In the 1870 U.S. census, 8 yr. old Tilman Holson (Hobson), b. in IA., was living in Jackson, Keokuk, IA. with his
50 yr. old father, E. K. Holson (Hobson), a merchant, b. in NC.
57 yr. old mother, Hannah Holson, b. in IN.
13 yr. old brother, Levi Holson, b. in IA.
11 yr. old brother, Zena (Zeno) Holson, b. in IA.
5 yr. old sister, Anna (Emma) Holson, b. in IA.
2 yr. old sister, Anna Holson, b. in IA.

In the 1880 U.S. census, 17 yr. old Gilman (Tilman) Hobson, farming, b. in IA., was living in Crawford, Cherokee, KS. with his
60 yr. old father, Kinnison Hobson, a physician, b. in NC.
46 yr. old mother, Hanah Hobson, b. in IN.
21 yr. old brother, Zeno Hobson, farming, b. in IA.
15 yr. old sister, Emma Hobson, b. in IA.
12 yr. old sister, Anna Hobson, b. in IA.
9 yr. old brother, Edward Hobson, b. in
6 yr. old brother, Benjamin Hobson, b. in
25 yr. old servant, Beverly Tixon, b. in

The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 7, Col. 2
Tue., Aug. 26, 1890
Item from: PERSONALS
A daughter was born yesterday to the wife of Tilman Hobson. Congratulations are numerous.

The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 7, Col. 2
Mon., Sep. 5, 1892
Item from: PASADENA BREVITIES
Tilman Hobson, the Prohibition candidate for County Auditor, made his maiden speech at South Pasadena Friday night. It is stated that he made an immense hit with the ladies.

Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 3, Col. 3
Sat. Dec. 30, 1893
Item from: PASADENA - NOTES
The death of Mabel Hobson, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tilman Hobson, took place at the home on De Lacy street last evening.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 37 yr. old Tilman Hobson, a Clergyman, b. Jul. 1862 in IA., was living in Westminster, Orange, CA. with his
40 yr. old wife, Abbie E Hobson 40
8 yr. old son, Arthur Hobson 8
6 yr. old daughter, Abbie L. Hobson 6
4 yr. old daughter, Lewella Hobson 4
Tilman and Abbie had been married for 13 yrs. Abbie was the mother of 4 children, only 3 still alive by this census.
Tilman's father was b. in NC. and his mother in IN.
Abbie's parents were both b. in OH.

Los Angeles Herald (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 7, Col. 7, Col. 4
Tue., Feb. 7, 1905
OBJECT LESSON FOR CHILDREN
Rev. Tilman Hobson Preaches to a Youthful Congregation
One of the most enthusiastic meetings of the evangelistic campaign was that held last evening in the Olivet Congregational church. Evangelist Tilman Hobson prefaced his sermon with an object lesson to the children - “little sunbeams”, as he called them. He illustrated his talk with apples, and said in part:
“You are not ashamed to go to the public school, and so you should not be ashamed to belong to the school of Christ. Here is an apple, spotted and rotten. This represents sin, showing up the boy who plays “hookey’. I see you know what that means. Here is one rosy and bright. God looks at the inside and we look at the clothes. I cut this apple and find it black inside - rotten. A boy comes home after having been away, and on seeing his mother says he has the smallpox. His mother is horrified and says he must not enter, that his brothers and sisters and grandparents are in the house and that he must go to the pest house, where she will carry her love and all good things to him. No man expects to present himself at heaven’s gate with a black heart and say, ‘Let me in.’ We cannot be permitted to enter where all is pure with our hearts black with sin, off where the worm of iniquity gnaws.
Following the address to the children, Rev. Tilman Hobson spoke to the older members of the congregation, taking as his text Psalms 107:9. Following the sermon Mr. Jeffrey sang solos, as did also Mr Hobson and Miss Whitice.

The Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, IL.), P. 6
Thu., Apr. 19, 1906
Excerpt from: PEOPLE PUNISHED
Rev. Tillman Hobson Attributes Destruction to Wickedness of City
RELIGIOUS AWAKENING SURE
The San Francisco earthquake and fires of yesterday were the subject of more or less comment at the district revival meetings held last evening. In his sermon at the Broadway Presbyterian church, in the central district, Rev. Tilman Hobson spoke of the disaster as the punishment of God for the neglect of the people of that city to take cognizance of the condition of their souls. He recalled that last fall an attempt was made to have an evangelistic campaign conducted in San Francisco by himself and others associated with him in the general evangelistic work, and the people of San Francisco refused to consider the matter.
Destruction of Galveston
He spoke in this connection of the experience of the Galveston flood, stating that in Galveston, previous to the disaster, the people refused to consider the evangelistic work, but after the flooding of the city and the cyclone disaster, the evangelists who went to Galveston were eagerly heard, and their campaign proved a great success. He pointed out that a great religious awakening is sure to follow such terrible occurrences as that of yesterday at San Francisco.

The Call-Leader (Elwood, IN.), P. 9
Fri., Nov. 1, 1907
(Various Excerpts from the whole page)
The Apostle of Sunshine
Rev. Tilman Hobson, who is at the head of the great revival movement at the First M.E. church is a unique personality and a general in a religious meeting.
Dr. Hobson is an evangelist of wide reputation. He is a natural orator, whose gifts have been cultivated by the schools until in subject matter, mastery of the theme and power over a congregation, he is superb. As a lecturer and public speaker he has but few equals and is constantly in demand.
Mr. Hobson received the most careful Christian training from Christian parents, who early led him to Christ, with the result that he began to preach when only eighteen years of age.
Through his pure, simple ministry, many thousands have accepted Christ as their saviour. He has sympathy wide and high and as deep as humanity. It takes in high and low, rich and poor alike. Strong men and frail women feel and know his power, and little children flock to hear him.
There is that indefinable something about him that makes him what he is. His motto is, “Everybody smiles,” and they do smile and laugh, and weep and repent. His winning way holds his hearers in rapt attention, while in his soft southern accent, he woos with words of magic sweetness, or pours out a convincing volley of truth against the sins of life.
***
Hobson Laconics
Angels tremble while men tarry.
What is your Christianity doing for others?
Prayer paves the pauper’s way to paradise.
His birth is truly low who is not born from above.
A drop of praise is too small for an ocean of mercy.
You must put off sin before you can put on salvation.
Our surroundings are not always the source of our sorrows.
God Who gave his image to us will expect to see His image reflected in us.
Is your Christian experience like a row-boat, tug-boat or sail-boat?
Today’s feeble faith may become tomorrow’s doubts.
You can kill more sin microbes with smiles than scolds.
God adapts his help to our needs.
Is your character settled, filtered or purified?
Judas was a man with a lost opportunity.
You can kill time without hurting character.
He is soon forgotten who never forgets himself.
Idleness in the incubator of a lot of industrious iniquity.
A kind heart never has to wait long for a chance to get busy.
People who borrow trouble are always anxious to circulate it.
A loose tongue can tie some horribly hard kinks in life’s skein.
The greatness of the soul shows itself i the service of life.
The best way to bow before the Almighty is to bend to the needy.
You can not heal the world’s sorrow by treating its sins lightly.
Time and eternity are partners: as you treat time, so will eternity treat you.
***
A Square Deal
Under the motto, “A Square Deal,” Dr. Hobson has made some of his strongest and most effective appeals to sinners for a better life. A large banner bearing this motto os stretching across the rostrum where it greets the eyes of every one upon entering the church.
The very nature of the words themselves appeal to every fair-minded person. The American people believe in a square deal in the business walks, the political field and who not in the religious work.
***
The Men’s League
One Result of the First Hobson Revival Here
One of the strongest and most gratifying features of the revivals conducted by Hobson is that he invariably gets hold on the men of the community and in nearly every instance goes away leaving a strong organization of the men which pastors find to be of great assistance in their church duties.
During the first revival here, by Evangelist Hobson in June 1906, a number of men in the church, who hd previously taken no active part in such work, but were moved to a better life by the series of meetings, thought to reach other men in their circle of companions by forming a sort of prayer band, and this band grew so rapidly in interest and numbers until it was formally organized under its present name, the men’s League, of the First M.E. church, Elwood, IN.

