The Republic
Columbus, Indiana
June 14, 1881 Tuesday
Page 4

OBITUARY

Sketch of the Life of Charles A. Hubbard.

Charles A. Hubbard was born of John C. and Hannah Hubbard, in Columbus, on the 18th day of July, 1889. His childhood was marked by nothing out of the usual order which characterized the youth of his tie. At the age of 23, on May 7, 1862, he was united in marriage to Hannah B. Stevens, who for nineteen years shared his life, and who now weeps above his grave. Six children have been born to them, two of whom, only, survive.

In August of 1862, he left here as Captain of a company, 93d regiment vols. for the field. Towards the close of the first battle of Jackson, Miss., May 16, '63. Soon after the corps with which he was connected, went to Vicksburg and formed a part of the army that carried on that memorable siege. Here he received a wound, which ever after troubled him. He was lying upon the ground, as was the whole regiment, when a fragment of shell passed through his clothing over his breast, tearing a hole in his coat and shirt but not breaking the skin, giving however, a most painful wound, by concussion, leaving the surface black and blue, as though bruised by a powerful blow. A soldier named Wm. Ping, of his company, was at the moment lying with his head close to Hubbard's breast. The fragment crushed through Ping's head killing him instantly. Hubbard was sent to the field hospital, where he remained a few days, thence coming home on furlough of sixty days. It is stated that he was the first soldier wounded at Vicksburg. Upon the expiration of his furlough he returned to his command. In 1864, he participated in the battles of Bryce's Cross roads, Tupelo, and others. His corps was then sent to Missouri, to take part in the campaign against the rebel General Price, which lasted about two months. In this Price was overcome. The force then went to Nashville, Tenn., and was engaged in all the battles about that place fought by Gen. Thomas. After the campaign closed here, the force was sent to New Orleans, crossed the gulf to Dauphin Island, upon which the army was prepared for the siege of Mobile, soon thereafter entered upon. The  siege ended by the capture of that place on the day of the assassination of President Lincoln. From here the force was sent to Selma, Ala., thence to Gainsville, Ala., where Hubbard's regiment took charge of stores captured from Gen. Forrest. The regiment was engaged some time in shipping cotton to Mobile, in addition to the other duty of guarding captured munitions of war, and vessels also captured on the Tombigbee river. These were privateers which had taken refuge from our coast gun boats by making their way up the river, only to fall into the hands of our land forces. The regiment remained here from June till August of 1865, when it was mustered out of service by expiration of term, and sent home.

This in brief is the army career of Charles A. Hubbard, but this gives no insight into his character as a patriot, or his kindly disposition towards those over whom he held command. While over them, measured by the strict laws of military rule, he was at the same time, a companion and friend, always ready and willing to cheer the boys by a word, when a word, only, was required, or in more substantial ways when this was needed. Going into the army with relatives and friends, he always remained to them simply Charley Hubbard, the jovial companion and friend. He would divide his last cracker with a hungry wight, and cheer the tired and worn out on the long and dusty march. That he retained the esteem and respect of his companions is shown by the fact that they always speak in the highest terms of praise of him, not only as a soldier but as a friend. There is no better crucible to test true manhood than the calling of the soldier. That he passed through that ordeal, not only unscathed, but the pure metal of his character being made brighter thereby is a fact all his comrades attest.

His public civil life commenced the year following his return from the army. In 1866 he was elected to the city council, serving in that body for a short and full term, three years altogether. In 1869 he was elected Mayor, filling that office for one term. He was a candidate for re-election but was defeated in the election by Amos Burns, by a majority of twelve votes only. In 1872 he made the race for County Treasurer, but the county being largely Democratic he was defeated, Joshua D. McQueen having been his successful competitor. In 1876 he became a candidate for the nomination before the State Convention of the Republican party for Treasurer of State. A vote or two in that body showed he had considerable strength, but circumstances dictated his withdrawal, which he authorized. He was chairman of the Republican Central Committee of the county in the campaigns of 1876-78.

He went into business here, that of merchant tailoring, in 1869, which he pursued till 1878, when financial embarrassments come upon him, which caused him to suspend. Since then until his illness unfitted him for business, he was engaged as a salesman with Mr. John Tutewiler, in the boot and shoe trade here.

Mr. Hubbard was a whole-souled, generous man. Of strong convictions, he was yet considerate of the opinions of others. His friends were many and firm, he having a peculiar faculty of retaining friendships even amongst those of opposite political belief. This was the more remarkable from the fact that he was a pronounced partisan in politics, and possessed the traits of a leader, and was, therefore, always in the van of political movements. True, he had enemies, but this only shows that there was something positive about the man. The very thing that brought him enemies multiplied his friends, and it is doubtful if any man in Columbus ever passed away where death caused greater genuine sorrow than his has. 

Those who had known and respected him in life, fellow soldiers and fellow citizens, laid his mortal body gently away yesterday in the mother earth, to be seen no more, while the tear-filled eyes and moans of wife, brothers and children, and the sad faces of friends attested the deep feeling of sorrow that surged through the breasts of all who were paying the last rites to the dead.