John H. Dobson was a Canadian immigrant who came to the Valley in about 1896 to farm with his brother, Wesley. After marrying Electa "Letchy" Scott, he and his brother, Wesley, began acquiring ranch land in Mesa and Tempe. John eventually owned 4,000 acres of land in the Salt River Valley, and several thousand more in the White Mountains. John was active in the Chandler business community, building the Dobson Building on San Marcos Place in Downtown Chandler in 1912, and partnering with John Andersen in opening the First National Bank. He got into the sheep business in 1929, purchasing a herd of 10,000 head. John, his sons, and his grandson, Dwayne, continued to raise sheep until 2012. They drove the sheep up to the White Mountains on the Heber Reno Trail every spring, and drove them down the trail to winter in the Valley in the fall. John retired from ranching in 1941. Before his death in 1949, he split his ranch into five ranches, one for each of his children: Roy Dobson, Clifford Dobson, Mildred Dobson (Fitch), Earl Scott Dobson, and Ruby Dobson (Patterson).
He was president of First National Bank, according to the 1920, 1921, 1923 and 1925 Chandler City Directories.
The 1923 directory said his wife was Lecty.
-Mr. Dobson signed the petition against the county division bill for the town of Mesa. (Chandler Arizonan 3/14/1913)
To read a transcript of an oral history with Dwayne Dobson, where he talks about his grandfather John H. Dobson, click here.
To read a transcript of an oral history with Vinson and Dwayne Dobson, where they talk about their grandfather John H. Dobson, click here.