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         JOSEPH HUSTON, an early settler of Louisa County, Iowa, now engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 29, Elm Grove Township, was born in Miami County, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1822, and is a son of Joseph and Nancy (Martin) Huston, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. They were the parents of seven children, but of that number only two are yet living: Joseph, and Nancy, who is the wife of Nicholas Prather, of Vermillion County, Ill. The family staid in Miami County, Ohio, until 1830, when they removed to Vermilion County, Ill., where the death of both father and mother occurred, the former dying in 1857, and the latter in 1855.

The education of our subject was begun in his native county, but completed in the common schools of Illinois. He was reared upon his father’s farm, remaining under the parental roof until the age of twenty-one, when he began working by the month as a farm laborer. He was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Lewis, a native of Ohio, they making their home in Illinois for several years. In 1855 they came to Iowa, locating in Washington County, where they remained for a year, after which they came to Louisa County, locating upon the 80-acre farm on section 29, Elm Grove Township, which Mr. Huston had previously purchased. In that year he built a small house, and immediately began the development of the raw land, steadily carrying forward the work until he now has one of the fine farms of Elm Grove Township. To his original purchase he has added until now 120 broad acres pay tribute to his care and cultivation. He has witnessed the many great changes of the county, has participated in its progress and civilization, and has aided in its cultivation and development.

In 1859 Mr. Huston was called upon to mourn the death of his wife. In early life Mrs. Huston was a member of the Christian Church, but in later years united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as there was no organization of the former denomination in the vicinity of her home. To Mr. and Mrs. Huston were born five children: Sarah, wife of Thomas Russell, a farmer of Saunders County, Neb.; John L., who is engaged in farming in Fayette County, Pa.; Joseph M., a merchant of Greenfield, Iowa; William C., at home; and Eliza E., wife of John Steele, who is located in Blue Mound, Kan. In 1861 Mr. Huston was again married, Mahala Hollenshead, widow of George Yager, becoming his wife. By her former marriage four children had been born: Lecty A.; Harvy B., deceased; Lavenia F. and Emma Adelia. Her first husband, who was a devoted member of the Christian Church, died in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Huston are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and believes in the strict enforcement of the prohibitory law. Since coming to the county he has identified himself with its social, educational and moral interests, and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the community. Financially, he is a self-made man. Beginning life as a farm laborer, by his steady, industrious habits, his enterprise and ability, he has accumulated considerable wealth, and now has a comfortable competency laid up for declining age.