HURST, Stephen White

HURST, ARNOLD, ROBINSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 12:06:20

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. Pp. 206-10. Chicago. 1915.

STEPHEN WHITE HURST

Stephen White Hurst was for forty-five years a citizen of Leon and during that time was one of the most forceful factors in the upbuilding of the city and of Decatur county. His influence was not only felt in business circles, where he was recognized as a leader, but was also of moment in the financial and civic life of the county. He was born in Dorchester county, Maryland, on the 21st of July, 1836, a son of the Rev. Stephen Hurst, who was a Methodist minister. The family home was on a farm four miles from Cambridge, Maryland, and the father owned slaves, although it was his rule to liberate them when they reached the age of twenty-eight years. He passed away when his son, Stephen White Hurst, was but ten years of age and his widow subsequently removed with her children to Cambridge. The Hurst family is a prominent one in Maryland and its members have been called the "merchant princes of the eastern shore." A brother of our subject, John E. Hurst, who preceded him a few years in death, was a prominent wholesale dry-goods merchant of Baltimore, Maryland, and a cousin, the late Bishop John F. Hurst, of Washington, D. C, was one of the most famous of the Methodist bishops.

Stephen White Hurst was educated in Cambridge Academy and when eighteen years of age went to Baltimore, where he secured a position as clerk in a store. He remained in that city for two years and gained experience in the mercantile business which proved of value to him later and which decided him to devote his life to merchandising. The year 1856 witnessed his first journey westward but after spending the summer in Blakesburg, Iowa, he returned to Baltimore. However, he was much impressed with the spirit of enterprise in the western country and believed thoroughly in its future greatness and in the following year he returned to Blakesburg and in partnership with his cousin, Samuel J. Hurst, engaged in the general mercantile business there. In 1861 they sold out their business in Blakesburg and our subject located at Leon while Samuel J. Hurst settled at Corydon.

Mr. Hurst of this review opened a general store in a little frame building on the present site of the Leon post-office. Two years later he leased the first brick store building ever erected in the city and removed his stock of goods there. He prospered and his store became the leading one in the county. In 1875 he erected a brick business block on the west side of the square, which is still the home of the store. He continued in active control of his business interests until 1883, when he retired, selling out to Hurst, Hawkins & Conrey, his eldest son, George E. Hurst, becoming the senior member. There have been a number of changes in the ownership of the business and it is now conducted under the name of J. W. Hurst & Company.

Stephen White Hurst had a thorough understanding of the principles that underlie all successful business activity and was expert in applying those principles to the particular conditions existing in the communities in which he lived. He always endeavored to meet the needs and wants of his customers fully and to serve them in the best way possible, believing that all enduring prosperity is based on honorable methods and the giving of good value for money received. He was characterized by sane progressiveness and made a number of innovations in the conduct of his business which time and experience justified as wise and prudent. His stock was large and well selected and the reputation which the store gained as the leading one of its kind in the county was well deserved and was due to the time and thought which Mr. Hurst gave to the management of his business affairs.

Although he disposed of his interest in the store in 1883 his restless energy would not permit him to remain idle and two years later he organized the Exchange Bank of Leon, of which he served as president for fifteen years, or until 1900, when he sold his stock in the institution and retired from active life. He achieved much more than average success in the mercantile and financial worlds but his interests in those circles did not require his entire time and attention and he was also a force in political and civic affairs. He was a deep thinker and read widely, keeping in close touch with all important events. His careful study of the political situation led him to support the democratic party and he never wavered in his allegiance to that organization, believing even in times of defeat in the eventual triumph of its principles. He was a very effective worker in the party ranks and in many local and state campaigns his influence was a potent force in securing victory for his party. He was often a delegate to state and national conventions and his advice was more than once sought by the men highest in authority. A number of times he was county chairman and he was one of the acknowledged leaders of his party in this section of the state. Although he did so much to further the interests of the democratic party he was never actuated by a desire for personal gain therefrom and never held office with the exception of four years that he was postmaster of Blakesburg. He performed the duties devolving upon him in that capacity in a manner acceptable to his fellow citizens and highly creditable to himself.

In 1889 Governor Larrabee appointed him as commissioner from the state of Iowa to the exposition at Paris, France. A wiser choice could not have been made and he served his state with distinction, spending several months in Paris looking after the interests intrusted to his care. Before returning home he traveled in Europe for a number of months and made a careful study of the customs and conditions in those countries. His report as commissioner was one of the best ever made in Iowa.

On the 26th of April, 1860, Mr. Hurst married Miss Frances Arnold, who was born in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1839, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Arnold. The father was born at Frankfort, Kentucky, and after his removal to Indiana followed agricultural pursuits. In 1846 he removed with his family to Monroe county, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river at Warsaw, and entered land in that county, filing a claim at Sioux City. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Margaret Robinson, lived to an advanced age, dying when in her ninety-second year at the old home in Monroe county. Mr. Arnold passed away when sixty-eight years of age. To their union were born eight children, two of whom are now living: Mrs. Hurst; and a brother, who is residing at Albia. Iowa, at the age of eighty-one years. Mrs. Hurst was reared in Monroe county, Iowa, and educated in the Albia high school and her marriage occurred in Monroe county. Her religious behef is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she is a devout member. She also holds membership in the Eastern Star and takes much interest in the work of that organization.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were born the following children: Stephen Lewis died in 1879. George E. passed away in September, 1912, at Leon, leaving two sons and two daughters. His wife died in 1897 and the younger daughter is with her grandmother, Mrs. Hurst. The older daughter is married and resides at Ann Arbor, Michigan, while both of the sons live at Bay City, that state. Charles E. is engaged in the insurance business in Leon. James W. and John F. conduct the business established by their father under the name of J. W. Hurst & Company. Margaret L., the youngest of the family is a schoolteacher by profession.

Mr. Hurst regularly attended the Methodist church and gave liberally toward its support, although not a member thereof. He strove in all humility to lead a life in accordance with the teachings of Christianity and the sterling worth of his character commanded the respect of all who came in contact with him. One of his most salient characteristics was his devotion to his family and he found his greatest pleasure in serving them. He entertained a great affection not only for those of his immediate family but for more distant relatives, especially his cousins, the late Bishop Hurst, of Washington, D. C, and Samuel J. Hurst, of Kansas City, with whom, as has been stated, he was at one time associated in business. For forty years he was a member of the local Masonic lodge and was a Mason in deed as well as in name, embodying in his life the principles of that order. His friends were legion and his beautiful residence in Leon, which he himself erected, was noted for its warm-hearted and sincere hospitality.

Mr. Hurst was one of the real builders of the commercial prosperity of Leon, was one of the most substantial men of tlie city and at the same time one of the most public-spirited, being at all times ready not only to give of his money but also of his time and energy to the advancement of the common good and it was but fitting that all business in the city should be suspended during his funeral services. He was a man of splendid physique and until within a very short time of liis death enjoyed exceptionally good health, so that his demise, which occurred on the 12th of June, 1907, came as a shock to his friends. He had intended going to the Jamestown Exposition and then paying a visit to his old home in Dorchester county, Maryland, and was looking forward with much pleasure to the visit, but Providence ruled otherwise and he was called to the Great Beyond at the age of seventy years, ten months and eleven days.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014