BIO: James S. Huston, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

418  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JAMES S. HUSTON, inventor, farmer and manufacturer, Mechanicsburg, is 
a great-grandson of Samuel Huston, who was born in Ireland, and came to 
America when a young man, settling in Pennsylvania, where he married.  
His son, Samuel, born in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1776, married 
Miss Nancy Clendenin, and had five sons:  Samuel, Robert, William, John 
and James (twins).  They were members of the old Presbyterian Church at 
Silver Spring.  Of their children James was born in Silver Spring 
Township, this county, became a farmer, and in the course of time 
married Miss Mary Saxton, who born him four children - three sons and 
one daughter; John, Sarah, Samuel F. and James S.  The subject of our 
sketch, who is the youngest, was but two years old when his father 
died; he then went to live with his uncle, William Saxton, and remained 
with him working on the farm and attending school until he was sixteen, 
when he was apprenticed to the harness-making trade at New Kingston, 
this county, for three years; thence went to Hogestown, but after one 
year returned to New Kingstown, and two years later moved to Wooster, 
Ohio, but in a short time came to Mechanicsburg and opened a harness 
shop.  In 1869 he invented the Huston fly net used by the Huston Fly 
Net Company of Mechanicsburg, and also invented the Huston Net No. 2, 
used by I. C. Deihl, of Shippensburg, Penn.  He then engaged in the 
manufacture of fly nets until 1881, when he sold out and embarked in 
farming and milling, purchasing the Boucher Mill at Hogestown, which 
was burned in September, 1885.  June 15, 1856, Mr. Huston married Miss 
Sarah Huntsburger, born in Lower Allen Township, this county, daughter 
of Jonas and Leah (Tyson) Huntsburger, and to this union have been born 
four children, one living - Arthur J. - born in Mechanicsburg May 25, 
1865.  They are members of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Huston is an 
enterprising business man; starting in life without a cent he deserves 
much credit for his success.  His grandfather, Samuel Houston (or 
Huston) and Samuel Houston, the founder of Houston, Tex., were cousins.