Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (Salt Lake City: The Andrew Jenson Historical Company, 1901), 2:304--5

Hobbs, William, a veteran Elder in the East Jordan Ward, Salt Lake co., Utah, was born March 16, 1837, at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, the son of William Hobbs and Ann Owens. In 1851 he joined the Church, being baptized July 28th by James D. Ross. May 21, 1856, he was ordained to the office of a Teacher and for one year he helped the Elders to distribute tracts, hold meetings, etc. March 27, 1859, he was ordained to the office of an Elder by Robert Jones. He emmigrated to America in 1859, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "William Tapscott," which sailed from Liverpool April 11th, and arrived at New York May 15, 1859. While on board the ship, he met Miss Matilda Barrett, who afterwards became his wife. He crossed the plains in George Rowleys' handcart company, arriving in Salt Lake City Sept. 4, 1859. In 1860 (Oct. 3rd) he married Matilda Barrett, who has borne him ten children, eight of whom are living today. He was in the employ of Pres. Brigham Young as a body guard during 1862--1863. After settling temporarily in the Tenth Ward, he moved with his family to Franklin, Idaho, in 1864. There he took an active part in defending the settlers from the ravages of the Indians. In 1865 he moved to Helena, Montana, where he was engaged in mining for eight years. He then moved to Great Salt Lake Valley and settled at West Jordan, now in Midvale, where he has been engaged in contracting and shipping slag from the smelter dumps, shipping thousands of tons. Brother Hobbs has been an active Ward teacher for many years.

Hobbs, Matilda Barrett, wife of William Hobbs, was born May 28, 1843, at Pontepool, Monmouthshire, England, the daughter of Wm. Barrett and Phoebe Coburn. She was baptized in 1853 by Henry Thomas and emmigrated to America in 1859, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Wm. Tapscott". On board this vessel she met her future husband for the first time. She crossed the plains in George Rowley's handcart company, helping to pull a cart all the way and fording the streams and rivers. When she arrived in Great Salt Lake City, she was very much fatigued after the long and tiresome journey. She lived temporarily in the Ninth Ward at the home of Bishop Woolley. Oct. 3, 1860, she was married to Wm. Hobbs, to whom she has borne ten children, and proven herself a faithful wife and a firm Latter-day Saint. Her parents joined the Church in England and came to Utah in 1875, settling at Provo, where they lived until their death. Her father died in 1883 and her mother in 1899.