ALFRED HURST, b 1841

HURST, KENDALL, STINE, LARY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/5/2004 at 08:36:48

Alfred Hurst is classed among the most stirring, able, and progressive of the enterprising business men of Jackson County, who have been largely instrumental in the upbuilding of the city of Maquoketa, and he is the head of one of its most important industries, A. Hurst & Co.'s Lime Works. He is of English birth, having been born in Lincolnshire, England, the home of his ancestry, in 1841. His paternal grandfather was a sawyer by trade, and followed his calling in that shire, spending his entire life there.

Abraham Hurst, the father of our subject, was reared to man's estate in his native shire, and when old enough, learned of his father the trade of sawyer, at the time when mahogany veneer was sawed by hand. He pursued his trade there until 1852, when he resolved to better his condition if possible by emigration to America, and setting sail from Liverpool with his family, landed in New Orleans, after a voyage of eleven weeks. From the Crescent City he ascended the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa, then but a small village, where he commenced work as a brick-layer, and followed that trade there until his demise in 1856. He was a good, honest, and hard-working man, and a reliable citizen, and his death was a severe blow to his family. The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, was Eliza Kendall. She was, like himself, of Lincolnshire birth, and her father, William Kendall, a farmer, was a life-long resident of that shire. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hurst married Charles F. Stine, a resident of Davenport, where she still resides. There were six children born of her first marriage, two of whom are now living, our subject and his brother William.

The former was a child of five years when he came to the United States with his parents, but he still has a recollection of the old English home, and the long ocean voyage to this country. He was nine years old when his father died, and he continued with his mother until the breaking out of the war, and while still a mere lad, determined to take part in the great conflict, and enlisting in the transportation service, was engaged nineteen months with the Mississippi fleet; was present at the battles of Paducah, Ft. Donelson, and Shiloh, and accompanied Banks on his Red River expedition. After the terrible engagement at Shiloh, he assisted two days in burying the dead. In September, 1863, he was captured by the rebels and forced into the Confederate service under Forest, and was with him at the time he made his raid on Memphis. Watching for an opportunity, he and two of his comrades deserted the Southern army, and made their escape, and our subject returned to St. Louis. He soon engaged in steamboating on the Upper Mississippi, continuing thus employed until 1866, when he returned to Davenport to learn the trade of brick and plaster mason, and pursued it there until 1871. In that year he came to Maquoketa and founded his present business, and we will quote the following from a circular issued in regard to their works, concerning its establishment. "In 1871, shortly after the completion of the Maquoketa, Hurstville & Dubuque Railway, which is now the branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago and Northwestern Railways, into Maquoketa, Alfred Hurst and C.F. Stine came up from Davenport. They carefully looked over the country with a view of discovering a lime rock of the Clinton and Niagara strata, which he knew from his experience in the business, if properly burned, produced the purest, whitest lime, and embraced the most adhesive qualities of any upon the market. After some little time he found a ledge of rocks one and a half miles north of Maquoketa, that met his ideas exactly. He at once constructed a 'pot' kiln, and commenced burning on a small scale. His first season's production was nearly all consumed at home, it having averaged about 100 barrels per week, and the total output for the year aggregating but 3200 barrels. While the first season's business was encouraging to Mr. Hurst, yet as compared with later years, it was quite insignificant. The second year a draw-kiln was built, and from that time on the business grew and developed very rapidly, until to-day four of the latest improved draw-kilns are in operation with a capacity of 800 barrels per day, if required. The firm now consists of Alfred and his brother William, who has been actively identified with the works for the past eleven years, and whose practical ideas, together with his excellent business qualifications have been important factors in the rapid and successful growth of Maquoketa'a important industry. The firm have some $75,000 invested in the plant and owns a very large tract of farming and timber lands - 820 acres - in the vicinity of the kilns. They employ over fifty men, whose annual wages amount to many thousands of dollars. Their works afford an excellent market for wood, having upon hand at the present time some 3200 cords. Wood is used exlusively for fuel, as their experience has taught them that it makes much purer and stronger lime than coal. The firm manufacture their own barrels, storing their staves (of which they have narly a million now on hand), heading and hoops in large warehouses, that they may become thoroughly seasoned before being worked up. Quite a village has sprung up about the works, numbering fourteen residences, besides a large, two-story frame boarding house, 40x60 feet, and a handsome new school-building.

"A. Hurst & Co.'s lime works are the largest shippers from Maquoketa, and their business is duly appreciated by the railway companies centering here. Their freight-bills last year amounted close to $40,000, and the outlook for this year's business promises to considerably swell that amount. Their lime finds ready sale in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and in fact, throughout the entire Northwest. A. Hurst & Co.'s lime is handled by the best dealers throughout the country, and has been used in many of the finest and largest public buildings erected in the West in the past few years, viz.: The Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown; large new hotels in Sioux City, Lemars and Tama City; Dakota University; Scott County Court House; Jackson County Poor House and Asylum for the Insane, and many other buildings too numerous to enumerate. In addition to the manufacture of lime, this firm are also extensive wholesale and retail dealers in cement, hair, fire and building brick."

The Messrs. Hurst are largely engaged in stock-raising and feeding and shipping cattle. Short-horns are their favorite breed, and they have a large herd of high-grades. In 1888, our subject organized the Maquoketa, Hurstville & Dubuque Railway Company, and constructed the same from Maquoketa to their lime works. They expect in the near future, to continue the road in a northwestern direction, the terminus not yet being decided upon.

To the lady who presides so charmingly over his home, and renders it a cosy, attractive retreat from the manifold cares and perplexities of a large business, Mr. Hurst was united in marriage, Dec. 12, 1873. Five children have been born unto them, namely: Charles, Eliza, Abrah, Alice, and William. Mrs. Hurst's maiden name was Sarah Lary, and she is a native of Virginia. Her parents were natives of Virginia, and are now deceased.

Mr. Hurst is a man of fine mental and physical calibre, and is gifted with a bold and enterprising spirit, and an exceptional talent for business, and in whatever scheme he is intereted, he pushed it through with characteristic energy and tact, and his hand is felt in every movement for the benefit of the city, no one going beyond him in liberality and public spirit. It is to such men that Maquoketa is indebted for its high standing as the metropolis of a wealthy and important county. His fellow-citizens, recognizing his rare qualities as a business man, and knowing that his services as a sound and wise counselor would be invaluable in the administration of public affairs, in 1886 elected him to be a member of the Board of County Supervisors, in which office he is now serving his third year. To him is this city indebted for its excellent fire department which he was instrumental in organizing. He is a Democrat in politics, and is active in the support of party measures and candidates.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)