The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-21
ABOUT RICHMOND
PEARSON H0BS0N
Interesting "reminiscences Of His Life
and BoyhOOd.
HAD PLUCK AND PERSEVERANCE,
Is n Most Devoted SOn-He Was One OF
the Manifest, Most Dutiful and
Thoroughly Sincere Boys Ever
Known His Friends Rejoice.

GREENSBORO. ALA, July H. 1885
Richmond Pearson Hobson was born and
reared IN Greensboro. Ala. tho county
seat OF Hale county. IN the famous Black
Belt region Of this State.
Rich" has three brothers near his
pwn age. one older and two younger. and
besides these boys cousin. who was one
OF The household In the days OF his child
hood These boys were my playmates.
NY home and their home were tho joint
property Of our boyhood. Not tree in
either place did We fail 20 climb or
rat-rcst or rabbit-hole we did not ex-
ylore. Greensboro was then tho terminus
of tho Selma and Greensboro railroad.
Every morning the train ran 10 Selma
and returned IN the evening ono Of
young Hobson's great delights was TO
slip down 10 tho depot I'm the evening
and help me train crew. the help consist
ing in riding mp and down on the switch
engine until tho time came 20 turn 81,
and then how he used 10 push away az
that old turntable lever until she swung
clear around and headed for Selma once
more We boys were more hindrance
than help but We thought We were 1.-THE
whole thing
Ho was fond ~ kites as any n us
hut could not make one that would iy.
However. he always managed 10 co0N
tho agent into making him a kite that
was better than any the boys could
make once. I'm our explorations OF the
pasture. we found a waSps' NEST and de-
termned we wanted 30. 70 use the young
vases" as erich" called them. for fish
bait. The vases" did not Ike
"Ricns" attack and stung the little fcl-
low freely. Nothing daunted. he wore
out an the switches in reach trying TO
dis,cdec the Wasps nest. and finally took
o. hs little hat and broke the nest of
from the tree and carried 1t on I'm tri-
umph 10 the house where he applied for
soda ~ relieve his su0gs. Rich Hon
son and am tho bows went barcfootet All
summer and sometimes I'm winter; not
from poverty. hut because our parents
thought it made ne harder. Barefoot
ed we used 10 run tournaments a sport
whose object was 10 catch rings which
We hung from poles three In lne. or
the point Of orr lanCes which we've
merely sharpcned sticks. We went ~
f8ncifui names "Rich" was either Brian
du Rois Cldlbert" 'Ivanhoe." or "Rich-
ard Occur &c Leon" don't know which.
but be took as many rings as any ~ The
rest
He was a most excellent Sunday school
boy our teacher was Mr.. Charles L.
Stickney superintendent Of St. Pauls
Episcopal Sunday school for twenty-five
years: a man of great force Of character
and fond of his boys His custom was
70 make the boys commit 20 memory
hymn and the collect for each Sunday.
The regular lesson we usually read over
fu class and listened % a lecture by our
rHrNf md of ia
stores was nothing short Of marvellous.
erich" used TO say ne believed Mr.
Stickney had swallowed Shakespeare and
the Bible whole. Sometimes the boy
would surprise us by repeating word for
word some long passage from Scott By
ron or Cowper ne had heard his teacher
recite 10 the class. The greater part OF
Pope's Essay on Man was as familiar
20 Us as the catechism, erich used 10
cloat over the part beginning
10. the poor Indian. whose untutored
mind
Sees God in clouds and hears Him in the
wind"
And. being very fond Of dogs himself
n used 90 say DE saw nothing wrong in
the poor Indians thinking that
admitted 90 that equal sky,
Ills faithful dog shall bear him com
pany'
Tn fishing and hunting ne delighted
II ne could not have gun all his own,
ne was glad to have The use Of the
Family muzzie-loader every other week,
and. when there was no rOrse TO ride,
made nothing of tramping down 10 Mill
wood. ON the Warrior river ten miles
away. after squirrels or catfish, accord
ing 10 whether it was the season for
rod or gun.
Richmond Pearson Hobson IS one of
the most devoted sons I ever knew. Since
Dc has been away from home, whether
at Annapolis. en- Paris. or wherever he
might be- he has been a regular cor
respondent. and never fails TO write 10
his father and mother. His visits home
are looked forward TO with delight. as all
love 20 meet and talk TO our gallant young
lleuteuanat. The statement that he owes
Dis appointment TO Sccretary-then Con-
rressman-Herbert as an error. He won
Dis appointment I'm a competitive exami-
NATION and was appointed by the late
Colonel Alexander O. Davidson then rep
rcscnting The Fourth District OF Alabama.
II De ever had a sweetheart I'm Green's
boro ! don't know e.. IN fact he never
spent much time with the fair sex when
Pc was boy, and since then has only
been az home on brief visits About
three years ago while he was al home
on a visit. i remember hearing him speak
NJ the batUeship kearsarge. which was
10 be built lie remarked then that they
Ought 10 build a companion ship 20 her
and call her the Alabama. When the
news Of his exploit az Santiago reached
his home people. the citizens Of Green's
boro Immediately petiuoned Secretary
Long 20 have him made captain OF the
Alabama when she is ready.
Ask any one VINO knew Rich" Hobson
al "a boy. and you will receive about the
same answer" He was one Of the man
lest most dutiful. and thoroughly sincere
boys ever known. His career was not at
an out % the ordinary In his boyhood.
Aut he showed that he had a fine mind.
strong viii and ambition without limit.
That he would 60 into the face OF death
itself we did not doubt. and we rejoice
that his fame has. so suddenly been won.
His return TO Alabama will be an ova-
ion.-H. o. Benners Editor Alabama
Beacon. in Leslie's Weekly.