Hiram Hobaugh

1828 - ca. 1870

Westmoreland County

(Biographies and Photographs contibuted by Bill Plack)

     According to U.S. Census records, Hiram Hobaugh was born c.1828 in Pennsylvania and in 1850 was living in Salem Boro (today’s Delmont, PA) with his parents Phillip and Betsy, three sisters and two brothers. Phillip and all three sons listed their occupation as bricklayer.

     By the 1860 census, Hiram was married to Elizabeth, had twin 5 year old daughters, Ella and Mary, and listed his occupation as stone cutter. Also living in the Hobaugh residence was Margaret Young, a 55 year old widow.

     Hiram’s wife, Elizabeth, known as Lizzie, died June 4, 1865 at the young age of 30 years and 15 days, and is buried in the Delmont Presbyterian Church graveyard.

     Pomeroy’s 1867 Atlas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania shows the location of the H. Hobaugh residence and marble works on the north side of west Pittsburg Street, across the street from the P. Hobaugh residence. Pomeroy shows the name of the town as New Salem, served by the Salem Xroads post office.

     The 1870 census showed Hobaugh’s twin daughters, now 14, living at home with their widowed father. Fortunately for the motherless girls, Margaret Young, now 64, was still living in the Hobaugh residence. Hiram’s occupation was given as marble and stone cutter.

     Hiram Hobaugh does not appear in the U.S. Census records for Salem/New Salem/Delmont after 1870 but I have found tombstones signed by him dated as late as 1894. Both of his daughters are buried next to their mother at Delmont Presbyterian but, unfortunately, the dates on their tombstones are illegible.

     Hobaugh signed his stones several ways – H.H.; Hobaugh; and H. Hobaugh. He also marked his stones with the several variations of the town name – Salem, New Salem, and Salem Xroads.

printable text version of biography

Examples of Hiram Hobaugh's

stone carvings

Murrysville Union Cemetery

Murrysville, Westmoreland County

Brush Creek Lutheran Cemetery,

Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County