Jackson County Banner (Brownstown, IN.), P. 2, Col. 5
Wed., Feb. 19, 1908
Attacks Popular Amusements
Richmond, Ind. - William Dudley Foulke, former United States civil service commissioner, took issue with Rev. Tilman Hobson, an evangelist engaged in a revival at Grace Methodist church. Rev. Hobson made a sensational attack on popular amusements, including dancing, card playing and theater going. In his reply Mr. Foulke terms Hobson a vaudeville performer, and declares that he should immediately transfer his activities to some other sphere, “out of the sight and smell of men.”

The Columbus Weekly Advocate (Columbus, KS.), P. 2, Col. 3 & 4
The., Nov. 19, 1908
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS
The big tent meeting is developing some interesting things. This man, Hobson, the evangelist, is of international importance in church work. He is a fine type of the practical religious enthusiast. He is associated closely with the big men of this country, who vouch for his personal integrity in all things.
But the local part of it is that a few years ago he was a boy living in the scrubby oaks down at the east side of Timbered Hills in Quaker Valley. His father owned a farm there and alternately followed farming and preaching and was a physician to the entire community. The boy Tilman grew up like other boys and did all kinds of things. He had been born in 1861 at Pleasant Plains, Iowa, near Muscatine, and in 1869 came with his parents to Cherokee county. Among the neighbors were Henry, and Bazil and Abner Wiggins, still living out near Crestline, Doc Hutchins and Elvis B. Jackson, now living in Columbus. They all have a good word for the boy. A special chum of Tilman Hobson was Jesse F. Pinson, our present county commissioner, who in those days was engineer to a threshing outfit and young Hobson was driver of the water wagon. Pinson and Hobson slept together. Jesse Pinson takes lively interest in his old boyhood friend. Zeno Hobson, still living in Crawford township, is an older brother.
As Tilman Hobson grew up he went to school to Henry Harvey and Joseph Moore. Later he attended the Spring River Academy near Timbered Hills, of which Mrs. Mary Miller was one of the teachers, and Frank F. Satterthwaite was another teacher. Frank is still there looking as young as ever. It was the impressionable age for young Tilman and he fell in love with his teacher and after he had gone east to an academy and fitted himself for the ministry he persisted in his suit and at her home in What Cheer, Iowa, they went into the Quaker church and publicly announced their intention to be married. A committee was appointed to investigate their fitness, and after two Sabbaths had passed reported favorably. Then the church set a day for the congregation to assemble for the Quaker rites of marriage. The couple went up into the pulpit and sat facing the entire church membership in absolute silence until the spirit moved them to speak, then rising and joining right hands, the man first and the woman after him, made verbal declaration that they took each other to be husband and wife. The preacher gave official recognition of the ceremony by spreading a parchment on a table with a statement of the marriage and every man, woman and child present wrote their name in it and this paper was filed in the court and required no other license. Mrs. Hobson has added three fine children to the Hobson name, a son and two daughters. They now reside in Los Angeles, Calif. Finding a larger field for usefulness, he joined the Methodist church, in which he now works.
Tilman Hobson comes of pretty good old American stock. His father was from the same old North Carolina family from which Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson, the naval hero of the siege of the harbor of Santiago, was descended. His mother was Hannah Bales, a descendant of President Zachary Taylor, a Tennessee family.
Tilman Hobson has reflected considerable luster upon Cherokee county, his boyhood home. He naturally wants this meeting to be a success from love of his old neighbors. He is going away to carry a good, indifferent, or poor impression of Columbus. It depends on our citizens how much of an emissary for good, even in the meanest commercial sense, such men can become for the town.

Galena Weekly Republican (Galena, KS.), P. 8, Col. 1 & 2
Fri., Nov. 20, 1908
Item from: Quaker Valley
Rev. Tilman Hobson was down from Columbus Monday superintending the erection of a monument at his mother’s grave in the Friends cemetery. He was the guest at dinner of his old friends C. H. Carter and wife at “Floral Home.”

