William Huston

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William Huston is now living a retired life in Avery, and for many years has been a respected and worthy citizen of the county, using his influence and giving his aid for the promotion of measures and movements for the general good and the county’ upbuilding. He came to the county in 1865. His birth occurred in Monongahela, Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1817, and his father, John Huston, was also a native of the Keystone state. The grandfather, Daniel Huston, was born in the north of Ireland and was a Protestant, belonging to a Scotch-Irish family of Presbyterian faith. He was reared in the place of his nativity until twenty years of age, when he boarded a sailing vessel bound for the new world, and when the Revolutionary war broke out he joined the continental army and fought under General Washington. His death occurred in Pennsylvania when he had attained to a good old age.

John Huston was reared upon the home farm in the Keystone state and there married Mrs. Nancy (Barr) Gibson, a widow, who had two children, John and Betsy Gibson. She was born on the ocean while her parents were coming to the United States, as members of a colony composed of the Burrs, Crawfords, Harpers, and other families, who located in Pennsylvania. All were of Protestant faith. To John and Nancy Huston were born the following named: Mary, now deceased; Nancy; William; and Daniel, who was drowned when a boy. The father died at the age of eighty-two years and the mother passed away at the age of seventy-four. For many years he was an elder in the Presbyterian church and was an earnest Christian gentleman, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father, and his excellent qualities won for him the trust and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.

William Huston was reared in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and when quite young was instructed concerning the value of honesty and industry in the active affairs of life. The schools of the county afforded him opportunity for mental discipline, and when twenty-six years of age he made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Sarah Louderbeck, a native of Pennsylvania and a representative of one of the old Dutch families of the state. Her father, Thomas Louderbeck, was born there and married Jemima Berryman, also a native of that state, where both lived until called to the home beyond.

Mr. and Mrs. Huston began their domestic life in the east, remaining in the state of their nativity until 1865, when, attracted by the business possibilities of the west, they came to Iowa, where Mr. Huston purchased the Gossage farm of one hundred and twenty acres, adding thereto till he now has one hundred and seventy-five acres. The years have seen added improvements made, barns have been built, and there are now rich pastures of bluegrass and highly cultivated fields, while an orchard yields choice varieties of apples and other fruit. This farm is a very valuable one and its value is enhance because it is underlaid with coal. Mr. Huston has a fine brick residence on his farm, and this is situated in the village of Avery, where he has lived since coming to Iowa.

Eight children have been born to him and his wife: Joseph, who for a number of years was a successful teacher, is now living in Atchison county, Missouri; he married Miss Martha Elder and has seven sons and seven daughters. Agnes is the wife of D. Nichol, of Albia, Iowa. John, formerly a farmer living in the village of Avery, is now a traveling salesman with his home in Albia. Oliver C. is an agriculturist. Mrs. Elizabeth Love makes her home in Seattle. Mrs. Mary McMillan died in Monroe county. Daniel, who was a well known and capable physician of Wayne county, Iowa, died leaving a widow. William died at the age of fourteen years. The children have been well educated and are honored and respected wherever they are known. Mr. Huston’s farm is operated by his sons, who are successful and progressive agriculturists and stock-raisers.

In 1871 Mr. Huston returned to his old home in Pennsylvania upon a visit, and he also visited Seattle, Washington, and other points on the Pacific coast. A member of the Reformed Presbyterian church, he served as one of its elders for many years, and his Christian faith has been manifest in his upright life, for he has so lived as to command the respect and good will of his fellow men. He has now reached the eighty-fifth milestone on life’s journey and has therefore been a witness of much of the growth and development of the country through the nineteenth century, while in Monroe county he has borne his share in planting an advanced civilization here. He is now a venerable man who in the evening of life can look back over the past without regret, for honor and integrity have been the guiding elements in his conduct.