My Genealogy Hound

JAMES W. S. HULS, a prominent farmer of Johnson County, is engaged in the cultivation of a fine homestead located on section 1, township 45, range 28. He has been a resident of this community for the past thirty-five years, having come West with his father in 1860, and has since dwelt in this district.

Paul Huls, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1802, and died February 22, 1868, when in his sixty-seventh year, while he was visiting friends in Kentucky. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Teresa Clark, was a native of the Blue Grass State. Her birth took place in November, 1806, and she was summoned to her last rest August 15, 1892. On Christmas Day, 1828, was celebrated the marriage of Paul Huls and wife, and of their children we make the following mention: Joseph W. C. was born December 5, 1829; Sarah Jane, who was born July 20, 1832, married Jacob Sidener, and lives in Fayette County, Ky.; John F., a resident of Paris, Ill., was born September 28, 1834; Mary D., born January 30, 1837, died December 28, 1840; Martha L., who was born September 3, 1839, and died June 27, 1871, became the wife of John C. Milkerson, by whom she had one daughter; and James W. S., of this article, completes the list.

Our subject was born in Clark County, Ky., July 14, 1844, and was about eleven years of age when his father lost his farm by going security for a friend. Soon after this disaster he moved to Edgar County, Ill., where he rented land and also worked at the carpenter’s trade. On account of these reverses young Huls did not receive as good advantages as did his elder brothers and sisters, and was obliged to hire out to farmers as soon as he was old enough to earn anything, and necessarily his wages were small for several years. In 1860 he and his father purchased fifty acres of land in this township, and all but ten acres of this is now included in our subject’s homestead.

In his political faith Mr. Huls is a Democrat, and has supported the party since casting his first vote in the Presidential election of 1868. October 16, 1866, was a memorable day in the life of Mr. Huls, for then it was that he became a member of the Christian Church, with which he has ever since been identified as an interested and faithful worker, and has served in the office as Deacon.