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Alabama Vera L. Henry,
Hale County.
MAGNOLIA GROVIC
On a knoll far back from the head of Main Street of Greensboro
stands this majestic old Hobson home known as Magnolia Grove. This is
one of the shrines of Alabama. It is reached by a graceful winding
walk and a circular driveway. The flower garden joins the vegetable
garden and orchard and is most atractive. The ten beautiful magnolia
trees, mystery trees of the South, with other trees, form the twenty
acre grove.
Built in early part of the eightannth century, of bricks made on
the place by slaves. The home is spacious, eight rooms, high ceilings, wide
halls aid verandas full length of the house. Across the front are columns
of solid masonry; in the rear they are of fluted iron, which are supposed
to have been bro ght from England. In the wide entrance hall there is
a winding stairway, which is unusually distinctive and handsome, The
most interesting feature of the house to many people.
It is people who have built and lived in a home that really makes
its interest, the ancestors came from North Carolina. Isaac Croom built
the Hbbson home He settled in Green County then, now Hale County, at
the county seat and selected one of the prettiest sites in that section.
After Isaac Croom had finished his house he found that a large oak tree
that grew nt the end of the street kept people from seeing his pretty
new house so good, so he asked the permission of the town to cut this tree
but there was a good well under the tree and the town objected to having
the tree cut. One night when the people of the town went to sleep the
tree was standing and when they awoke the next morning the tree was gone.
Isaac Croom married a gifted and very charming young woman from
North Carolina, Sarah Pearson, sister of Judge Richmond M. Pearinn, 4hief
Magnolia Grove 2
of Justice of Supreme Court. He also served PS Ambassador to Rome,
Minister to Persia and also to Greece. He was mrternal grandfather
of Richmond Pearson Robson, the Merrimac hero.
The Ciooms had no children so the home passed into the possession of
Sarah Croom Pearson, afterward Mrs. James N. Hobson* mother of Captain
Hobson.
This old home was always the henterof much gaiety and entertainment,
especially when the beautiful Pearson sisters from North Carolina came to
visit their aunt, Mrs. Croom, Sally Pearson, the mother of Admiral Richmond
Pearson Robson, and her sister, Laura, were noted belles and beauties.
In the home are portraits of Colonel Isaac Croom and his wife; Judge
Richmond M. Pearson; Eliza Mumford, mother of Judge Pearson; Judge James
M. Hobson, his mother, Ann Morehead and others.
Naturally, Richmond Pearson Robson is there in his Naval uniform. He
entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis at the age of fourteen.
Although the Admiral's work carried him to all parts of the world,
he tried to make an aanual visit if possible, to his old home at "Magnolia
Grove" where there was always entertainment given in his honor. Ea loved
vat -door sports and hunting, swimming and riding. The house is filled with
curios brought by Admiral Hobson from many different lands. Among them is
a pine of the tree under which there was an exchange of prisoners made
when Admiral Hobson was made free after being captured when he gunk the
Merrimac. Also there is a chair which was once aboard the Merrimac.
It is gratifying to the friends of the Robson family that belated
official recognition from Congress came to Richmond Pearson Robson in 1933
for the daring feat performed in June, l98, during the Spanish-American
War, which has been pronounced one of the most brilliant deeds of heroism
in the entire military history of the nation. This was because of a defect
in the law. This law restricted award of the Congressional medal to enlisted
men, was later amended to include commissioned officers, and Congressman
Magnolia Grove 3
Oliver, of Alabama, introduced a bill to correct the long
and officially honor the hero by presenting to him the medal.
These were the words of "Uncle Ben" "Shucks, you ain't tellint me
nothinl, man. knowed as how Rich was gwine ter be a big man. Didn't
I see dat boy a Bailin' all sorts uv little boats on dat pond out dare.
He didn't take no foolishness neither. A boy playin, wid him tried to
ruinate one uv dew ships one day, and de way Marse Rich thrashed dat boy
wuz a sight."
"Uncle Ben" the old family servant of the Hobson family, said this
when he was told that the whole world was talking about what a hero
Capt. Richmond P. Hobson of Alabama, had proved himself to be. "Uncle
Bell" was just as glad as anyone else for he had been with the Hobson
family all of his life, and he felt as though "Rich" as he called Richmond,
belonged to him.
At the present time visitors are welcomed at the Hobson home without
any cost. The e are two sisters and two brothers of the late Rear Admiral
Richmond P. Hobson living in the home.
Information on "Magnolia Grove" and Richmond Pearson Hobson came
partly from "Historic Homes of Alabamaand their Traditions" and mostly
from Miss Margaret Hobson, sister of the late Richmon4,P. Hobson.
12/15/3g