Huddlestun, Frank (1862-1939)

HUDDLESTUN, ARNOLD, MELVIN, HANDLEY, CAMPBELL

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/10/2017 at 16:24:27

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, November 10, 1939

Frank Huddlestun, 77, Dies Suddenly

WIDELY KNOWN OVER U.S. AS SHIRE BREEDER

Funeral Services Will be Sunday; Suffered Heart Attack

Frank A. Huddlestun, 77, prominent Webster City resident and nationally known breeder of purebred Shire horses, died unexpectedly at 10:30 a.m. today.

Death occurred at his home, Edgewood farm, on south Superior street, after he had suffered a heart attack in Fisher & Boylan's drugstore earlier. He was taken home, lay down on the davenport to rest and died shortly after. Mrs. Huddlestun was with him.

Although he had suffered several heart attacks in recent years, he had been in apparently good health the past few months, exhibiting his Shire horses at the Illinois fair, the Iowa state fair and the Hamilton county fair. He was making preparations to show them at the International Livestock exposition in Chicago for the twenty-fifth year in December.

Funeral services will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Foster funeral home, with the Rev. J.J. Share, Methodist pastor, officiating; burial in Graceland cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, the former Edna Arnold, a half brother, Bascom Huddlestun of this city, and two half sisters, Mrs. John Melvin of Clarion and Mrs. S.B. Handley of Ellerwood, Kan. A cousin, Shad Huddlestun, of Webster City, lived with Frank Huddlestun since he was eight years old.

Frank Huddlestun was born in De Witt county, Illinois, Sept. 7, 1862, his parents being Charles H. and Catherine (Campbell) Huddlestun, both natives of Illinois. The father farmed in that state for many years.

Frank received his education in the public schools of Illinois and laid aside his books at the age of 17. He then started to farm for himself and was successful in this field of activity in Illinois until 1892, when he came to Hamilton county where he purchased 476 acres of land in Hamilton township, upon which he resided until 1906.

He subsequently disposed of his holdings and moved to Webster City where he bought 222 acres in the south part of the city and proceeded to improve and develop his holdings along progressively scientific lines. His property is known as the Edgewood farm and has been the meeting place for horse lovers from all over the state of Iowa and the nation.

Mr. Huddlestun devoted much of his attention to the breeding of purebred Shires and attained success in this activity, winning many prizes and awards at the various fairs.

In 1888, Mr. Huddlestun was united in marriage to Miss Cora Campbell, of Illinois. She died July 29, 1936.

In June, 1937, he was married to Mrs. Edna Arnold of this city.

For 25 years Mr. Huddlestun was also in the dairy business, which is now supervised by Shad Huddlestun.

Mr. Huddlestun was a member of the Methodist church. He was chairman of the church building committee and was largely responsible for the present structure which this organization erected.

He was a member of the Shire Horse Breeders association of America for 18 years, and for 30 years served as president of the Iowa Draft Horse Breeders association. He was also a member of the Hamilton County Fair association for 22 years and active in all its expositions.

He started life at an early age with no assets beyond a clear and alert mind and an enterprising character. He was one of the substantial agriculturists of Hamilton county, and Edgewood farm is one of the most beautiful properties in this section of the country. Mr. Huddlestun's home is located in the center of the farm, surrounded by beautiful lawns and shade trees. It is one of the most modern dwellings in the county.

He was a man of genial disposition and made friends easily. He had been a "fixture" at Hamilton county fairs for 22 years, as well as a familiar figure at the International in Chicago and the Iowa and Illinois state fairs. He was proud of his Shire horses and in his home may be seen hundreds of ribbons they won. He treasured these among his best liked possessions and was always proud to show them to visitors in his home.

The Huddlestun string of Shires was among the best in the nation and had been shown at World fairs, as well as at the International and Midwest fairs. Frank was, primarily, a horseman - he loved good horses and he got much pleasure in raising them.

His death will be keenly felt by horse breeders over the country, as well as by the people of Webster City who had known and admired him for many years.

[when this obituary made mention of Shad Huddlestun it was spelled Huddleston which is incorrect so I typed it correctly]