Huston, Lawrence

HUSTON, SOUTHERN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/31/2009 at 11:23:54

Huston, Lawrence

It is a pleasure to meet the old settler, one who came here when young, when the observation was quickest and the mind most plastic, and learn from his lips of the trials, which were endured for the sake of the happy homes, which now dot the County of Jasper. Such a man is Lawrence Hutson, of Mingo, one of the well-known and highly honored citizens of this locality.

Most of his earlier impressions were gained in the woods of the pioneer period and he relates many interesting stories of those times. The pioneers were happy. It is singular how easily a person can adapt himself to any surroundings and derive comfort there from. And yet it fails to be at all singular when account is taken of the selfish desire of the human race to be comfortable. If we have enough to eat and enough to wear and a little ahead and an outlook for some good reading matter we can manage to worry along and derive some satisfaction out of life. So the old settlers were contented with their lot, much more so than we, with our so-called advanced methods of living.

Lawrence Hutson, like many of our enterprising citizens, hails from the old Buckeye State, his birth having occurred in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1832. He spent his youth in Ohio, where he received his education in the common schools and there grew to manhood, remaining there until he was twenty-three years of age, when he made the overland journey to Jasper County, Iowa, arriving here in June 1855, and he has lived in the County ever since, a period of fifty-seven years, during which time he has seen a wonderful transformation, the wild prairies give way to fertile farms and comfortable homes, and he has been active in the work of the same. There were no railroads in this part of the country when became here, in fact, he says there was nothing but a grove to give any evidence of civilization when he arrived in this part of Jasper County and there were little evidences of the future conditions of the County. There were no trading points within a radius of fifty miles. But he was a man who had a wise foresight and cared nothing for hardships and obstacles, so set to work with a will and in due course of time had a pleasant home and a good farm in Clear Creek Township, eighty acres, on which he has made a good living and is now surrounded by plenty, spending his declining age in quiet.

Mr. Hutson was married in March 1860, to Miss Southern, and seven children were born to them, named as follows: William is deceased; Edwin died in infancy; D. L. lives in Mexico; Frank lives in Butte, Montana; John's residence is unknown; Alonzo lives at Mingo, Jasper County; Maude is deceased. The two eldest children were born in Long Grove, Jasper County, the younger ones in Clear Creek Township, and they were reared and educated in this County.

Politically, Mr. Hutson is a Republican, and while he has always been interested in public affairs, he has never been an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Huston has retired from active life and is making his home with the family who tends his place. He is regarded as one of the best-read men in his community, having been an avid reader of current literature, up to a few years ago, when his eyesight gave way. He is a man whom everybody speaks in the highest terms of, his life having been singularly exemplary. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1239.