Hurst, Hon. Alfred

HURST

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/28/2008 at 10:51:41

Maquoketa Excelsior-Record
March 26, 1915

HON. A. HURST PASSES AWAY.
One of Jackson County’s Most Influential Men Answered Final Summons Yesterday.

Hon. A. Hurst, who has been battling with continued illness for many months passed away at an early hour yesterday at his beautiful country home at Hurstville. Mr. Hurst has made numerous trips to the various health resorts but the benefits were not forthcoming and last week after spending a period of time in a Chicago hospital, where he was given the best medical attention that money and influence can buy, he decided he would be more comfortable and contented in his own home and sent for his son, A. A. Hurst, who immediately responded to the summons and complied with is father’s wishes by chartering a private car and bringing him home. Exhausted from the trip and weakened from prolonged illness it seemed impossible for him to regain his strength and the end came peacefully as stated above.

Mr. Hurst is known throughout the State of Iowa as well as known by every man, woman and child in Jackson county.

The life history of this influential man was taken from the Jackson County history compiled by Hon. J. W. Ellis and is as follows:

There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect which is universally accorded to Hon. Alfred Hurst, but through more than a third of a century’s connection with Maquoketa history his has been an unblemished character. With him success in life has been reached by his sterling qualities of mind and heart, true to every principle. He has established and developed a large manufacturing enterprise, but in so doing has never deviated from what his judgment would indicate to be right and honorable between his fellowman and himself.

The mother country was the birthplace of the Hon. Alfred Hurst, who first opened his eyes to the light of day in the city of Hull, England, on November 19, 1846. He was about six years of age when the family started for America, as passengers on a sailing vessel which was thirteen weeks in reaching the harbor of New Orleans. They encountered severe storms and heavy seas and for six weeks were on short allowance of food. Starvation and illness threatened them, but at length the vessel was towed in at New Orleans with one temporary mast standing. By steamboat they proceeded northward to Davenport, where they arrived on May 2, 1852. That year the Asiatic cholera became epidemic in the United States and the father, Abraham Hurst, was a victim of that dreaded disease, leaving the mother with three children, Alfred, William and Abram, but the last named died six weeks later. Upon the mother devolved the support of two small remaining sons and to this task she bent every energy with only such devotion as a mother shows. She not only provided for their support but instilled into their minds lessons that have borne rich fruit in honorable manhood in later years. As soon as possible they started out to earn their own living and at an early age Alfred Hurst learned the stone and brick mason trade, which he followed for a number of years in Davenport. When the Davenport and Northwestern railroad was completed to Maquoketa, he conceived the idea of looking up a location for the manufacture of lime. Carefully considering the situation here, he finally purchased 30 acres of stone and timber land about one and three quarters north of Maquoketa at a place known as Sand Ridge, now Hurstville. His financial resources were very limited, but his ambition and determination unbounded and though many obstacles and difficulties confronted him in a way of local opposition and lack of funds, he persevered and the years have brought him to a position not only as a representative of the business interests in Maquoketa, but also as one of the foremost lime manufacturers of the entire country. The business has been carried on under the name of A. Hurst & Company. It has had a continuous existence since 1870 and each year has chronicled a steady growth until today the plant has a capacity of 1500 barrels per day. They manufacture white lime, which is strictly wood burnt. The business has reached extensive proportions and is a most important enterprise not only from the fact that it returns a substantial annual income to the owners, but also from the fact that it furnishes employment to a number of workmen.

Two years after coming to Maquoketa Mr. Hurst was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lary, and they were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Charles F., Abraham A., Eliza E. Riggs, Alice A. Hunter of Waterloo, William Jacob and Harry J.

In politics Mr. Hurst has been known as one of the Democratic leaders of Iowa and his citizenship is characterized by a lofty patriotism that has been expressed in many tangible ways for the general good. The first office, which he held was that of road supervisor which position he held for thirty-two years. In 1886 he received his party’s nomination for supervisor of the third district and was elected. In 1891 he was re-elected for a term of three years. Before this term had expired his friends forced him to accept the nomination for the office of State Senator and he was elected by a large majority. In all business affairs he displayed an aptitude for successful management, recognizing and at once improving his opportunity, while his carefully formulated plans are executed in such a manner that the utmost possibility for success is obtained.

Mr. Hurst was a believer in the Christian religion. He exemplified his belief in the honesty of his business methods, his intent never being called into question. But more than that he gave expression to the spirit of universal brotherhood in generous and prompt response to every call of the poor and needy, and if by accident he would hear of the impoverished condition of any family, aid was forthcoming immediately. He was modestly inclined at all times. He never spoke of his benevolences, but they were too frequent and too generous to remain unknown to the public and all honor him for the good he has done in this particular. He was genial, obliging, courteous.

Funeral service will be held from the home Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. A. M. Lewis will officiate.

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