Hoobler, John

JOHN HOOBLER.—A uniform feature runs through the history of all countries, namely, that its sturdiest patriotism has its origin among the tillers of the soil, who literally love the very earth upon which they subsist and draw the prosperity of their homes and their communities. Theirs is a patriotism which endures. In no country and in no epoch has this truth been so forcibly illustrated as in the United States during the terrible ordeal of its Civil war, and no better type of the yeoman patriot could be presented than John Hoobler, the honored and retired farmer of Hempfield township, Mercer county.

Mr. Hoobler is a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, born January 2, 1841, son of Phillip Hoobler. The father was born in Allegheny county, May 5, 1816, and came to Salem township. Mercer county, Pennsylvania, when his son John was but twelve years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade, but there engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Jane Croco, born July 12, 1819, and both parents are deceased. The issue by this marriage, besides John, of this sketch, were James, a member of Company G, One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was killed on picket duty at the battle of Atlanta, Ga., being in service two and a half years: Henry C., of Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, who was killed at the second battle of Fredericksburg; Sarah Jane, wife of Alexander Hood; Elizabeth, deceased, who became the wife of James Linger, now engaged in railroading. In his political views Mr. Hoobler was a radical Republican who saw in his party the best good for the greatest number of his fellow countrymen. In his religious faith he adhered to that of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John Hoobler, of this biography, attended the winter terms of school in his native county until he was about twenty years of age, working on his father's farm in summer. In September, 1861, at the age of twenty-one, he enlisted at Greenville, Pennsylvania, as a member of Company F, Sixty-first Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Rippy. His first battle was at Yorktown, and he was wounded at the famous battle of Fair Oaks, where his command was forced to retreat, Mr. Hoobler lying on the battlefield for two and a half days, unable to move, and without food or drink, save a swallow of whisky offered him by a sympathetic Confederate soldier. Later the surgeons amputated his right arm on the field and he remained on the ground another two and a half days before he was taken to the hospital. Mr. Hoobler was discharged June 3. 1862, and returned to Greenville, resuming his farm work in Hempfield township. He continued in this only one year thereafter, when he followed canal-boating for four years, his "run" being between Erie and Greenville. He next purchased a farm in Crawford county, upon which he remained for twenty-two years, selling his place in 1907 and for the succeeding three years renting a farm in Hempfield township. Mr. Hoobler then located on the pleasant homestead upon which he now resides. In his political affiliations he is a stanch and uncompromising Republican, and was a member of Dickey Grand Army Post, of Greenville.

On March 20, 1901, Mr. Hoobler married Mrs. Anna (Huhn) Brady, born September 30, 1852, daughter of Henry Huhn and wife, Elizabeth (Mayer) Huhn, who came from Germany when Mrs. Hoobler was but two years of age and located in Pennsylvania. Prior to her marriage to Mr. Hoobler, his wife was the widow of J. Brady, who enlisted September 23, 1861, in Company K, Sixth Regiment West Virginia Volunteers, and died January 28, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Hoobler have the following children: Harry, a fireman on the Lake Shore Railroad at Youngstown, Ohio: and Charles, who married Miss Stella Patterson, served in the Spanish-American war, and is a resident of Greenville, Pennsylvania. The grandchildren are Leona M. and Charles B. Hoobler.

Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, PA 1909