Baxter Springs News (Baxter Springs, KS.), P. 8, Col. 3
Thu., Dec. 17, 1908
Evangelist Tilman Hobson
What They Say About Him
RELIGIOUS AWAKENING
The Protestant churches united. Evangelist Tilman Hobson is preaching a plain, practical gospel; those truths which make persons who accept them better in character and service. Things are astir; lives are being changed. There is no spirit of sectarianism, and the deeper, richer spirit of fellowship is surely felt. - Tulare (Cal.) Press.
UNION REVIVAL IN OPERA HOUSE
A large audience greeted Evangelist Hobson. As a speaker he is a rapid-firing gun; the ring is clear and sharp; the impact is force. He seizes and holds his audience with a whetted appetite. His speech is like the famed manna of old, suited to every palate. - West Plains (Mo.) Journal.
Rev. Tilman Hobson was the evangelist in our district of the Union Evangelistic Movement inn Los Angeles, Cal. His lovable spirit has brought the pastors and people close together. He is a leader that counts each helper a brother. We applaud his earnest entreaty for the new and better life. (Signed by 5 pastors of various churches).
On the ground of such testimonies as these, we have reason to expect great things to be done in Baxter Springs. Remember the meetings begin here Jan. 7.

Westmoreland Recorder (Westmoreland, KS.), P. 5, Col. 1 & 2
Thu., Feb. 4, 1909
Excerpt from: UNION REVIVAL MEETING
TILMAN HOBSON, QUAKER EVANGELIST
We, the pastors of Nebraska City, Neb., take pleasure in heartily indorsing Rev. Tilman Hobson, the Evangelist, who for three weeks held evangelistic services in our city. He is brainy, bright, sensible and sincere. Of clean and charming personality, we believe him to be a safe man in his chosen field of evangelism. If character and manhood count, the “Apostle of Sunshine” makes good every time. We cordially commend him to all requiring the services if an evangelist. (Signed by five pastors of various churches.)

The Columbus Weekly Advocate (Columbus, KS.), P. 1, Col. 2
Thu., Feb. 11, 1909
TILMAN HOBSON HERE
Rev. Tilman Hobson passed through town Wednesday on his way to Baxter Springs. He has been for nearly a week at his sister’s home near Crestline trying to recover from the injury he received at Baxter Springs in a fall on the ice. He is having much trouble from two broken ribs and the doctor fears there may be worse complications. While here he took luncheon with Mayor Norton and wife and got around to a few friends on the square.

The Daily Review (Decatur, IL.), P. 14, Col. 5
Wed., Mar. 30, 1910
SUNDAY REVIVAL TOTAL NEAR 1,500
Evangelist Returns to Danville With Son, George
Danville, March 30 - Total conversions in the Sunday revival 1,439. Rev. Tilman Hobson, a cousin of Richmond P. Hobson, preached Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Sunday was in Chicago, but returned in time for the night service. He was accompanied by his son, George, who will visit here a few days.
Mr. Sunday preached his booze sermon this morning at Paris.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 48 yr. old Tilman Hobson, a Clergyman/Evangelist, b. in IA., was living in a home he owned free and clear at 312 Cypress Av. in Pasadena Ward 2, Los Angeles, CA. with his
51 yr. old wife, Abigail Hobson, b. in OH.
18 yr. old brother, Arthur T. Hobson, b. in CA.
16 yr. old sister, Effie L. Hobson, b. in CA.
14 yr. old sister, Luella Hobson, b. in CA.
Tilman's father was b. in NC. and his mother in TN.
Tilman and Abigail had been married for 24 years. Abigail was the mother of three children, all still alive by this census.

The Los Angeles Saily Times (Los Angeles, CA.), P. 14, Col. 2
Thu., Jul. 20, 1911
Item from: NEWS BREVITIES
Rev. Tilman Hobson, who has recently given several lectures in the city, spoke on “Slums and Prisons” at the First Friends’ Church, corner of Raymond avenue and Villa street, last night. He illustrated his talk with stereopticon views.

Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA.), P. 45, Col. 2
Sun., Nov. 19, 1911
PASTOR TO TELL MEN OF “THE MODERN MAN”
BERKELEY, Nov. 18 - “The Modern Man” will be the subject of an address to men at the Berkeley Young Men’s Christian Association building tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. The speaker will be Rev. Tilman Hobson, general secretary of the International Evangelistic services at the Friends’ church in this city. The federation which he represents is composed of Christian forces for greater co-operation in evangelism and with the men and religion forward movement.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, KS.), P. 7, Col. 1
Thu., Dec. 18, 1913
FRIENDS
Hear Tilman Hobson at Friends University Thursday evening, 7:30. Slum, Saloon and Prison life illustrated lecture, assisted by Harvey Piper, converted tramp. Adults, @5 cents, under 16 years, 15 cents.

The Marion Star (Marion, OH.), P. 5, Col. 6
Mon., May 25, 1914
REV. TILMAN HOBSON AT THE COURTHOUSE
The Saloonkeeper Not Getting a Square Deal
Rev. Tilman Hobson, of Pasadena, California, spoke at the courthouse yesterday afternoon under the auspices of the W.C.T.V. (Women's Christian Temperance Union?) He delivered a fine lecture on “A Square Deal for the Saloonkeepers,” and gave much food for thought.
Rev. Mr. Hobson endeavored to show his audience that the church people are not giving the saloonkeeper a square deal. The saloonkeeper is made to pay a tax of $1,000 and the church people often rent their properties to them, but charge much larger rent for them than when they rent them for other business. They bar the saloonkeeper from the lodge, the church and their homes and his family is shunned from the society of church people. He went on to tell why this should not be, that the church people should try to encourage the saloonkeeper to become a better citizen and give him a square deal.

The Marion Star (Marion, OH.), P. 9, Col. 4
Tue., May 26, 1914
Excerpt from: Rev. TILMAN DELIVERS ADDRESS
Speaks of “Traps for Girls” in the Great Cities
“Traps for Girls” was the subject of an interesting lecture which was delivered by Rev. Tilman Hobson of Pasadena, California, an evangelist of note, at the First Presbyterian church, last evening.
The speaker told of the different ways the young girls are being trapped into white slavery and gave the actual number that are bring sold each week. He spoke of the dangers of the young girls from small towns going into large cities alone and unprotected, and of the white slavers who are ever on the lookout for their prey around the railway stations. He gave a warning to young girls and some sound advice how to avoid pitfalls when they go out into the world.

Barber County Index (Medicine Lodge, KS.), P. 8, Col. 3
Wed., Dec. 29, 1915
Rev. Tilman Hobson of Pasadena, California, arrived the fore port of last week to visit during the holidays with his sister, Mrs. A.A. Davis and family of Mingona township. Rev. Hobson held services at Riverside Union Chapel last Sunday and will probably hold several more meetings at that church while here.

The Wichita Beacon (Wichita, KS.), P. 4, Col. 5
Mon., Jan. 10, 1916
Excerpt from: ST. PAUL’S REVIVAL STARTS OUT LARGE
“A powerless life is like the loose pulley upon a shaft,” said reverence Hobson. “There are a lot of loose pulley for in the church. They are as big as anybody else. They occupy as much space in the pews. They come to prayer meeting and go, come to Sunday school and go, come to church and go - but never hitch up to anything.”In a government powerhouse once, I saw one of those loose pulleys and I asked one of the men what it was for. ‘Oh, just to carry the belt,’ he said. I asked him if it couldn’t be hooked up so that it would produce the same power as the other pulleys and he showed me a little notch in the hub of the pulley, thrust in a piece of steel - and bing! the pulley went to producing electricity right away.
God never created a soul to be a loafer. He never intended you just to buzz. When he attaches you to his great powerhouse, you’ll go to throwing off electricity, a dynamo of power, generating usefulness in His Kingdom.

Santa Ana Register (Santa Ana, Orange, CA.), P. 14, Col.
The., Aug. 12, 1920
RECEIVE TENT FOR FRIENDS’ MEETINGS
EL MODENA, Aug. 12 - A large tent has been received by the Friends church for the purpose of conducting evangelistic meetings. The tent will be pitched this week on the church grounds and services will begin next Sunday morning, August 15. Rev. Tilman Hobson, an evangelist of nationwide reputation, has been secured, and he will be accompanied by either his daughter, Miss Hobson, or his son, Rev. Arthur Hobson, as singer and musical director.

In the April 7, 1930 U.S. census, 67 yr. old Tillman Hobson, a minister in the Quaker church, b. in IA., was living in a home he owned, valued at $5000 at 312 Cypress Av. in Pasadena, Los Angeles, CA. with his
71 yr. old wife, Abbey Hobson, b. in OH.
Tilman was 24 yrs. old and Abbey was 27 when they married.
Tilman's father was b. in NC. and his mother in TN.
Abbey's parents were both b. in OH.

A little more than a month after the 1930 census, on May 19, 1930, Rev. Tilman Hobson died.