J. D. Dobbs

       
   J. D. Dobbs, farmer, was born February 2, 1840, in Cobb County, Ga. He came to Hamilton County in 1855, and has resided here ever since. He was educated in the military school at Marietta, Ga., also at the Chattanooga High School, and was a short time in attendance at Burrell College, Spencer, Tenn. In 1858 he married Miss Nancy Roberts, daughter of Commodore and Jane (Bunch) Roberts. Mrs. Dobbs was born in October, 1839, in Sequatchie Valley, Tennessee, and her marriage resulted in the birth of eight children: Joseph D. (deceased), Anna, Maria (Mrs. F. M. Gossett), James M., Minnie S. (deceased), John, Gorden, and Lewis David (deceased). Mr. Dobbs is a Democrat in politics. May 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Second Tennessee Cavalry, and was orderly sergeant of the same. He served two years. He is one of the heirs to 175 acres of land adjoining the city limits. His parents, James M. and Maria (Stanley) Dobbs, are of English and Irish descent respectively. The father was a major of Cobb's company of Georgia Rangers during the Mexican war. He was a brave soldier and participated in all the principal battles of that war. He was born in Elbert County, Ga., December 24, 1818, and died September 10, 1869. The mother was born in Cobb County, Ga., and died when the subject of this sketch was but eighteen months old. His grandfather, David Dobbs, was born and reared in Elbert County, Ga., and commanded a regiment in the Seminole war. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Lewis Stanley, was born in South Carolina and was among the first emigrants to Cobb County, Ga. He was a successful medical practitioner in that county.

Goodspeed's "History of East Tennessee" 1887