My Genealogy Hound

JOEL HULL. More than any other man, Joel Hull, the subject of this sketch, has been instrumental in the founding and developing of the city of Minden. Born in Meigs county, Ohio, November 23, 1831, he traces his ancestry back through a long line of stanch New England stock, members of whom were prominent in the early struggles with the Indians in the Revolutionary war, and in every conflict in which the nation has had a part, from its earliest history to the present.

His father, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, was Hiram Hull, son of Joel Hull, of Massachusetts, whose father was William Hull, of same state. Luna (Bosworth) Hull, the mother of our sketch, was a daughter of Hezekiah Bosworth, of Vermont, and Huldah (Pearce) Bosworth, of New York.

Mr. Hull was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. At this point he took up the study of law, which profession he had decided to adopt for his life work. His preceptors were the law firm of Sweetser & Reid, both of whom were eminent men, not only having made a success of their professional work, but having also served in Congress.

Too close application to study soon impaired the health of young Hull and compelled him for a time to abandon his chosen work and he consequently engaged in the business of dealer and manufacturer of leather. At the outbreak of the war of 1861, he was one of the first to spring to the aid of his distressed country, and in 1862 received a commission to recruit a company for the Ninety-first regiment Ohio infantry volunteers, and was commissioned a lieutenant in Company B of the regiment he helped to form. He was prominent in leading the army in the battles in the Shenandoah valley, at Winchester, Lynchburgh, and many minor engagements. His unfiinching bravery was demonstrated at the battle of Bunker Hill in the Shenandoah valley, where he led the skirmish line of the little force of thirteen hundred men against the enemy which numbered seventy-seven hundred men, under Rosser, of Earley’s corps. The spirit which animated their leader thrilled his men, and they undauntedly followed him to success, routing the entire rebel force and capturing all their artillery, taking prisoners, and disabling the enemy in greater numbers than the little force, of which he was the prominent part, consisted. For his brilliant service in this action and the military ability there displayed, he was the next day promoted to the responsible position of adjutant-general of his brigade, then commanded by General Crook.

His brigade was engaged in the battle of Winchester, where the army under Crook was defeated by the overwhelming numbers of the opposing army, but the retreat was effected in good order and with such military precision, that his brigade was carried out with but slight loss. His service expired in 1864 and he was immediately, by the governor of Ohio, tendered the colonelcy of a new regiment; but before he accepted, the call for more men was countermanded and the war came to a close.

The war being ended, General Hull located in Toledo, Ohio, and there established a large steam tannery, and in company with a firm of dealers in hides and leather, he operated the business under the firm name of Joel Hull & Co. till 1872, then selling his interest to his partners he came to Nebraska, and, after inspecting various portions of the state, decided to cast his fortunes in Kearney county, and there located June 30, 1872, just ten days after its organization as a county, it having then a voting population of only thirty-one. Thus it will be seen that General Hull was a pioneer in this part of the state. Of his compeers at that time but four remain, the others having passed over to the silent majority. Hon. Lewis A. Kent, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Dr. Cooper, of Lowell, and Charles Sydenham, in company with the subject of our sketch, constitute the quartette still living in the county of those brave men, who, in early days, paved the way for civilization.

Mr. Hull entered a homestead near the site of the present city of Minden, and at once engaged in farming. He early conceived the idea of moving the county seat from the village of Lowell to a more central portion of the county, and to this end began to agitate the question in his vigorous way. Hard work, and against strong opposition, accomplished his end and he succeeded in having the county seat located at Minden, where it still remains. He, himself, laid out the town and built the first four houses after the removal of the county seat to the site had been secured by a very large majority of the voters of the county.

He presented city lots to seven different religious denominations and aided six of them in erecting their church edifices upon the donated lots, and presented to the school district a quarter block on which to erect its first school house in the city.

In 1855, in Newark, N. J., Mr. Hull was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Frisbie, daughter of Nathaniel Frisbie, of New York State. To bless this home, five children have been sent, whose names in the order of their birth are — John F., Arthur E., George H., Frances E. (now Mrs. E. L. Marsh) and Carrie A. On March 31, 1879, Mr. Hull was married the second time to Mrs. Elsie E. Granger, daughter of Robert and Mary D. Scott — this being the first marriage celebrated in the present city of Minden.

A fine baby boy in due time put in an appearance; to him, as the pioneer baby of Minden, the town site association deeded a lot. Joel L. is his name. Two others, Walter Scott and Otis H., followed in due time.

Judge Hull was admitted to the practice of law in Nebraska, in 1878, and since that time he has followed the practice of the profession of his first choice, from which he was, by unavoidable circumstances, so long delayed in entering upon. Judge Hull is a stanch republican, although political aspirations have never given him any trouble.

Since the location of Minden, his efforts for its upbuilding have been untiring, no opportunity having been lost to forward the interests of that community. He has had the pleasure of witnessing its growth from its incipiency, and of knowing that to his efforts is largely due its present thriving and growing condition. Though his own private interests have often been sacrificed for the interest of the community of which he is a part, he feels amply repaid for any sacrifice he may have made; but to enter into the detail of all that he has done for the county of his choice and the town of his creation, would require pages where we can devote but paragraphs.

Judge Hull and his wife are both broad-minded christians and are especially noted for their widely spread and judicious charities. Their church affiliations are with the Methodist denomination. It is not necessary for as to add, perhaps, that Judge Hull is counted as a part of the bone and sinew of Minden, of Kearney county, and of the State of Nebraska. His friends are legion.