| 2. | Samuel Bonnin Hobson, III was born on 17 Sep 1888 in Ebenezer, Graaff Reinet district, Eastern Cape, South Africa (son of Samuel Bonnin Hobson, II and Agnes Clementine Bowles); died on 6 Aug 1965. Other Events and Attributes:
Notes:
Samuel Bonnin (III) and George Carey became very well known especially in the Vryburg area where Samuel was an inspector of schools, and for the 9 books they jointly wrote in Afrikaans - the most well known one "Kees van die Kalahari" was a prescribed book for many years and won the Hertzog prize for Afrikaans literature, selling more than 100,000 copies.
Proud to be a S. African
THE LATE S. B. HOBSON
That great South African, Samuel Bonnin Hobson, the beloved husband of Frances-and dear father of Bonnin, Donald, Julia and Shirley passed away peacefully on the 6th August, 1965.
The appropriate words of the late Sir James Rose-Innes come to mind; "I have neither Voortrekker nor Huguenot blood in my veins . . . I am proud to be a South African and I claim to stand on the same National footing as if my forebears had landed with van Riebeek or followed Piet Relief over the Drakensberg."
1820 LINEAGE
His great-grand father, the late Carey Hobson, emigrated to this country from England with the 1820 Settlers at the age of 12 years in William Smith's Party of Settlers in the sailing ship "Northampton". He first settled in the neighbourhood of Martindale; later mov-ing from there and finally settling on the farm "Ebenezer", near Graaff-Reinet, the home-farm still owned by his descendants. He was a famous big-game hunter, and a bell in the Settlers' Memorial Campanile, Port Elizabeth, was dedicated to the memory of Carey Hobson and his brother David. He became a Justice of the Peace. He married Susannah, daughter of Mr. Samuel Bonnin, also an 1S20 Settler. Their eldest son, Samuel Bonnin Hobson, inherited the farm "Ebenezer"; and his son, Samuel Bonnin, with a brother Percy, continued to farm at "Ebenezer" until Samuel Bonnin decided to move to the Vryburg District. He married Clementine Bowles, also of 1820 Settler stock, and their first child, Dr. Samuel Bonnin Hobson, was born in Grahamstown in the year 1888. He matriculated at Muir College, Uitenhage, and at. the age of 19 obtained in two years the B.A. (Hons.) degree in Classics at Rhodes University College, He was one of their earliest students and played both in the College's first cricket and first tennis teams. He was offered: the Hiddingh Scholarship to Oxford University but owing to financial circumstances was unable to accept.
EDUCATIONALIST
During his early teaching years he studied privately for his Master's Degree. He successfully wrote that examination at Wellington with the late Dr. J. H. Hofmeyr. At the age of 23 years he was appointed Principal of the Franschhoek School, then the largest, but one, of the existing Government Schools. At the age of 26 years he was appointed Inspector of Schools. As such he spent six years at Victoria West, eight years at Vryburg, and 15 years at Grahamstown. On one occasion, somewhere beyond Pofadder, in the desolate areas of the North West Cape, his motor-car—a 1914 Hupmobile—broke down. He was his own mechanic but lacked the appropriate part and walked, by night only, without water or food, about 100 miles to the nearest help in this arid, deserted and unpopulated area. He encountered no one during his walk. In 1942 he was appointed Chief Inspector of Native Education in the Cape, and shortly thereafter Assistant Secretary of Education. He was one of the prime movers in obtaining Afrikaans-medium education in the Cape and in 1946 became Secretary for Education. He acted as Superintendent-General of Education for some time. He served under every Administrator of the Cape from the days of Sir Frederick de Waal. Despite his leaning to the Classics and Education, farming was his first love and he farmed in the Kalahari and the Vryburg District and until recently on the Fish River.
ALLEGED RETIREMENT
After retiring from the Education Department in 3 94S he became she Member for Albany of the Cape Pro¬vincial Council and only recently de¬clared himself unavailable for re-election. As a member of the Provincial Coun¬cil, he was Leader of the United Party, Chairman of the Caucus, and Member of the Executive Council. He was Chairman of Rhodes University Council until ill-health compelled him to retire in 1964. Still as a mem¬ber of the Council, he served on the Finance Committee and as a member of the Council of Livingstone College. He was a member of Kingswood College Council and of the Albany School Board and until he died was Chairman of the Grahamstown Training College. As Chairman of Rhodes University Council he conducted a successful appeal for essential funds. In the year 1959 the University conferred on him a Degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) in recognition of his services to education and to the University.
FINANCE
Shortly after his alleged retirement he joined first the Board of the Grahamstown Building Society; then the Board of the Eastern Province Guardian Loan and Investment Company, and died in harness. He was also a member of the Hospital Board.
RELIGION
He was a truly religious man and as a member of the Methodist Church, served for many years as Senior Circuit Steward of Grahamstown Methodist Church.
During his latter years he gave up tennis, of which he was very fond, became a keen bowler, and always loved his garden.
Perhaps ho will be best remembered as a loving husband and father- For his genuine kindness, consideration, for all and his willingness to serve, everyone in Grahamstown and the surrounding districts liked and respected him.He was a master of both the English and Afrikaans languages and his book "Kees vain die Kalahari," written In collaboration with his brother George, won the Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans Literature, and sold more than 100,000 copies. He was the only English-speaking South African to have been awarded this prize. Of his ten Afrikaans books many have been prescribed setwork-books.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
On the 9th day of August a memorial service was conducted in the Commemoration Church by the Rev. Western, who slated, inter alia, that Samuel Bonnin Hobson was one who could walk with Kings, and never lose the common touch. The chief mourners were his wife, children and a number of relatives, some of whom had come long distances. The bearers were his sons, Bonnin and Donald Hobson, and his sons-in-law, Izak Theron and Christopher Gadd. The pall bearers were two of his cousins, Edgar and Percy Hobson, Colin Bennett, M.P. (Legislative), Dr. Hyslop (Rhodes University), Jack Slater (Kingswood College), Russell Smailes (Circuit Steward, Methodist Church, Grahams-town), Kyle Stone (Grahamstown Building Society and Eastern Province Guardian Loan and Investment Company) and Basil Gowie (Grahamstown Building Society).
After the memorial service a private cremation was held in Port Elizabeth, He loved the Karroo, and his ashes will be taken there.
Among the many expressions of condolence is a telegram from Sir de Villiers Graaff, Leader of the United Party, reading:
"My deepest sympathy on the passing of a great South African. He will be sadly missed."
Samuel + Frances Julia Devenish. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|
