In 1993 he crowned one of his daughters, Connie Hall, queen of the hobos.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

There were now fewer hobos trailing across America but the breed was not extinct.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

As his fame grew, Mr Stevens saw himself as the head of American hobos' first family.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

The railway companies have put up posters aimed to deter hobos and others from riding freight trains.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

Even now, with the economy roaring ahead and seemingly unstoppable, some hobos still feel a need to roam.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

Yes, Mr Stevens said, there were female hobos, like Boxcar Bertha of Iowa, who died about five years ago.

ECONOMIST: Irving Stevens

On top of potentially changing the relationship between baristas and laptop hobos, this could also be a boost for another industry: electric vehicles.

FORBES: Prepare To Pay For Power In Public Places