Biography - EDWARD MANFRED HUSTED
Edward Manfred Husted has been more closely identified with the work of
improvement and upbuilding in Roodhouse than any other citizen. Financial
interests have been promoted by him and the city owes the building of the
Kansas City branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad through here to his and
others' efforts. He has co-operated in every measure for the general good
and in his labors for the locality he has looked beyond the possibilities of
the present to the exigencies of the future, making his work of such a
practical and permanent character that its beneficial influence and effect
will long be felt.
Mr. Husted was born in Addison county, Vermont, September 9, 1830, his
parents being Lvman and Emily (Denison) Husted, who had a family of four
children. The mother died when her son Edward was but four years of age, and
in 1836 the father married again and came to the west by water, making his
way to Chicago and thence by the canal and Illinois river to Greene county.
He located on Apple Creek prairie, June 24, 1836. He then returned overland
to Chicago for his household goods and soon after he had again reached
Greene county, died of bilious fever.
Mr. Husted of this review was only about six years of age at the time of his
father's removal to the middle west. He was educated in the common schools
of Greene county, early became familiar with farm work, and for many years
was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has made judicious
investments in farm property from time to time and is now the owner of
between five and six hundred acres of land in this county, adjoining the
city of Roodhouse. This is very rich and arable producing abundant crops. It
is well fenced and tiled and constitutes one of the best farms in Greene
county. Grain and stock are raised there — the best of each class, — and Mr.
Husted has given personal supervision to the operation of the farm, at the
same time controlling important and extensive business interests of another
character. His residence in the north part of Roodhouse, not far from his
farm, is a very handsome one. He has figured very prominently in financial
affairs, being the president of the Roodhouse Bank, to which position he was
elected in 1876, so that his incumbency covers twenty-nine years.
In city and county activities Mr. Husted has lent generous aid and hearty
co-operation, and to him is accorded the credit of securing through
Roodhouse the Kansas City branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad and the
establishment of the shops and roundhouse here, contributing in large
measure to the growth and business activity of the city. He was one of the
commissioners representing the Roodhouse interests.
In 1850 Mr. Husted was married to Miss Harriet M. Swallow, a representative
of an old Vermont family and a daughter of Guy and Katherine (Bannister)
Swallow. Mr. and Mrs. Husted became the parents of three children, but only
one is living — Edgar M., who resides on the old homestead. Emma died at the
age of two rears; and Ellie C., reaching womanhood, was married to A. J.
Lee, of Morgan county, and died in 1894, leaving five children. Edgar M. has
four children, so that Mr. Husted has nine grandchildren in all. Mrs.
Harriett M. Husted died in 1864 and in 1865 Mr. Husted was again married,
his second union being with Augusta C. Banister, a daughter of Elisha and
Olive Banister, both now deceased. Her father was killed by a train June 20,
1882, while her mother died in August, 1885.
Mr. Husted is one of the oldest and most honored representatives of Masonry
in Greene county. He was made a Mason January 19, 1853, in White Hall and
the fiftieth anniversary of his identification with the order was celebrated
January 19, 1903, on which occasion he was presented with a handsome Knight
Templar charm, covered with rubies and diamonds. Most of the officers and
members who were identified with White Hall lodge at that time are now
deceased. E. M. Husted and Isaac D. Vedder being all that now survive out of
the thirty-eight. In the half century of his connection with the craft Mr.
Husted has been a Mason "with a high sense of honor, has walked on the
level, squaring his actions by the square of virtue and the line of
rectitude." He is one of the founders and charter members of E. M. Husted
lodge, No. 796, A. F. & A. M., of Roodhouse, which was named in his honor.
He also belongs to Carrollton chapter, No. 50. R. A. M.; and Hugh De Payens
commandery, No. 29, K. T. He has ever been active in the lodge work and to
him is due the elegant lodge rooms in Roodhouse.
Viewed from any standpoint his life has been a success, for in business his
efforts have been crowned with prosperity and in private life he has won
warm personal regard and unqualified confidence. The reason for this is not
hard to find, for he is a liberal-minded, genial gentleman, of sympathetic
nature and progressive ideas; social, natural and courageous in all his
actions, and obliging and helpful. In character building he has erected a
permanent and beautiful structure, while as the architect of his own
fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
Extracted 2021 Aug 01 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Greene County, Illinois, by Ed Miner, published in 1905, pages 262-266.
