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RICHARD D. MOBLEY
Minneapolis
Page 336 to 337
RICHARD D. MOBLEY was born in Graves county, Kentucky, June 24, 1833. His grandfather, William Mobley, was a soldier
in the Revolutionary War, and his father, Richard Mobley, was an officer in the war of 1812, and was with Capt.
Zachary Taylor (afterward President) in the battle of fort Harrison, having been sent as a bearer of dispatches,
and arriving just in time to participate in the engagement. His mother's maiden name was Mary Riggs. Both parents
were active, useful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Richard D. Mobley was educated at the Aurora Academy, in Filiciana, Kentucky, receiving a good academic and business
education. His boyhood was spent upon his father's farm. At about the age of eighteen he went to Texas, and traveled
extensively over the settled portions of that State, as well as in its western wilds, and during a portion of the
time he pursued the occupation of a teacher. His father having inherited slaves, and abhorring the institution
of slavery, manumitted them. The son was nevertheless inclined to the pro-slavery side, and immigrated to Kansas
in 1855, more in a spirit of adventure than from any settled convictions upon the question of slavery, but became
disgusted with the conduct of the pro-slavery men in their adoption of the Lecompton Constitution; voted against
that instrument, and allied himself with the free-state men, and afterward was identified with the Republican party;
in 1864 enlisted a company and entered the Union army as a captain, and was stationed at Lawrence during the Price
raid, in command of the post. He has since been an active, influential Republican, and has been permanently connected
with that organization, participating in many of its state and local conventions, and holding important positions.
For four years, from 1860 to 1864, he held the office of clerk of the district court of Davis county, and was superintendent
of public instruction for Saline county, as well as clerk of the district court in 1865-6. In 1866 he was elected
county attorney of Ottawa county, and at the same time elected a representative in the Kansas State Legislature,
serving a two-year term in the former capacity, and was re-elected representative in 1867. In 1874 he was again
elected a representative from Ottawa county. In the session of 1867 Captain Mobley was chairman of the committee
on new counties, and introduced the bill that made the thirty-seven new counties of that session. In the session
of 1868 he was chairman of immigration, and was one of the special committee to visit and inquire into the management
of the state penitentiary, and also on the committee to investigate the charges of corruption in the governor's
office. In the session of 1875 Captain Mobley was chairman of the committee on county lines and county seats, which
did a great deal of work.
He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has for many years been a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church; has labored earnestly for the promotion of the interests of the church, doing
much for its financial prosperity by his works, his influence and his contributions. In 1863 he was admitted to
practice law, but has not pursued his profession.
He was married in Topeka, Kansas, December 24, 1868, to Miss Emma Dawson, a lady of culture, educated at Edgar
Academy, in Illinois, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have no children.
On the first settlement of Captain Mobley in Kansas he located at the town of Reeder, near Solomon City, and from
1855 to 1860 resided in Davis county; in 1860 he removed to Junction City, where he resided until 1865, but spent
much of his time as a freighter upon the western plains. In 1865 he removed to Ottawa county, where he has since
resided, and has generally pursued the occupation of a farmer. He has a fine farm, well improved, adjoining the
flourishing city of Minneapolis.
In the early settlement of Kansas Captain Mobley had many encounters with the Indians, and was once a prisoner
with them, but succeeded in getting away from them the first night after his capture.
The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Chicago and Kansas
City, USA: S. Lewis, 1879. Transcribed by L. Smalley |
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