Horatio Hull

As printed in 1909

HORATIO HULL.

For sixty-four years Horatio Hull has made his home in Washington county. This covers the entire period of his life. His birth occurred November 8, 1845, on the farm on which he now resides, although he has not continuously lived on this property to the present time. His holdings today comprise four hundred and seventy acres, making him one of the prosperous farmers of Lime Creek township. His parents were Marcus and Margaret (McDowell) Hull. The father was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and the mother's birth occurred in Kentucky in 1820. They came to this county when Iowa was still under territorial rule, arriving in 1838. Mr. Hull secured a squatter's claim and when the land came on the market entered it in the usual manner. He built a little log cabin which he covered with a clapboard roof and in it laid a luncheon floor. A mud and stick chimney was built at one end by which the smoke from the fire-place

MR. AND MRS. liOR-M lo HULL

11 [STORY OF WASHINfGTON COUNTY 495 made its egress. On the luncheon door was a wooden latch with the proverbial latchstring always hanging out. He later built a frame house, in which he made his home until his death, which occurred June 3, 1857. His widow survived him for about forty years, passing away on the nth of February, 1897. In their family were eight children: Horatio, of this review; one who died in infancy; A. H., now in Arkansas; C. C, a landowner of Lime Creek township; Laura A., the wife of Frank Gardner, who is now (leceasL'd; Lucinda F., who has passed away; and Rachel and Josephine, twins.

In the quiet and uneventful life of the farm Horatio Hull spent his youthful days, pursuing his education in the district schools, while through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields. He remained at home until he attained his majority and then started out in life on his own account by renting a farm which he continued to cultivate for nine years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and industry brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase land. He then invested in eighty acres of land in Seventy-Six township and took up his above upon the place, which he made his home for four years. At the end of that time he sold the farm and bought a part of the old homestead where he now lives. It is on section 17. Lime Creek township. He at once began its further development and improvement and as the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his place as opportunity has offered, until his farm now comprises four hundred and seventy acres, making him one of the extensive landowners of this locality. He has always made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has sent to the market many a head of fitted cattle, for which he has found a ready sale. In all of his business affairs he displays keen discrimination, seeming to possess almost intuitive understanding of the value and opportunity of every business situation.

Mr. FIull is pleasantly situated in his home life. He was married on the 9th of February, 1867, to Miss Mary M. Squires, who was born in Scioto county, Ohio, November 16, 1846, a daughter of G. B. and Margaret (Nolan) Squires. Her father's birth occurred in 1818 in the state of New York and her mother was a native of West Virginia. Removing westward in 1847 with Iowa as their destination, the mother became ill while en route and her serious condition made it necessary for them to stop at Keokuk. There she passed away and later the father continued with his family to Washington county, settling on a farm in Lime Creek township, where he remained until his death. He had married again, his second union being with Mrs. Lucy Kettle, who was born in the Empire state. There were two children of that union, while Mrs. Hull was her father's only heir by the first marriage. The death of Mr. Squires occurred September 15, 1877, after a residence of about twenty-six years in this county.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

The parents attend the Baptist church and Mr. Hull belongs to Wellman Lodge, No. 51, K. P., while his political views accord with the principles and platform of the republican party. He has never sought nor desired office for he believes that the interests of his home and business are sufficient to fully occupy his time and hours. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship] however, but cooperates in many movements for the public good and gives substantial aid whenever it is needed. His influence is always found on the side of justice, truth, right and progress, and he deserves to be classed among the representative and valued men of the county.

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.