Cited for valor multiple times during the Civil War, Gobin was promoted repeatedly, becoming the final commanding officer of the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, which was the only regiment from Pennsylvania to serve during the Union's 1864 Red River Campaign across Louisiana.[2][3]
Early life and education
Gobin was born in Sunbury, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1837, the oldest of four children of Samuel and Susanna Gobin Shindel.[4][5][6] He was educated locally and became an apprentice at the Sunbury American newspaper, where he was trained as a printer.[7] He then read law with M. L. Shindel and John K. Clement, the father of Charles M. Clement, with whom Gobin later served in the National Guard.[8] Gobin was admitted to the bar in 1858, and began to practice in Sunbury.[9]
On July 6, 1866, U.S. President Andrew Johnson nominated Gobin for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.[11] Near the end of the war he commanded 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XIX Corps. After the surrender of the Confederacy, Gobin served as a Provost Marshal in South Carolina and Georgia until he was mustered out of the service on January 9, 1866.[12][13][14]
In addition to practicing law, Gobin was active in several businesses, including the local gas lighting company, the First National Bank of Lebanon, the City Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad.[16]
Gobin also carried out several civic responsibilities, including member of the board of trustees of Pennsylvania's Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, member of the board of commissioners of the Soldiers' Orphans Home, and member of the board of commissioners of the Gettysburg Monument Association.[17]
In 1870 Gobin returned to military service as a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, commanding a company in Lebanon called the Coleman Guards with the rank of captain. In 1874 he was named commander of the 8th Regiment with the rank of colonel. In 1885 he was promoted to brigadier general as commander of the 3rd Brigade.[21]
In 1898 Gobin was appointed to command his brigade when it was federalized for the Spanish–American War. He led his brigade during mobilization and training near Augusta, Georgia, but resigned in order to run for lieutenant governor, and returned to National Guard service in Pennsylvania.[22][23]
Gobin was also a member of the Freemasons, Knights Templar, and Odd Fellows. He served as Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar in North America from 1889 to 1892.[26]