D.S. HUBER, Celebrates 87th Anniversary

HUBER, WORKMAN

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/5/2016 at 12:13:52

**Handwritten: 1923

EIGHTY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY PASSES

D.S. HUBER, FORMER MAYOR, CELEBRATES 87TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK.

On Febraury 19, Mr. D.S. Huber was permitted to celebrate his eighty-seventh birthday in reasonably good health. The occasion was marked by a visit from his sister, Mrs. Emma Workman, of Birmingham, Iowa, and a small gathering of close friends at his home for a dinner in the evening.

Mr. Huber was born in Johnstown, Pa., in 1837, and was living there as a boy of ten years when the Holland colony on its way to Pella passed through that place. This colony at Johnstown ascended a mountain by means of a cog railway, on which the cars were operated by windlasses turned by stationary steam engines at the top, and they were then let down the western slope in the same manner. While Mr. Huber does not recollect the passing of the people who were destined some years later to become his neighbors, he recalls vividly the cog railway and it use by many immigrant companies.

Mr. Huber moved to southeastern Iowa when yet a boy and made a trip to California in 1852. On that trip he passed through Pella, which was his first glimpse of the city in which so much of his life has been spent, but he did not make Pella his home until about the time of the civil war. since then he has been closely connected with the life of the city, both in business and civic affairs. He was for many years a member of the school board. He served a term as mayor twenty years ago, and is still secretary of the Oakwood Cemetery Association, giving it much of his time and attention.

For fifty years Mr. Huber was actively engaged in business in Pella in machinery, grain, produce and live stock. His warehouses and grain elevator did most of the business of the county and much from Mahaska and Jasper counties for a number of years, before other lines of railroads were built. He disposed of the last of his commercial interests about a dozen years ago, but still maintains an office where he can usually be found the greater part of each day. An infection on one of his feet has kept him rather close for the past several weeks, but he is now about again and able to look after his business.

For one of his age, Mr. Huber has remarkable powers. He reads about as well without glasses as with them, writes with either right or left hand, having taught himself to use his left hand for writing some years ago when he feared his right was becoming disabled, and he also writes with a typewriter. He is very exact in all his affairs and is never content until all is done in the best possible manner.

Mr. Huber is the oldest member, both in years and length of membership, of the Pella Methodist church, and has served the church in many capacities. He still attends as regularly as his health will permit and takes a deep interest in all the affairs of the church. Since the death of his wife several years ago, he has lived with is only daughter, Lucy, in a home built about ten years ago on Broadway only a block away from his former residence on Huber street. It might be added that he is the only living man in Pella to enjoy the distinction of having his name given to a street.

The Chronicle joins with Mr. Huber's scores of friends throughout the sate and country in congratulations at this time and best wishes for him in the future. We hope he may have the privilege of celebrating many more birthdays.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Pages 137-138, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

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