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.

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