ALVA HUMESTON
Among the men who have been powerful and dominating factors in the upbuilding and development of Wayne county Alva Humeston stands preeminent. He is a representative of one of the oldest and most worthy pioneer families in this part of the state, his father having founded the town of Humeston, and throughout the years of an upright and successful life he has made his record a credit to a name which has long been an honored one in this vicinity.
Mr.
Humeston was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, August 12, 1852, a
son of Alva and Mary (Northrup) Humeston, the former a native
of Connecticut and the latter of Clinton, New York. The parents of our
subject came to Iowa in 1864 and settled on a farm in Richman
township, Wayne county, purchasing nine hundred and sixty
acres at two dollars and a half per acre. Pioneer conditions
prevailed throughout the section at the time of their arrival. There were no
railroads nearer than Ottumwa, no organized towns and no
conveniences of any kind.
Alva Humeston, Sr., set himself with characteristic
energy to improve his undeveloped land and as the years passed
made it one of the finest agricultural properties in the
section. Throughout
his life he gave active and hearty cooperation to movements
for the general advancement and left at his death the impress
of his individuality upon the history of the county which he
had aided in upbuilding.
He passed away in Fairfield in 1899, at the age of
seventy-four. His
wife died in the same city in 1897, being sixty-four years of
age at the time of her demise.
In their family were seven children: Daniel D., who died
in Mendota, Illinois, in 1901; Mrs. Alice B. Newcomb, who
passed away in 1878; Mrs. Susan B. Harkness, of Fairfield,
Iowa; L. H., living at Cabool, Missouri; M. W., who died in
California, in 1907; Alva, of this review; and Clara, who died
on the old home farm in Richman township, in 1874.
Alva
Humeston was twelve years of age when he accompanied his
parents to Wayne county and he remained upon the farm until
after the death of his father, acquiring his education in the
public schools of the section.
Since coming to Humeston he has been one of the
greatest individual factors in the business and political life
of the community, exemplifying the standards and traditions of
his family in his honorable and upright life. He has extensive
property interests here, including the grain and coal yards
and elevator, besides thirty-nine town lots and an attractive
and well furnished home.
In the conduct of his varied and important affairs he
has demonstrated his resourceful and discriminating business
ability and his success has contributed in a large measure to
the general prosperity and progress.
In
1874 Mr. Humeston married Miss Annie E. Brown, who was born in
Stark county, Illinois, on June 13, 1856. Her parents, Henry
S. and Ruth D. Brown, were natives of New Jersey, who came to
Wayne county, Iowa, in 1868.
The father died at the home of the subject of this
review at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The mother passed
away at Humeston, in 1908, being eighty-three years of age at
the time of her death. In
their family were nine children, four of whom are now living,
namely: Henry,
who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Robert A., who
lives in Wyoming; Mrs. Harriet McKinnon, of Viola, Illinois;
and Mrs. Humeston.
To
Mr. and Mrs. Humeston have been born nine children. The eldest,
Adelbert E., is residing in Collbran, Colorado, where he is
engaged in general merchandising. Clarence S. was born on the 22d of June,
1877, and is at the present time associated with his father in
the coal and grain business.
Mrs. Elsie B. Farr was born November 29, 1879, and
lives in Humeston. Her
husband is the leading druggist in the city and further
mention of his career appears elsewhere in this work. Floyd was born on
the 14th of May, 1883, and is at present assisting
in the general store in Humeston. The two children next in order of birth
are Florence and Nellie, twins, born May 21, 1885. Nellie died in
infancy and Florence is now Mrs. Wasabaugh, of St. Joseph,
Missouri. Charles
was born September 10, 1889, and is a member of the firm with
his father and brother in Humeston. Hattie B. and Carl, twins, were born
December 10, 1892. Carl
passed away at the age of nine months and Hattie is the wife
of Robert I. Starr, of Milo, Iowa. All the children were born in Richman
township with the exception of Mrs. Elsie B. Farr, whose birth
occurred at White Breast, three miles west of Chariton, Iowa. All were reared in
this township and acquired a public-school education. They are a talented
family along musical lines, Hattie and Charles being
accomplished musicians.
Charles makes good use of his talent in this direction,
being leader of the well known Humeston band, one of the best
musical organizations in southern Iowa.
Fraternally Mr. Humeston is well known in the Masonic order, being a charter member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 228, A. F. & A. M. He was formerly affiliated with the independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In official circles, too, he is well known and prominent. He was at one time mayor of Humeston, giving to the town a straightforward, businesslike and progressive administration. During President Cleveland’s administration he held the office of postmaster, for twenty-four years he was a member of the school board and has been a member of the town council almost continuously since the incorporation of Humeston. He is broad, liberal-minded and public-spirited, eminently progressive in his citizenship and at all times ready to aid and support projects of a worthy character. Everything pertaining to the town’s welfare and advancement receives his indorsement and hearty cooperation and his work has been of practical value to the community in which he labors. A man of energy, positive character, indomitable activity and strict integrity, he has been fully identified with the growth and progress of the state in which so much of his life has been spent and he has won the esteem of his friends and the confidence of those who have had business relations with him.