William R. Hobbie

William Roscoe Hobbie (December 22, 1848 – December 3, 1924) was an American paper manufacturer and politician from New York.

Life

Hobbie was born on December 22, 1848 in Unity, Maine, the son of William H. Hobbie and Sarah Gilkey. He attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1865, he began studying at Amherst College, graduating from there in 1869. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi. After he graduated, he spent the next three years working as a general agent for New York publisher A. J. Johnson.[1]

In 1872, Hobbie organized the Phoenix Paper Company[2] with Henry L. Mowry and Leonard Haskins moved to Battenville, New York. They built one of the first paper mills in the area, and initially produced brown wrapping paper. The company later switched to producing tissue paper. Hobbie eventually became sole owner of the company, but his son Edward later helped manage the company. He sold the mill in 1922, after over half a century in the paper business.[3]

Hobbie was town supervisor for Greenwich in 1889 and 1890. In 1892, Hobbie was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Washington County. He served in the Assembly in 1893,[4] 1894,[5] 1896,[6] and 1897.[7]

In 1880, Hobbie married Phoebe Walsh. Their children were Phoebe Elizabeth, Edward Walsh, and Marian.[2] He was senior warden of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, president of the board of directors of the Washington County Home for Aged Women, and a Freemason.[3]

In 1922, Hobbie moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.[3] Hobbie died at his home there on December 3, 1924. He was buried in Greenwich.[1]

References

  1. Holland, W. J. (May 1925). "The Classes-1869". Amherst Graduates' Quarterly. XIV (3): 220–221 via HathiTrust.
  2. The History of the Class of 1869, Amherst College. Style & Cash. 1889. pp. 52–54 via Internet Archive.
  3. "William R. Hobbie Dies in Florida". The Greenwich Journal and Fort Edward Advertiser. 82 (50). Greenwich, N.Y. 10 December 1924. p. 1 via NYS Historic Newspapers.
  4. Murlin, Edgar L. (1893). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. p. 138 via Google Books.
  5. Murlin, Edgar L. (1894). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. pp. 134–135 via Google Books.
  6. Murlin, Edgar L. (1896). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. pp. 228–229 via Google Books.
  7. Murlin, Edgar L. (1897). The New York Red Book. Albany, N.Y.: James B. Lyon. p. 221 via Google Books.
New York State Assembly
Preceded by
District Created
New York State Assembly
Washington County

1893-1894
Succeeded by
William D. Stevenson
Preceded by
William D. Stevenson
New York State Assembly
Washington County

1896-1897
Succeeded by
Charles R. Paris
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