My Genealogy Hound

Jacob S. Dobkins, son of Hugh and Hannah (Neely) Dobkins, was born in Arkansas May 1, 1843. The father was born in Virginia, but immigrated to Tennessee when young, and although receiving a limited education, was a man of more than ordinary ability. He was quite a successful farmer and after coming to Arkansas was the owner of 320 acres of land. Hannah (Neely) Dobkins, the mother, was born in Tennessee, and here married Mr. Dobkins by whom she had eight children, six now living: Mrs. Sarah J. Wakefield, Mrs. Margaret A. Newell, Robert, Mrs. Nancy McPhail, Mrs. Melvina Tucker and Jacob S. The two deceased were named James and Alexander. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Dobkins moved to Missouri, where he made his first start in life and where he often worked hard all day for a peck of meal, which he carried home on his shoulder after night. He remained in Missouri for about ten years, rented land, and then moved to Arkansas, where he rented land for one year. He then went to California, making the trip overland, and was away from home eighteen months, being engaged in mining the greater part of the time. After returning to Arkansas he purchased the farm that he had rented, and where he spent the greater part of his life, selling out a short time before his death, and moving to Cherokee City. He here died in 1882. The mother died three years later. The paternal grandfather of our subject was of English descent, and the maternal grandparents were both of Irish extraction, Jacob S. Dobkins received a fair common-school education, and remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age. He enlisted in Company H, Fifth Texas Partisan Rangers, Confederate army, and served for two years. During that time he was almost exclusively on frontier duty in the Chocktaw and Cherokee Nations, was in many skirmishes, but no actual battle. After the war Mr. Dobkins went to California, where he remained six months, when he returned home and resumed work on the farm. In 1869 he married Miss Nancy McPhail, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth McPhail, the father of Scottish descent and a native of Kentucky, and the mother a native of Tennessee, Grandfather McPhail was born in the highlands of Scotland, and the grandmother was of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Dobkins were born four children, all now living: Kate, Hugh, James and Maud. After his marriage Mr. Dobkins purchased his present farm, where he has since lived, and where he now has 103 acres. He has a good home, and is surrounded by every comfort. In 1886 Mr. Dobkins was elected justice of the peace, and he and Mrs. Dobkins are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, and is Democratic in politics, casting his first vote for McClellan and his last for Grover Cleveland.