VAUS DOBBINS was born in Hampshire County, Va., November 1, 1819, and is one of the eleven children born to Samuel and Sarah (Mitchell) Dobbins, both natives of the same State. Samuel Dobbins was a blacksmith by trade, but in his later years became a planter, and owned at one time nine plantations, aggregating 2,000 acres, which he subsequently divided among his children. He died in December, 1848, a member of the United Brethren Church. Vans Dobbins attended the ordinary schools of his day, and when twenty-five years of age was presented, by his father, with a farm in his native county, which he managed until 1849, when be sold, and bought 1,117 acres in Tyler County, W. Va., including a saw and flouring mill, and a lath and carding mill. In 1856, he sold out and came to Princeton Township, this county, and there farmed until about 1863, when he moved to Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, for the purpose of educating his children. In 186 '7, he returned to White County, and rented a large farm in West Point Township. In 1870, he came to this township and bought the farm of 140 acres near Chalmers, on which he has ever since resided. He also owns lands in Princeton Township and building lots in Chalmers. He was married, in 1844, to Harriet A.. Hammock, a native of Hampshire County, Va., and of the ten children born to him, six are still living. Mr. Dobbins is a Freemason, and both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican.

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