HURST, J. W.

HURST, HAWKINS, CONREY, YOUNG, WHITE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 12:01:17

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. p. 175. Chicago. 1915.

J. W. HURST

J. W. Hurst, who is conducting a large and well patronized ladies’ furnishing store in Leon under the firm name of J. W. Hurst & Company, was born in Leon January 20, 1873. After completing his elementary and secondary education he entered the State University of Iowa, where he took a liberal arts course. Practically all of his active life has been devoted to the mercantile business and the store which he now owns was established in 1861 by his father, S. W. Hurst, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work and who conducted the business for a number of years under his own name. He sold out to George Hurst, J. W. Hawkins and J. R. Conrey, who remained the owners of the business for several years. At length Mr. Hawkins retired and the firm became Hurst & Conrey until C. E. Hurst acquired Mr. Conrey’s share in the business, and the name became Hurst Brothers, so continuing until 1913, when the style name was changed to J. W. Hurst & Company, the partner of our subject being J. F. Hurst. The firm carry a complete line of ladies’ furnishings, carpets and rugs and their name is synonymous with high quality and reasonable prices. There has never been any question as to the integrity of the firm’s business dealings and their generous policy has won them the confidence of the public and enabled them to gain a large and lucrative patronage. The store is the only one of the kind in this part of Iowa and fills a definite want in the community. From four to eight people are employed, according to the season, and the yearly volume of business reaches a large figure.

Mr. Hurst married Miss Helen Young, a daughter of the late Major J. L. Young, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and they have a son and daughter, James White, Jr., and Katherine, both of whom are attending school.

Mr. Hurst gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and keeps well informed as to the trend of the times in political affairs, believing it to be every citizen’s duty to keep abreast of the progress that is being made in solving the great problems that confront the country. Fraternally he belongs to the lodge of the Knights of Pythias and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the most successful merchants of Leon and in the conduct of his mercantile interests has not only won financial independence for himself but has also contributed to the commercial expansion of his community.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014