HUFSTEDLER, William Moore 1842 - 1918

HUFSTEDLER, KIRKHAM, MOHR, ARCHIBALD, MCCREARY, JACKSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 3/16/2025 at 15:18:10

"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Thursday, September 19, 1918
Page 2, Column 4

WM. M. HUFSTEDLER STRICKEN SUDDENLY LAST EVENING.

Wm. M. HUFSTEDLER, a well known and highly respected resident of this city, a member of the firm of Hustedler & Baker, died very suddenly last evening at Chautauqua Park. He had apparently been in good health and had gone to the depot to meet the Jackies band and had marched with the men to the Chautauqua Park.

He had been given a seat in the reserved seat section and was noticed by those sitting near to have his arm over the back of the seat. He had his eyes closed but it was thought that he was dozing while waiting for the program to begin. Then his arm fell from the back of the chair and he crumpled down in his seat. Assistance was given immediately, but life was extinct when he was carried to the outside.

Wm. M. HUFSTEDLER, the son of Martin and Mary KIRKHAM HUFSTEDLER, was born August 2nd, 1843, in Parke county, Ind. In 1850 he came to Iowa and lived near Keosauqua on a farm with his parents.

When a lad of nineteen years he responded to his country's call for troops and enlisted in Company C, Twenty-Fifth Iowa Infantry, in Aug. 1862. He served three years as a non-commissioned officer and participated in many famous battles and seiges of the war. He was with Sherman at the first attack made on Vicksburg, later taking part in the battle of Arkansas Post, where he received a wound in the shoulder from a glancing shell. After being off duty six weeks, he rejoined his regiment. During the seige of Vicksburg he was forty six days in the pits and was present at the capture of the city. He also took part in the battles of Jackson, Miss., Lookout Mountain, Missionary Rige (sic), Chatanooga, Resaca, Corinth, Keneaw Mountain (sic) and several minor engagements. He was mustered out of the service at Washington in May, 1865, after participating in the Grand Review.

On his return from the army where he had faithfully served his country for three years, Mr. HFSTEDLER (sic) located in Fairfield. Here, after attending private school, he engaged as a salesman for Maj. J. W. Moore. A year later he bought half interest in the business but a few days later the store and all its contents were destroyed by fire. After the fire Mr. HUFSTEDLER returned to his work as a clerk, taking a position with Wells, Sterver (sic - Stever) & Averill, and remained with the firm until 1873. On September 13th, 1873, he went into the dry-goods business with C. C. Risk. In 1882 Mr. Whitham was admitted to the firm, the store being known as Risk, Hufstedler & Whitham. The firm was later changed back to Risk & Hufstedler.

About eight years ago Mr. Risk retired from the firm and W. R. Baker became a member of the firm and it has since been known as the Hufstedler & Baker store. This store has been in the present location for the past forty-six years.

On the 17th of June, 1875, Mr. HUFSTEDLER was united in marriage to Miss Emma MOHR, at Fairfield, Iowa, who, with one brother, John, of this city, and three sisters, Mrs. Sarah ARCHIBALD, of Lowell, Iowa, Mrs. Katherine McCREARY of Chicago, and Mrs. Rebekah JACKSON, of Seattle, Washington, survive him.

The funeral services will be held Saturday morning at ten o'clock from the residence on East Hempstead street.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Friday, September 20, 1918
Front Page, Column 1

PIONEER MERCHANT IS HEART FAILURE VICTIM

WILLIAM HUFSTEDLER DIES IN HIS CHAIR WHILE ATTENDING PATRIOTIC MEETING.

Stricken with heart failure, William HUFSTEDLER, died in his chair at Chautauqua auditorium Wednesday night following marching out to the park to attend a patriotic meeting. Mr. HUFSTEDLER ws Fairfield's oldest merchant, having been engaged continuously in the dry goods business for nearly half a century. He was senior member of the firm of Hufstedler & Baker, a business founded in 1873, antedating the next oldest retail business in the city by seven years.

The death of Mr. HUFSTEDLER came as a great shock by reason of its unexpectedness. Although seventy-five years of age, he was in his usual good health. Himself a veteran of the civil war, he took a lively interest in the events of the present war. When the Great Lakes band came Wednesday night Mr. HUFSTEDLER wanted to make the long march to Chautauqua park behind the band and hear the patriotic speeches and band concert. He walked this long distance in the procession which followed the band and the pace set by the military men is thought to have caused over-exertion which resulted in his death a moment after he had gained a seat in the auditorium.

He marched to the park with James Hammer. Mr. Hammer states Mr. HUFSTEDLER made no complaint, however, except to joke about his feet hurting. He was apparently in the best of spirits and keenly interested in the patriotic events of the evening.

Mr. HUFSTEDLER is survived by his widow and a brother, John HUFSTEDLER, of Fairfield. No arrangements have been made for the funeral at this time.

Mr. HUFSTEDLER was born in Parke county, Ind., August 2, 1843. He came with his parents to Keosauqua, Iowa seven years later and assisted his father on the farm until nineteen years of age. At this time he enlisted in G company, Twenty-fifth Iowa infantry in the fight for the preservation of the Union. Until the close of the war he served with his company, participating in many of the famous battles of the war, among them the attack by Sherman on Vicksburg, the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chatttanooga, Corinth, as well as many other engagements. He was wounded during one of the engagements, but soon rejoined the fighting ranks.

Returning from the army, Mr. HUFSTEDLER located in Fairfield, securing employment as a clerk in the grocery and general store of Major J. W. Moore. A year later he bought a half interest in the business but the store and nearly all the contents were destroyed by fire the night following his purchase. He engaged with the firm of Wells, Stever & Averill as a clerk, remaining in their employ until 1873 when he formed a partnership with C. C .Risk (sic) in the present business. Some years ago W. R. Baker was admitted to membership in the firm and the senior member of the firm retired, the business being conducted under the firm name of Hufstedler & Baker.

Mr. HUFSTEDLER was married to Miss Emma MOHR ,at Fairfield, sister of Wm. H. MOHR, on June 17, 1875.

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"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Saturday, September 21, 1918
Page 2, Column 3

PERSONALS

... --The retail stores around the square were closed from ten to eleven o'clock this morning during the hour of the funeral of Wm. HUFSTEDLER. The service which was held from the family residence was largely attended. The business men of the city attended in a body.

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"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Friday, September 27, 1918
Page 3, Column 2

PROBATE OF WILL

State of Iowa, Jefferson county, ss.

To All Whom It May Concern:

Notice is hereby given that an instrument, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of William M. HUFSTEDLER, deceased, is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the District Court of Jefferson County, and that September 28th, A. D., 1918, at 2:00 o'clock p.m., it being the 18th day of the September Term, 1918, of said Court, has been set for proof and final hearing of same.

Witness my hand and the seal of said Court this 26th day of September, 1918.

Geo. M. Ball,
Clerk of the District Court.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot Old.P.109. Wife Emma died in 1930 and was buried with him. Although his obituary notes he was born August 2, 1843, his Death Certificate gives August 6, 1842, as his birthdate. His gravestone gives 1842 as his birth year, but no specific day. G.A.R. Membership records and the Armed Forces Grave Registrations both note a birthdate of August 6, 1842.