Thursday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Andalusia Public Library in the Dixon Memorial Room. (Note: This is a different time from the usual first Thursday regular meeting.) Guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.