Essex County NJ Archives Biographies.....James H. HUSK, 1829 - 1909
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 10, 2008, 3:10 am

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

HUSK, James H.,
Respected Citizen.

  A selfmade man rising to a condition of competence and ease through
enterprise, industry and resolute purpose, Mr. Husk belonged to that honored
class of men whose lives are a lesson and an inspiration. Few men in Essex
county, New Jersey, were more widely known, none more worthy of the high esteem
in which he was held, and none more deserving of success than he. He was of the
third generation of his family in Caldwell township, Essex county, his
grandfather, John Husk, a native of Holland, Europe, purchasing a tract of land
at Clinton, Caldwell township, in 1800. On his first visit to Clinton the
locality was in such primitive condition that on the spot which afterward he
cultivated as a garden, he shot a deer. John Husk carried on the work of
wresting a farm from the forest all his life, and to such men is due the
reclamation of the beautiful Caldwell section. They laid the foundation for the
present prosperity, and, like John Husk, left sons who carried forward the work
begun by their sires. John Husk had seven children: Abraham, of further mention;
Ellen, married John M. Van Duyne, of Morris county; Sarah, married Henry
Francisco, of Caldwell township; Rachael, married Lewis Estler, and died at
Boonton, New Jersey; Richard, died at Boonton; Eliza, married Henry Stager,
whose farm was on the North Caldwell road; John, lived and died in Caldwell
township.

  Abraham Husk, eldest son of John Husk, the founder, was born at the Husk
homestead in Clinton, Caldwell township, in 1807, there spent his life of
fifty-one years, and died March 4, 1858. He spent his life from boyhood in the
cultivation and improvement of the farm, succeeded to its ownership, and was
highly regarded in his neighborhood, as a man of industry and thrift. He married
Esther Crane, who died February 14, 1869, daughter of Abijah Crane. Children:
Maria; James H., of further mention; Stephen; Eliza; Lucetta; John; Richard;
William; Alfred; Thomas; Abbie, and Marcus E.

  James H. Husk, son of Abraham and Esther (Crane) Husk, was born at the
homestead in Clinton, Essex county, New Jersey, October 13, 1829, died in
Caldwell, New Jersey, April 6, 1909. He attended the district school, and from
boyhood until attaining legal age remained at home, his father's farm assistant.
He never liked his occupation, and as soon as he attained his majority left the
home roof, with a small well earned capital, a stout heart, a clear mind, and a
good healthy body, developed under the best conditions of country and family
life. He first went to Boonton, New Jersey, where he had relatives living, and
for a time was employed as a team driver. He then secured a position with the
Boonton Iron Company as a cutter in the nail department, and in a later year was
promoted to the position of general superintendent of outdoor work. He continued
with the Boonton Iron Company until 1859, when he resigned to become wagon
salesman for Campbell, Lane & Company, of Caldwell, New Jersey. His business was
to drive over a given route at regular intervals, and dispose of the stock of
goods with which his wagon was loaded. He was very successful and in course of
time he accumulated considerable capital, which he invested in a farm. He
cultivated his own acres for a time, but the boyhood dislike for farm labor was
still strong within him, and he soon sold out and sought a new field of
investment. This he found in the Caldwell and Montclair stage line, which he
bought in 1883 and operated very profitably until June 30, 1897, when the
trolley line superseded the stage. He then operated a livery barn and continued
in business activity for several more years, then retired completely to the
comfort and enjoyment of the competence he had so honorably earned. He was a man
of strong character, rugged in his honesty and everybody's friend. He was a
member of the Republican party, and always a keen voter on town, county, State
and government affairs. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in
Caldwell, New Jersey.

  Mr. Husk married, in Morris county, January 19, 1850, Adeline Stites, daughter
of Nicholas Stites. She survives her husband, a resident of Caldwell. Children:
Wilson, Maria L., Jessie, Sarah, Thomas S., Nellie and Adline. Mr. Husk and his
family were members of the Presbyterian church.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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