Hubbell's father was a prominent lawyer and judge in these days, and afforded a good education for his sons.
Hubbell flourished at the university and was one of the charter members there of the Hesperia literary society, along with his lifelong friend William Freeman Vilas.
In the second year of the war, as new calls were being made for volunteers to the Union Army, Hubbell saw several of his university classmates joining the service.
William F. Vilas recruited a company for the 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, which Hubbell sought to join, but was too late to register a spot.
[2] With the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, he served with Battery B, which was stationed for the rest of the war at forts in Kentucky and Tennessee.
In addition to his legal career, Hubbell was a lifelong literary enthusiast and wrote his own poetry and prose.
For much of his life, including his final years, Hubbell wrote for and edited the Wisconsin Alumni Magazine in its various incarnations.