370 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY 



ness career he was progressive and practi- 

 cal, carrying forward to successful com- 

 pletion whatever he undertook. His in- 

 terest in the political questions and issues 

 of the day led him to give earnest support 

 to the Republican party. He served as 

 county commissioner lor one term and held 

 some minor township positions, including 

 that of school director. He was reared m 

 the faith of the Primitive Baptist church 

 and never united with any other religious 

 denomination. He possessed a genial man- 

 ner, was kindly and charitable in disposi- 

 tion and the poor and needy found in him 

 a warm friend. He died January g, 1903, 

 respected by all who knew him. His wife, 

 whose maiden name was Joanna Hogeland, 

 was born June 29, 1832, in Southampton 

 tonship, Bucks county, and died April 17, 

 1905, at the age of seventy-three years. 

 Her father, Abraham Hogeland, was a 

 farmer who settled in Bucks county at an 

 early period in its development. He be- 

 came prominent in community affairs and 

 as a representative of agricultural interests. 

 His daughter, Mrs. Hobensack, became a 

 member of the Presbyterian church. She 

 was the youngest in a family of nine chil- 

 dren, the others being: Elias, a farmer, who 

 at one time served as sheriff of Bucks coun- 

 ty; John, Joseph, Theodore, William, Mor- 

 ris, and Charles, all of whom follow farm- 

 ing; and Susan, the wife of H. D. Leffert. 

 Unto Isaac C. and Joanna (Hogeland) 

 Hobensack were born eight children : Mary 

 A., the wife of H. B. Krewsen, deceased; 

 Isaac M., a western man; William, who is 

 engaged in business at Ivyland; B. Frank; 

 Albert C, ,also in business in Ivyland; 

 Emily, the wife of W. C. Yerkes; Wilkins, 

 of Norristown ; and Joanna. 



B. Frank Hobensack was born in South- 

 ampton township, Bucks county, Septem- 

 ber 30, 1864, and at the usual age entered 

 the common schools, where he acquired a. 

 good practical English education. In his 

 youth he became familiar with all the duties 

 and labors that fall to the lot of the_ agri- 

 culturist, and he continued to assist in the 

 operation of the home farm until he had 

 attained his majority. He afterward spent 

 some time in %vorking at the printer's trade, 

 but following his marriage he resumed 

 farming, renting a tract of land for four 

 years. H^ then went to Ivyland, where he 

 joined his brother, William Hobensack, in 

 an industrial enterprise under the firm style 

 of Hobensack Brothers, the partners being 

 William and B. Frank Hobensack. They 

 operated a mill for grinding, also handled 

 feed, and dealt extensively in lumber to- 

 gether with agricultural implements and 

 fertilizers. Mr. Hobensack of this review 

 continued successfully in that line of trade 

 imtil 1899, when he was elected high sheriflf 

 of Bucks county, serving for a full term 

 with credit to himself and satisfaction to 

 all concerned. He discharged his duties 

 without fear of favor, and his course 

 awakened the confidence of all law-abiding 

 citizens. On the expiration of his term 



he retired from office as he had entered it— 

 with the contidence and good will of all 

 concerned. He then engaged in the stone 

 crushing business at Quakertown, also 

 dealt in real estate and bought a large trad- 

 ing business. He is still following those 

 pursuits, and is regarded in his locality as 

 a broadminded, intelligent and successful 

 business man, meriting the respect of his 

 fellow citizens. 'His efforts have likewise 

 extended to other lines of activity, for he 

 is a stockholder and director in the Jenkins- 

 town Trust Company. He is enterprising 

 and public-spirited, well know^n and highly 

 respected. His political views are in ac- 

 cordance with the principles of the Re- 

 publican party, and he is deeply interested 

 in its success, believing that it contains .the 

 best elements of good government. He 

 attends various party conventions, has been 

 judge of elections and has often served on 

 the election board. He has also filled town- 

 ship positions, has been school director, 

 was auditor for three terms and was chosen 

 for the position of justice of the peace. 

 With a full recognition of the duties that 

 devolve upon him as an officer, he has ever 

 been true to the trust reposed in him by his 

 fellow townsmen and in performing his 

 public service has displayed marked fidelity 

 and capability. 



In 1886 Mr. Hobensack was married to 

 Miss Catherine Cornell, who was born in 

 Warwick township, Bucks county, August 

 II, 1863, her parents being Hiram and Jen- 

 nie (McKinstry) Cornell, the latter of War- 

 rington township and a member of one of 

 the early families of Bucks county, of 

 Scotch-Irish lineage. Hiram Cornell's an- 

 cestors also located in this county at an 

 early day. He became a leading farmer, 

 well known for his activity and reliability 

 in business. He voted with the Democracy, 

 and was a loyal adherent of the Presbv- 

 terian church in which he held membership. 

 His death occurred March 29, 189.;. and his 

 widow, who still survives him. finds a good 

 home with Mr. and Mrs. Hobensack. She 

 is a daughter of James and Agnes Mc- 

 Kinstry, natives of this county. Jner father 

 was a carpenter by trade and later in life 

 followed farming, and was both a success- 

 ful and practical mechanic and agricul- 

 turist. He served as school director and 

 also held some minor positions, and was 

 deeply concerned in the welfare and 

 progress of his community, although he did 

 not seem to figure prominently in public 

 life. He held membership in the Neshaminy 

 Presbyterian church, and nearly all of the 

 members of the McKinstry family became 

 identified with the same denomination. 

 These were Robert, Jessie, Mary, William, 

 Catherine, John, Sarah and Jane. Unto 

 Mr. and ]\Irs. Hiram Cornell were born two 

 children : James, who is married and re- 

 sides in Ivyland: he is a popular salesman 

 in a clothing house in Philadelphia; and 

 Catherine, wife of Mr. Hobensack. The 

 marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hobensack has 

 been blessed with one son. Wilkin C, born 



