hˈɑːbsən wʌz ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪɾᵻd ɪnðə kˈɑːmən skˈuːlz ɪn ɡɹˈiːnzbɜːɡ ænd dˈænvɪl, kɛntˈʌki, ænd æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv ˈeɪtiːn, wɛnt ˌɪntʊ bˈɪznəs wɪð hɪz fˈɑːðɚ.
Hobson was educated in the common schools in Greensburg and Danville, Kentucky, and at the age of eighteen, went into business with his father.