The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-17

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resentative.
go Tho counties Wilson, A tascO-
sa and Karnes shall elect one repre-
sentative.
DEAD.
To Col. George Il. Afford, of Gal
weston, Mrs. a. NJ. Hobby wrote
from Fort Seldom. Donna Anna
county, New Mexico, under date of
February 9th, that Col. a. NJ. Hobby
died near that place of pneumonia.
Thereupon Col. Afford published in
the NeIrS long and feeling memo
rial. in which, in part, il was said:
For more than twenty years, in
peace and war, he was the compan-
ion and always the trusted friend of
him who writes this feeble tribute to
the memory Of as brave. as gallant.
a. chivalric, as noble spirit as ever
brcathed the free air OF Texan lib
erty.
Born and raised in Florida. he
cmi@Tatcd to Texas before the late
war, and in 1861 was chosen the rep
resentative of Corpus Christi and
contiguous counties to the ninth leg
islaturc Of Texas, where this writer,
then the Youngest member of that
body, had the pleasure of sitting by
his side for many months. In the
fall of that year he resigned his seat,
raised a regiment of Confederate in
fantry-of which he became the
idolized cOmmander-and did noble
service until the close of the war
Ills gallant and successful defense
of Corpus Christi and adjacent coast
against an arrogant and Overwhelm-
ing Federal force, sent for its sub
lection, is still held in grateful re-
membrance by thousands whose
homes were then saved from desc
latiOn and pillage. He was for
sometime in command of the Con-
fcderate forces in the city and on
the island of Galveston, where he
displayed not only signal gallantry,
but conspicuous executive ability.
AT the close of the war, impover-
ished in fortune, but opulent in the
wealth of affection and confidence
borne him by grateful people,
whom he had calamity defended
for four years. he engaged in COM
mercial pursuits in Galveston and
New Orleans, at once taking a lead
ing position in both cities and amass-
ing a handsome competence. Dur
ing the financial cyclone of 1873,
which swept away the foundation of
so many colossal estates, his fortune
began to wane, and one disaster
after another followed in quick sue
cession, until his princeiy fortune
had disappeared, and in 1879 he
sought with his young family the
wilds of New Mexico, in the hope of
regaining his lost fortune and shat
tered health. Although in the Ter
rjtory scare long enough to be quail
flied voter, his merits were appreci-
atcd and he was elected one of the
judges of bona Anna county; and it
is not doubled that had his useful
life been spared to the country he
would have been called from retire
ment to the highest official position
in the government.
although peculiarly qualified to
become political chieftain by per-
sonal magnetism, strong native i'll
tellect, remarkable vigOr of char
acter, phenomenal fluency of Ian
guagc and suavity of manners,
which readily won the hearts of all
with whom he came in contact, Col.
Hobby had no aspirations for polit-
ical preierment, and with the single
exception OF a partial term in the
Legislature, it is not known that he
ever accepted any civil office. He
was for many years president of the
Chamber of Commerce of Calves
ton. directorin banks, cotton presses,
insurance and railroad companies,
was repeatedly rendered the posi-
ton of mayor of the city, represen-
tative and Senator in the Legisla-
ture, and even prominently men,
| toned by the press of the state fol
Governor and United States Sena-
tor, but his attention to his large
commercial interests, and his devo-
ton to the arts and sciences, and ia
the highest branches of literature
disinclined him to accept any prefer
ment whatever.
AS an essayist and public speaker
Col. Hobby had few rivals in Texas
and as poet none. His address on
the lifc'and character of the lament.
ed David G. Burnet, first President
of Texas. extensively published
throughout the country, was con.
fcssedly one of the finest literary
productions of the period, ant
scarcely less so his address on the
life of the late Thompson III. Nc
Mahan, an eminent banker, of Gal
weston, delivered by request of Tho
Chamber of Commerce and Other
commercial bodies of the city. His
contributions TO the current litera
ture of the day, and to the pract'
cal sciences, were frequent. anC
marked him rs one of the profound
est thinkers and happicst writers o
the period.
"His occasional efforts in the realm
of poetry attracted the widest atten
| ton in The literary world by thei
rare excellence of imagery and die
ton. so much so indeed that thel
appear as rich gems in all the stand
ard selections of choice poems pub
lished in the last fifteen years.