Monongalia County, West Virginia Biography of Chauncey W. HUSTON ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , July 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 154-155 CHAUNCEY W. HUSTON. Three successive generations of this branch of the Huston family have been identified with the building trades, primarily as carpenterg. Some build- ings dating from Civil war times in Morgantown attest the skill of the family. Chauncey W. Huston, of the present generation, was also a carpenter and contractor, but in later years has broadened his field to general real estate development. He was born in Morgantown, June 3, 1863, and is de- scended from Peter Huston, a native of Ireland who came to America before the close of the eighteenth century and located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His son, Chambers Huston, was born in Somerset in 1809, and was both a carpenter and cabinet maker. He died in his native county in 1889. He married Margaret Pritts, who died in 1896. They were the parents of thirteen children, includ- ing two pairs of twins. The late Samuel P. Huston, their third child, was for many years prominent as a contractor and builder and substantial citizen of Morgantown. He was born in Somer- set County, Pennsylvania; January 3, 1835. As a youth he learned the carpenter's trade and in 1858 moved to Morgantown, where in after years he became one of the leading building contractors. He was senior member of the firm Huston & Demain, which was organized October 1, 1881, and continued in business until 1910, a period of thirty years during which they handled many of the im portant building contracts in this section of the state, and in conjunction they also operated a lumber yard, planing mills and did an extensive business in builders' supplies. Samuel P. Huston always did his part as a public-spirited citizen, served on the city council, and was an active leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church and in the Sunday School. He died November 22, 1912. On March 1, 1861, he married Louise Murphy. To their marriage was born two sons and a daughter Chauncey W.; Charles B., born February 18, 1865; and Louise, born August 8, 1875, who became the wife of Louis T. Krebs. Chauncey W. Huston was reared in Morgantown, where he attended the city schools and West Virginia University. He became a carpenter, and during the existence of the firm Huston & Demain was active in its extensive business. After the firm dissolved he concentrated his attention on his growing real estate interests. Mr. Huston was an associate of Judge I. G. Lazzelle, Dr. S. S. Wade, John W. Wills and the late Col. James Frazier in organizing the Morgantown Bridge Improvement Company. This company built the South Park Bridge and developed South Park, putting in all the paving and sewerage and then marketed what is today the most beautiful and finest re- stricted residence section of Morgantown. Mr. Huston is now president of the company while Doctor Wade is vice president, and Donald Lazzelle is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Huston is also interested in oil properties in West Vir- ginia and later extended his holdings in this industry to Oklahoma and Kansas. Mr. Huston married Mary E. DeTar, daughter or M. S. DeTar, of Kansas. Mr. Huston is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.