A native of Des Moines county, Iowa, and was born on the 3rd of February, 1842, the son of Warren C. Hobbs and Susanna nee Johnson. Wesley was a regular attendant of the public schools until his sixteenth year. He early disclosed an excessive fondness for study, and at times pursued his task under adverse circumstances, being for a long time severely afflicted with the inflammatory rheumatism. After closing his studies in the public schools he entered the University at Burlington; there he made rapid progress in his studies, and such was his desire for knowledge that he remained after his means were exhausted, defraying his expenses by acting as janitor for the institution, building fires, etc. Finding, however, that such labor required too much of his time, he returned to New London and engaged in teaching, and continued that vocation until he had accumulated money sufficient to enable him to attend the university another year. At the opening of the rebellion, in 1861, he left school and enlisted as a private in company K, 6th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He remained with his regiment about six months, the most of the time in Missouri, where he participated in Fremont's campaign against Price. Being rendered unfit for service by the return of his old complaint, inflammatory rheumatism, he was discharged in January, 1862, and, returning home, engaged in teaching. Three months later, upon the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, he discontinued his school and assisted in raising company K, 25th Iowa Infantry, and was elected second lieutenant of the same. He was afterward promoted to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his captain. Resigning his commission soon after this, he returned home and began the study of law, and in November, 1864, was admitted to the bar by the district court of Henry county, then sitting at Mount Pleasant. He soon afterward established himself at Fort Madison, and in 1870 was elected county attorney without opposition. During the succeeding two years he was deputy clerk of the courts. In 1873 he formed a partnership with Hon. Judge Casey, building up an extensive and prosperous business. Mr. Hobbs was also, during the last-named year, elected president of the school board, and in the year following was elected county superintendent of public schools. In 1875 he was elected by a very large majority to the general assembly of Iowa, and rendered most valuable and efficient service as a member of that body. In 1876 he was democratic nominee for congress, and, although he made a brilliant canvass and ran ahead of his ticket by nearly two thousand votes, he was defeated. Mr. Hobbs is a democrat in sentiment, he never allows party prejudice to bias his better judgment. He united with the Baptist church at the age of seventeen, and still continues a worthy member of that body. He is also a member of the Odd-Fellows and Masonic fraternities. In 1876 he was district deputy grand master of the former, and in 1877, was master of the Masonic lodge at Fort Madison. Mr. .Hobbs was married on the 24th of August, 1862, to Miss Sallie Estella Smith.
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