| Joshua and John Hobbs were early settlers in the Strathbogie region. They arrived in Australia in July 1852 with their parents, Edwin and Susan (née Horton) Hobbs, and siblings. They were the first of their extended family to arrive in Australia. Joshua was 9 and John was 5. Their father, Edwin, was a brother of John Lowe Hobbs, who arrived with his family the following year in August. The two men married sisters, Joshua marrying Fanny and John marrying Isabella, daughters of James and Eliza (née James) Smart. Another sister, Jane, married Harold, son of Harold and Hester (sometimes called Esther) Humphrey of Connewarre. They also went to Strathbogie where Jane died in 1928 aged 73. Harold died at Strathbogie in 1931 aged 78. They were buried together at Euroa Cemetery. Records of the Germantown (Grovedale) Wesleyan Sunday school mention the brothers being presented with bibles and hymn books in 1878 to help them carry on their Sunday school work in the district they were going to. The Strathbogie area was being opened up for selection at the time they moved there and this would have assisted them to each set up a farm. John was first mentioned when he attended the Sabbath school meeting as a visitor in 1868. He became a teacher in 1871, secretary in 1872 and superintendent in 1873 to 1878. Edwin Hobbs was recorded as donating fruit and the wagon to take the children to picnics. Later generations of Hobbs also served the church and Sunday school. |
| Joshua married Fanny Smart in 1876. They had the following children: Susan Eliza — born 1878 at Mount Duneed, died on 12 July 1887 at Mr H Hinton's residence at Euroa aged 9 years of inflammation of the lungs Arthur James — born 1880 at Strathbogie, died in 1947 at Euroa Harriet Elizabeth — born 1882, married Albert Anker, died 18 September, 1915 at Binney Street East, Euroa aged 33 Ethel Jane — born 1883 at Strathbogie, died 1887 at Strathbogie aged 3 years Eda Bell — born 1885 at Strathbogie Fanny Robena — born 1888 at Strathbogie Elsie May — born 1890 at Strathbogie Beatrice Alice — born 1891 at Strathbogie Phillip Henry Horton — born 1894 at Strathbogie, married Eliza Jane Mackrell, died 1975 at Euroa, buried at Euroa Cemetery Thomas Edwin — born 1896 at Strathbogie, died 1974 at Parkville aged 78 Joshua died on 1 August 1915 aged 72 at Strathbogie and was buried at Euroa Cemetery. Fanny died in 1939 at Strathbogie and was buried with him. | John married Isabella Smart in 1871. Their children were: Edwin James — born 1872 at Mount Duneed, died 1888 at Euroa aged 16 Mary Jane — born 1873, died 1926 at East Melbourne aged 52 Isabella May — born 1878 at Mount Duneed, married Herbert John Thoms, died 1968 at McKinnon aged 90 years Eliza Ann — born 1880 at Strathbogie Sarah Elizabeth — born 1881 at Strathbogie Lily Maud — born 1883 at Strathbogie John Herbert — born 1886 at Mount Duneed, died 1973 at Euroa aged 87 years John returned to Connewarre, probably about 1885 where he died aged 38 on 29 November 1886. He was buried in an unknown location at the Highton Cemetery. Isabella died at Brighton in 1934. |
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