DANIEL HUDDLESTON. The gentleman whose portrait appears on the opposite page died at his home on section 11, Gillespie Township, December 22, 1869. He had settled on his farm here in the spring of 1856 and at that time it was an unbroken prairie, from which he was able by his enterprise and energy to build up a fine farm. He put upon it such improvements as redound greatly to his credit and they now stand as a silent memorial to his thrift and industry. At the time of his death he owned five hundred and twenty acres, most of which was in a good state of cultivation.
Mr. Huddleston came to this county in 1832 and somewhat later made his home in the township of Gillespie, where he remained until death. For a number of years he continued to reside with his parents on section 4, but after his marriage he located on forty acres which he afterward increased by purchase. This estate formed the homestead which is yet in the family in a divided state.
Mr. Huddleston was born in Ohio near Columbus, October 25, 1816, and was the son of Abraham and Mary (Roe) Huddleston. The Huddleston family is of German ancestry and the Roe's are of English descent. After marriage this couple began life on a farm near Columbus, Ohio, but later removed to Indiana, making their home near Newport in that State. In 1832 they emigrated to Illinois coming with an ox-team in a prairie schooner and camping out along the road. Upon their arrival here in 1832 they secured some Government land on section 4, Gillespie Township, and began their Western life after the primitive style of those times. In the original home of this couple the wife of Abraham Huddleston died in 1852, when past fifty years of age. Her husband married twice after her death, his last wife surviving him, and his own death occurring July 4, 1874, when he was more than eighty-five years of age.
The parents of our subject were identified with the old school Baptist Church and Mr. Huddleston's political views were in accordance with the doctrines of the Democratic party. He was well known throughout not only the township but also the county. Only two of the children of this couple grew to years of maturity - our subject and his sister Jane, Mrs. Kinder, who died near Clyde, this county, in 1889, being about seventy-two years old. After Mr. Huddleston became of age he was married in this county to Miss Rachel Huddleston, who was born in the central part of Indiana on the Blue River, February 21, 1824. She is a daughter of William and Juda Huddleston, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respectively, who came of similar ancestry with our subject. They were married in Kentucky and began life as farmers and during the War of 1812 William fought during the entire period of conflict. He was under Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, and proved himself brave and daring.
After the birth of some of their children, William Huddleston and family set out for the Northwest, coming through Indiana with teams and wagons. While passing through that State in 1824 their daughter Rachel was born and she was but a child when her parents reached Illinois in 1830, and settled on Government land in Gillespie Township. They built a home on section 3, and there the wife and mother was called from earth in 1832. She was then in the prime of life, a devoted Christian, a kind mother and a woman of more than ordinary character. She was a Methodist in her religious connections.
The second marriage of William Huddleston united him with Miss Rachel Hendershott. They afterward lived in Greene County, Ill., where he died in 1844, being then only a little past middle life. He was a man of true Christian character connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a Whig in his political views. His wife survived him and spent her last days in Iowa. She also was connected with the Methodist Church.
The wife of our subject was only eight years of age when her mother died and she was reared by her father. Of eight children born to her parents, three sons and three daughters are still living. She became the mother of thirteen children, nine of whom are deceased, namely: Henry, Maria C., Susan, Lina, Preston and Mary I., who all died single; George D. L.; Julia A., who became the wife of Amos Ruckman and died leaving no offspring; Samuel J., who married Leonia Robins and left three children. Those who still survive are - John W., who married Sarah Halpin and lives on the Huddleston homestead; Carrie E., who is the widow of Adelbert James, and resides with her mother; Emma J., the wife of Daniel Duger, an engineer residing at Belleville, Ill., and Florence D., the wife of Julius Williams, now living on a farm in this township. Mrs. Huddleston and her children attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active and earnest in their support of religious work. The family name was formerly spelled Huddlestun but was changed during the present generation.