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Delaware County, Iowa

 Biography Directory

 

Charles N. Hull

Live Stock dealer

Hopkinton

 

 

      CHARLES N. HULL, a prominent live stock dealer of Hopkinton, is a native of Delaware county, Iowa, born in Delhi township, October 8, 1850.


      His father, H. O. Hull, was born in Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He immigrated to Wisconsin in an early day and resided there several years. He came to Delaware county about 1849, and entered government land in Delhi township. The country was new and sparsely settled, and towns where business could be transacted were few and far between. Dubuque was the nearest town of any consequence, and many an early settler found it a long and wearisome journey in going to and from that town. The prairie abounded in wild game, deer, especially, being quite plentiful. Roving bands of Indians frequently passed through the settlement, stopping at the settlers' cabins for a mouthful of something to eat. There were only a couple of shanties where Delhi now stands. The county seat had not yet been determined upon in fact there were no towns of any size in the county at that time. Mr. Hull erected a log cabin and prepared to live in true pioneer style. The cabin now stands on his old homestead. He was twice married and the father of eighteen children. He died in 1870, aged three score years and ten. He was for many years a zealous member of the United Brethren church, and a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. Charles N. Hull, the subject of this biographical notice, was reared on his father's farm and received a good common school education. He attended Lenox College several terms during 1870 - 1871, but circumstances over which he had no control prevented his attending as regularly as he would have liked.


     He began farming for himself in 1873, and he has steadily pursued that vocation up to within the past few years. In 1880 he began buying and shipping stock, and has continued in the business since. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Hull retired from active farm life and moved his family to Hopkinton, where he has a pleasant home. He is in partnership with Mr. Kehoe, and the firm do an extensive implement business, besides buying and shipping cattle and hogs. During the year 1889 this firm shipped nearly five thousand head of cattle from this vicinity.


     Mr. Hull married April 17, 1873, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah A. Gibbs, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio. This union has resulted in the birth of three children, viz: William H., born July 24, 1874, Walter G., born September 11, 1876, and Jennie, born February 9, 1879.


     Mr. Hull has always identified himself with the republican party, but has never been an active political worker. He has filled very acceptably some local offices, but he has never aspired to public positions.  He is a zealous worker in the Masonic order. He owns a fine farm of three hundred acres in Union township, most of which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.

 

~ source: Biographical souvenir of the counties of Delaware and Buchanan, Iowa; Chicago : F. A. Battey, 1890. Page 272; LDS microfilm #985424

~ contributed by Thom Carlson