HUBER, Henry J.

HUBER, SOBOLIK, SWAEHLA, THIES, STORK, JUZA, TUSCHA

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/5/2014 at 15:17:45

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 633-34. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ HENRY J. HUBER

America's great strength is solidly grounded in her agricultural element, and serving as a worthy and progressive representative of this class is Henry J. Huber, of Union township. Not only has Mr. Huber done his share toward furthering the cause of scientific cultivation of the soil but he has been of additional worth to his community as one in whom the highest ideals of citizenship were embodied. Mr. Huber was born on December 25, 1864, his parents being Henry and Annie (Sobolek (sic, should be Sobolik)) Huber, the former a native of Indiana. On the maternal side Mr. Huber comes of Bohemian stock, his mother having been a native of that country. Early in life he was deprived of his father, who died in January, 1865, at the age of twenty-eight years. His mother survived until October 4, 1904, when, at the age of sixty-seven years, she passed on to her reward. Mr. Huber was one of four children, of whom two are living, himself and a brother named Tony, who also lives in Iowa. The mother married a second time, her second husband being Joseph Swaehla, who is still living in Fayette county. Six children were the fruit of this union and the four surviving are all of them citizens of Iowa, George and Albert residing in Union township, Theodore in Winnesheik county and Mrs. Julia Thies in Allamakee county.

Mr. Huber was still a child when his step-father came to Fayette county and established himself upon a farm. He passed the usual wholesome, busy life of the lad who is reared in the country, assisting even at an early age in the manifold labors to be encountered upon a farm and gaining the practical experience which has since served him so well in the unrivaled school of experience. When he could be spared he enjoyed the meager educational advantages of the district school. When only fifteen years of age he left the parental roof and set forth to make his own fortunes in the world. Locating in Washington county he secured employment as a farm hand and continued in various similar capacities until 1890. when he decided upon a change of scene and came on to Cerro Gordo county. For two years he continued in the employment of others, and then resolving upon a more independent existence, purchased a tract of one hundred acres of land in section 5, Union township. This land, which was unbroken land, he brought into tillable condition and two years later sold it, somewhat to his profit. He subsequently purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 17 of Union township, which he likewise improved and operated until the fall of 1909, when he again sold out. Shortly afterward he became the possessor of the valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres which at the present time has been brought to a desirable state of improvement and where he makes his residence. Mr. Huber not only enjoys the respect of the community as one who thoroughly understands the vocation to which he has devoted his energies, but he likewise possesses the confidence of his fellow men, an evidence of this being the fact that for ten years he served as treasurer of Union county. Mr. Huber is a man in whom the social element is not wanting and he is a valued member of the Modern Woodmen of America in their organization at Clear Lake, Iowa. His political coalitions are Democratic, and he has given to the party a warm and loyal adherence.

Mr. Huber established a home for himself by his marriage [in Hancock Co. IA], October 30, 1893, to Miss Mary Stark (sic), who was born in Union township February 17, 1875. Mrs. Huber's father is Joseph Stark (sic), born in Bohemia June 5, 1826. He emigrated from the old country in 1856 and located in Iowa county. Wisconsin, where he purchased a tract of wild land, and in the fashion of the day cleared it of timber and engaged in farming. In 1871 he sold out and drove with his family and effects to Cerro Gordo county, settling in Union township and buying one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. This he improved and adding to it from time to time he came to own six hundred and forty acres. In 1909 he gave up the active duties of agriculture into other hands and removed to Clear Lake, where he is now living in the enjoyment of a well earned leisure. He has to his credit the record of sixty-five years spent in active farming. Mr. Stark's (sic) wife was previous to her marriage Miss Barbara Juza, whom he married in Bohemia in 1846. Mrs. Stark, who became the mother of ten children, died in Wisconsin, and in 1874 Mr. Stark (sic) contracted a second union. Miss Kate Tusha (sic, should be Tuscha) becoming his wife. Five children were born, four living, of whom Mr. Huber's wife is one. Mr. and Mrs. Huber are the parents of three children. Albert, Fred and Hazel, all of whom are at home.

NOTE: Henry J. Huber died in 1940. Mary Elizabeth (Stork) Huber died at Clear Lake in 1949. They were interred at Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake IA.

William "Willie" Huber, son of Henry J. and Mary Elizabeth, was born in December, 1895, and died at Glenwood IA on February 26, 1902. Willie was interred beside his grandfather, Joseph Stork, at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014