Bio: Huckstead, Alonzo Thomas1860
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Fri, 16 Feb 2001
 
Surnames: HUCKSTEAD, VINE, HOAG
 
----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

 

ALONZO THOMAS HUCKSTEAD, an enterprising and prosperous farmer of Grant Township, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 26, 1860, son of Thomas and Ann (Vine) Huckstead. The father was a native of Kent, England, who came to the United States before the Civil War and was married to Ann Vine in Buffalo. She had been first married to a cousin by the name of Robert Vine, a native of England, and son of Richard Vine, and who had seven children: Daniel, Thomas, Fred, Jesse, James, Robert and Sarah, all of whom came to this country except Sarah.

 

Thomas Huckstead on coming to America worked at whatever he could find to do and just before his marriage had made a trip to the South with a contractor. He and his wife resided for some years in New York State, where two children were born to them-Alonzo and Edward. In 1862 the family came to Wisconsin, driving with a team during the entire journey and on their arrival in Clark County went first to the home of an uncle, Edward Huckstead, who lived as a bachelor on a claim in Grant township. The party included, in addition to Thomas and his wife, the latter's children by her first husband, of whom there were three--William, John and Elizabeth, and her children by Mr. Huckstead-Alofizo and Edward; also John Vine and his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children--Augusta and Matilda. They were a month on the trip and on Arriving at Portage, Wis., heard of the Indian uprising, upon which Thomas Huckstead and John Vine rode horseback to Clark County to ascertain if there was any danger, and on finding that there was not, returned for their families.

 

Thomas Huckstead located on the homestead of the uncle, Edward, who went away to the war, where he died. Thomas on learning of his death, bought out the heirs and took up his permanent residence on the place, which was his home for the rest of his life. It was located in section 20, Grant Township, and consisted of 160 acres, to which he subsequently added sixty acres more, improving the place and erecting good buildings. He died in 1898 at the age of 76 years, his wife dying in 1896 at the age of 67. They were members of the Methodist church and worthy people who won the respect of their neighbors.

 

Alonzo T. Huckstead, in his boyhood, attended the log schoolhouse in the old Wilding district and grew up on the farm, working in the woods during the winter. He learned the carpenter's trade and helped to build many of the residences in Clark County, as well as other buildings. This trade he followed more or less up to 1915, when he assisted in the construction of the new Reed school in Grant Township. At one time he owned a half interest in a wagon and blacksmith shop at Neillsville. He also helped to build the hub and spoke mill at Cameron, Barron County, and subsequently worked in the mill. While thus engaged he had purchased a tract of forty acres in section 21, Grant Township, on which he built a good brick house of eight rooms, and a barn . In the fall of 1913 he located permanently on this place, which is his present home. Here he carries on farming successfully, keeping a good grade of stock.

 

Mr. Huckstead helped to start the Pleasant Ridge Creamery Company, being one of its incorporators, and now a stockholder. He has also twice constructed the building, as it was once burned down. He has served in the office of township supervisor and, fraternally, is a member of the orders of Royal Neighbors and Woodmen of Neillsville. Mr. Huckstead was married Mar. 14, 1893, to Phebe Hoag, a native of Toma, Wis., and of Phillip and Neoma Hoag. He and his wife have one child, May, who attending the high school at Neillsville.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE