Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

schools of his native town. From his
earliest boyhood he took the greatest in-
terest in his father's life on shipboard.
As soon as he left school he became a
deck hand on one of the many schooners
then forming the principle means of
freight traffic between Stamford and
New York City. Beginning at the bottom
he worked up, and in 1878, when his father
died, the young man took his ship, running
it for eight years. Thrifty and ambitious,
with an eye for the future, he
saved his money, and in 1885, with a
group of interested friends, formed the
Cove Transportation Company, of which
later he was president. He did not, how-
ever, give up his active interest in sea-
faring life, and up to 1913 ran a steamer
for the Stamford Manufacturing Company,
plying between Stamford and New
York. His father had sailed for this
company for over twenty years. In all
he followed the life of a seaman for forty
years, winning for himself the same respect
and loyalty which his father had
enjoyed.
Captain Hobbie was long affiliated with
the Democratic party, and was often
sought for public service. He was elected
first as a member of the School Commit-
tee, in which capacity he served for three
years. This was in 1900. In 1902 he was
elected selectman, and served for four
years. Was again elected in 1914,
reelected in 1916, and still again in 1918.
Captain Hobbie was always considered
one of the strongest candidates that could
be nominated by the Democratic party
in Stamford. His general popularity was
very great. He was well known as a
friend of the people, in fact, was one of
them, always genial and friendly, while
his strict integrity and utter fearlessness
gave him the full confidence of the party
leaders and the respect of every oppos-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
261
ing element. Socially, Captain Hobbie
was connected with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum,
and the New England Order of
Protection.
Captain Hobbie married Mary E. Pren-
dergast, daughter of John Prendergast,
of Stamford. They were the parents of
one child, George Edwin, born December
15, 1879, in Stamford; he is successfully
engaged in the plumbing business; is a
member of St. Augustin Council, No. 41,
Knights of Columbus, and a Democrat in
politics ; he married Elizabeth U. Gal-
lagher, and they have one child, Charles
Edwin, born February 7, 1907, in Stam-
ford.
The name of Hobbie holds an honored
place in the history of Stamford, and it is
eminently fitting that the memory of Cap-
tain Hobbie should be kept alive in these
records, as it is cherished in the hearts of
those who knew him best. He lived out
in full measure the principles of truth
and justice for which his grandfather
fought in the Mexican War, and gave his
sons in the War of the Rebellion. This
record of family devotion to duty has
long been commemorated in the name of
Hobbie Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
Captain Charles Edwin Hobbie's
name will live in the annals of peaceful
citizenship as they have lived in the rec-
ords of military honor.
FAWCETT, George Gifford,
Physician.
The pioneer spirit of his forefathers has
been imbibed in the character of Dr.
George Gifford Fawcett, of South Nor-
walk, Connecticut. Having chosen the
medical profession for his career in life,
he has come far from his native haunts
to make his success. He was born in