Obit: Hurst, John (1845 - 1937)

Contact:  LeRae
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: HURST HENNING MILLER WEBSTER

----Sources: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) 02/06/1937

Hurst, John (30 OCT 1845 - 2 FEB 1937)

John Hurst, former resident of Humbird, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edith Henning, in Eau Claire early Tuesday morning, at the age fo 91 years. For the past fifteen years he has lived in Eau Claire. Mrs. Hurst died many years ago. Survivors are his son, Thomas, of Hudson, and two daughters, Mrs. Jay Miller, of Ludington, and Mrs. Henning, of Eau Claire. Funeral services are being held in Eau Claire this Thursday afternoon, and burial will be in Mentor cemetery.

Follow-on John Hurst, Humbird Enterprise, Saturday, February 13, 1937

John Hurst passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. E. Henning, in Eau Claire, on Feb. 2nd, at the age of 91 years, 3 months and 3 days. Funeral services were held at the Lenmark funeral home Thursday, Nov. 4th, Rev. Fred Jordan of the Methodist church officiating. Interment was in the family lot in Mentor cemetery.

Mr. Hurst was born at Merton, Waukesha county, Wis., Oct. 30, 1845, the only child of Thomas and Harriet Hurst. When he was eleven years of age he moved by ox team with his parents, also the Horel and Ringrose families, settling in Jackson county. The trip was slow and tedious; in many places the road had to be cleared of timber before travel could be resumed. Late in the spring of 1856, they arrived at what is now known as Fairview. There in the open spaces of natural prairie the sod was broken and a crop planted, which was harvested and helped them greatly through the first winter. At that time Sparta and Eau Claire were the nearest towns for trading and the journey to either place meant several days of travel. Venison and furs were mediums of exchange for the necessities of life.

On June 12, 1870, he was united in marriage to Florence Webster. To them three children were born, all of whom survive.

At the time Mr. Hurst was acting as stage driver between Humbird and Neillsville, making a trip each day. At this time the logging of pine timber was in full operation. The railroad was being built and a post office was established at Humbird, of which Mr. Hurst’s father was the first postmaster.

Some time later Mr. And Mrs. Hurst purchased a farm in Clark county, about four miles northwest of Humbird, where they resided many years. In 1899 they sold this farm and purchased another near Fall Creek, and in 1915 they retired from farming and located in Chetek.

After Mrs. Hurst’s death June 22, 1924, Mr. Hurst made his home with his daughters. His surviving family are his daughters, Mrs. Addie Miller, Ludington, and Mrs. Edith Henning, Eau Claire, and his son, T. F. Hurst, Hudson. There are nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends attending the funeral services, besides the immediate family, were: Mr. And Mrs. Stanley Peck, Mr. And Mrs. A. D. Wilson, Mr. And Mrs. O. M. Hein, Minneapolis; Mr. And Mrs. C. Van Valkenberg, Mrs. Chas. Pregent, Mrs. Ann Eliza Dunsmoor, Chetek; Miss Anna Horel, Superior; Mrs Louis Horn, Ladysmith; Mrs. Blanche Grush, Appleton; Mrs. Arnold Matti, and Mrs. A. F. Simons, Humbird; Mrs. Claire Enerson, Alma Center; Mrs. Elmer Christianson, Chippewa Falls.