HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, pages 22-24.

The great agricultural state of Iowa furnishes splendid opportunities to all who seek to become active in farming or any of its kindred industries. The broad prairies of the state have been developed into productive fields and Iowa not only leads the country as the largest corn producing state of the Union but is also well known by reason of the fertility of the soil in relation to other crop production. James H. Huber is well known in connection with the grain trade as proprietor of the elevator at Meltonville, Iowa.

He was born in Pike township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1865, a son of Samuel and Susan Annetta (Bosworth) Huber. The father was born in Horsehead, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in the same locality in which her son James was born. Samuel Huber removed from the Empire state to Pennsylvania when a young man and engaged in the sawmill business there and also operated a stage coach between LeRaysville and Towanda. At a later period he removed to Waterloo, Iowa, where he purchased a farm which he conducted for a number of years. He then returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits and also engaged in dealing in hay, which he bought and sold quite extensively. He likewise operated a stage line and was regarded as one of the representative business men of that locality, where he passed away at the age of forty-three years. His widow survives and is now living in Waterloo, Iowa, at the age of seventy-six years. In politics Mr. Huber was a republican and his military service covered connection with the Home Guard of Pennsylvania.

James H. Huber, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days in Pennsylvania and in Waterloo, Iowa, where he acquired a public school education, supplemented by study in the academy at LeRaysville, Pennsylvania. He became a resident of Manly, Worth county, Iowa, in 1885, and there entered the employ of his uncle, G. L, Bosworth, who was engaged in the coal and grain business. After two years Mr. Huber removed to Meltonville, Iowa, where he was still connected with his uncle in the coal and grain trade, that association being maintained until 1910, when Mr. Huber purchased his uncle's interest in the business, in which he is still engaged. He extended the scope of his activities, however, to include agricultural interests and became owner of the elevator at Meltonville. For twenty years O. J. Thompson has been associated with Mr. Huber and this is one of the oldest firms in their part of the county. Mr. Huber purchased Mr. Thompson's merchandise and implement business at Meltonville, Iowa, where he is engaged in dealing in grain, coal and in live stock. He is a pro­gressive business man, forceful and resourceful, and in addition to his other interests he is the vice president of the Security Bank at Meltonville, Iowa, a position which he has occupied since the establishment of the bank. He is also the owner of valuable farm lands in Moore county, Minnesota, and in Alberta, Canada, and he is extensively engaged in the cultivation of onions upon his farm property in Worth county.

In 1890 Mr. Huber was united in marriage to Miss Emma Van Wort, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Smith) Van Wort. Mrs. Huber was born in Evansville, Rock county, Wisconsin, while her father was born near Syracuse, New York, whence he removed westward to Wisconsin, settling upon a farm near Evansville. He homesteaded land there, built a log house and began the improvement of his place, his labors resulting in converting it from a wild and undeveloped tract of land into fields of rich fertility, from which he annually gathered good harvests. His father and mother accompanied him to Wisconsin and passed away upon that farm. At a later period, in 1866, Abraham Van Wort removed to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he again took up government land, on which he built a log house, and then further developed, improved and operated his farm, which he occupied until the time of his death. He passed away at the age of fifty-nine years. His widow died at Otranto, Mitchell county, Iowa, and was also fifty-nine years of age at the time of her demise. They were consistent members of the Presbyterian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Huber have been born three children, Sam H., Newton V. and Delos M. Mrs. Huber is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, taking an active interest in its work and doing all in her power to extend its influence.

Mr. Huber is a loyal follower of the Masonic fraternity and also has member­ship with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. He is a very progressive business man who readily separates the essential from the incidental or accidental circumstances of every business situation. He has never been afraid to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed out the way. Fortunate in possessing character and ability that inspire confidence in others, the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into important business relations and won him a measure of success that places him with the prosperous and substantial citizens of Worth county.

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Transcribed by Gordon Felland - May 26, 2009