Crawford-Union County IL Archives Biographies.....Hurst, John R. 1811 - 
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Author: William Henry Perrin (1883)

  JOHN R. HURST, retired merchant, Hutsonville, Ill., whose portrait appears in
this work, was born in Wayne County, N. C., August 7, 1811. When about twelve
years old, he accompanied his uncle, with whom he was then living, from his home
near Goldsboro to Union County, Ill., and three years later to Crawford County
in the same State. After living here two years, anxious to try the world on his
own account, he gladly accepted his uncle's permission and aid to return to
Union County to engage for himself. He remained only about six months, when he
returned to Crawford County and engaged with William Cox as a farm hand at the
rate of $40 per year. He served at this work some ten months, when he went to
Prairieton, Ind. Here he made a conditional contract with a carpenter to learn
the trade, but after four weeks' trial concluded to resume his early occupation
and work at farm labor. In the meantime, he arranged to attend school a part of
the time until October 28, 1830, when he returned to Crawford County, Ill. On
his return, he made his home with his uncle, and, in the meantime, taking a
boatload of pork to New Orleans for him. He returned from this trip, and on
Christmas Day left his uncle for Union County, where he received the benefit of
the subscription schools for some nine months. In the early winter or late fall
of 1833, Mr. Hurst set out for Hutsonville, making the journey on horse back
without incident. It may be noted that the famous meteoric shower of this year
overtook him on his way, and while it created considerable alarm to many, he did
not hesitate to pursue his journey, and with no more serious result than the
close fall of meteoric stone. At Hutsonville, Mr. Hurst found work at various
occupations until the spring of 1835, when he got together a team of three yoke
of oxen and a mammoth wagon to go on the National road; other plans intervened,
however, and he engaged in hauling goods, varying this business with "breaking
prairie." A serious attack of illness in the fall put a stop to this heavy work,
and, being elected Constable in August, 1835, he gave his attention entirely to
his official duties, until the following March. Marrying at this time, he
remained with his wife's parents until the fall of 1836, when he bought a little
farm of 75 1/4 acres of land, erected a log cabin, and prepared to hew out a
farm. Mr. Hurst stayed here only about a year, then farmed his father-in-law's
property for about the same length of time, and then went to Hutsonville. Here
the next ten years were passed in farming with varied success. The last two
years, owing to sickness and the partial loss of crops, proved somewhat
discouraging, and in 1850 he engaged in the grocery business. This involved the
sale of whisky to a considerable extent, and after four years of experience, he
sold out in disgust. Mr. Hurst then bought the mail and stage line from
Vincennes to Danville. This business taxed his energy and endurance to the
utmost, and, while it proved fairly remunerative, was glad to relinquish the
business in 1858 and return to his farming. In 1862, he began dealing in cattle
exclusively, driving them to Terre Haute; but in the following year he divided
his attention between his farm and cattle business. In 1864, he began the
mercantile business in a small way, and continued it with success until he
retired in 1876, leaving the business in the hands of his sons and sons-in-law.
Mr. Hurst was married March 10, 1836, to Miss Nancy Owen Barlow, a native of
Crawford County, where she was born May 5, 1818. Thirteen children have been
born to them, four of whom only are living—Sarah E., wife of John McNutt;
Rebecca, wife of John Olwin; William B. and Lucius C. Mrs. Hurst is a daughter
of John and Elizabeth (Gordon) Barlow, who were natives of Kentucky, and came to
Crawford County in 1816. They took up their residence in the yard made memorable
by the massacre of the Hutson family by the Indians. Mr. Hurst is a member of
the Universalist Church, a Democrat in politics, and a self-made man in business
experiences. He started into the world for himself with $1.25 in money, and,
without special advantages, has accumulated a competency, and earned an old age
of ease and influence. His career has been one of activity; he is one of the
founders of the Universalist Church of Hutsonville; the eighth member in
Hutsonville Lodge of Masons, No. 136, and a prominent worker in the order, and
was Deputy Sheriff from 1839 to 1844.

Additional Comments:

Extracted From:

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD AND CLARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,
LAKESIDE BUILDING.
1883.


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