Dobbin, Alexander (1843-1938)

DOBBIN, ZWILLING

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/16/2022 at 00:29:24

From Nevada Evening Journal March 1, 1938 (page 1)

Alexander Dobbin Civil War Veteran Answered "Taps"

State Center, March 1--Alexander Dobbin, 95 years old last Aug. 15, a resident of Marshall county for 66 years and one time mayor of State Center, passed away at his home here at 8:00 p. m. Monday after an illness of only a few days.

Answering his final muster call Mr. Dobbin responded as the last Civil war veteran resident in State Center, S. M. Brimhall, his remaining comrade, having preceded him in June, 1937, at the age of 96. For a number of years this pair of "old soldiers" had taken a prominent part in the annual Memorial day exercises here, but in 1935 and 1936 Mr. Dobbin performed alone because Mr. Brimhall was unable to return from Florida on account of his health.

Mr. Dobbin's death was due to leakage of the heart, complicated with the infirmities of age.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 at the Brimhall-West Funeral home with Rev. James D. Ransom of the Presbyterian church in charge. Burial will be in the family lot on Hillside cemetery.

Alexander Dobbin was born in Greenwich, Washington county, New York, Aug. 15, 1843.

He was one of the pioneer settlers in Marshall county, having come to State Center in 1872, after spending some time in his native state following honorable discharge from service in the United States army in 1865.

Upon his arrival he engaged in agricultural pursuits southwest of State Center, and not only was one of the successful farmers, but was one of the first to introduce pure bred dairy cattle in this area.

He retired from the farm and moved to State center in 1902, terminating 30 years of agrarian activities.

Mr. Dobbin was married Feb. 31, 1884, to Miss Catherine Zwilling, who died in 1920. They were the parents of two children, Miss Martha Dobbin, who was the constant companion of her father after his wife's passing, and Henry A. Dobbin, who occupies the original farmstead.

While living on the farm, Mr. Dobbin always had an active and influential interest in the affairs of his neighborhood. For 20 years he was township trustee and township assessor, besides being a member of the district school board and serving in other official and advisory capacities.

He was the first president of the State Center Farmers' Creamery Association, which now rates one of the leading co-operative creameries in Iowa, and after coming to town was elected mayor in 1910, being subsequently re-elected and retaining that office for three terms.

He held membership in Terrestrial Lodge, No. 276, A. F. & A. M., and was one of the charter members of O. G. Hunt Post, No. 266, G. A. R., which was disbanded a number of years ago. He also was a stockholder and until recently for a number of years was one of the directors of the First National Bank of State Center, which was organized in 1869 by his brother, J. W. Dobbin, and of which his nephew, the late F. L. Dobbin, was president from 1913 until his retirement Jan. 1, 1937.

In the history of Marshall county published in 1912 by the late Judge William Battin and F. A. Moscript, editor of the Marshalltown Times-Republican, is found the following notation concerning Mr. Dobbin: "Holding prestige among the successful men of affairs today, Alexander Dobbin has had much to do in advancing the material interests of the town of State Center, of which he is at present the efficient and popular mayor, and he is one of the progressive, public-spirited citizens of Marshall county. The study of such a life cannot fail of interest and incentive to the youth whose destiny is a matter of future years to determine."

Mr. Dobbin experienced an intensively active and strenuous career in the Union army. He enlisted in 1862 at the age of 19 in Company A, 123rd New York infantry, at Greenwich and served until the close of the civil war. With the exception of the campaign at Gettysburg he was in every battle in which his regiment was engaged.

He was in the 20th Army Corps in the general review in Washington, D. C., when the war ended.

He was taken prisoner at Chancellorsville and with a number of other comrades was confined at Castle Thunder, Richmond, Va., for 15 days, at the end of which time he was paroled. Afterwards he was a patient for several months in a Richmond hospital.

Mr. Dobbin witnessed the surrender of both Gen. Robert E. Lee and General Johnston.

For a number of years, Mr. Dobbin and his daughter had spent their winters in Florida, but last year owing to his poor health they remained in the north. And on each recurring birthday since probably his 90th the anniversary has been observed annually by Mr. Dobbin's family and friends, who have gathered at his home to extend greetings and felicitations as well as by distant acquaintances who have sent messages and cards.