My Genealogy Hound

Judge Lester Husted was born in Holmes County, Ohio, October 24, 1835, and is the third of thirteen children, born to Oliver and Laura (Smith) Husted. The father was of German and English ancestry, and born in Pennsylvania, in 1808. When a young man he accompanied his father, Allen Husted, to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was married about 1830. In 1845 he removed to McDonough County, Ill., and in 1866 located in Elm Township, Putnam County, where he died in 1884, at which time he was engaged in farming, which was his life occupation. The mother was born in Connecticut in 1813, and died in 1867, and was a member of the Baptist Church as was also her husband. Judge Lester Husted was reared under parental influence, and during his youth received a good common-school and business education, and espoused the cause of religion. He is now a member of the United Brethren Church. In 1859 he married Miss Hannah, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Merrill, natives of Maine and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Husted was born in Fulton County, Ill., and has borne her husband seven children, six of whom are living: Stephen O., Lester P., William S., Ida J., Emma F., Laura Elizabeth (deceased) and Cora Ellen. Upon the demand of his country for troops, in 1861, Mr. Husted enlisted in Company L, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for three years, and served in the Sixteenth Army Corps, Army of Tennessee, and in Grierson’s cavalry. In June, 1863, he was captured near Jackson, La., and taken to Richmond, Va., where he was paroled after about a month’s captivity. He then went west to St. Louis, where he was soon after exchanged, and rejoined his company. While in an engagement with Gen. Forrest, near Espianolia, Tenn., and in the fall of 1863, he was severely wounded in the right hand, which rendered him unfit for further service, and at the expiration of his enlistment he returned home. In 1866 he removed to Putnam County, Mo., and located in Elm Township, on Blackbird Creek, twenty miles southeast of Unionville, where he has a fine farm of 283 acres. His farm is one of the best in the township, and is the accumulation of his own industry and good management. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1882 was elected county judge for the Eastern district, which position he filled with credit two years. He has also held various township offices, and is a man of fine business ability and good information. Five years of his life were spent in school teaching, and he is still interested in educational projects, as he is anxious that his children should receive a good education. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont in 1856.