Mrs. Rachel Huddleston, who
owns one of the finest farms of Macoupin County, located in section 11,
Gillespie township, and consisting of 500 acres, was born on the Big Blue
River, in the State of Indiana, February 21, 1824, her birth taking place
while her parents were migrating from Kentucky to Indiana. She is a daughter
of William and Julia (Huddleston) Huddleston.
William Huddleston,
father of our subject, was probably born in Kentucky immediately after his
parents had removed there from Virginia. He was a son of Thomas Huddleston,
who died in Indiana, where he was one of the early pioneers and where he
left a large number of descendants. Thomas Huddleston's children were lo in
number: William, Allen, John, Thomas, Henry, Daniel, Martha, Malinda, Rachel
and Mary. William, the eldest son, served as a private in the War of 1812
and took part in the battle of New Orleans, but he never accepted a pension
for his services. Although he removed to Indiana poor in worldly goods, he
became prosperous and left his large family well provided for. He died in
Greene County, Illinois, in 1845, aged 53 years. He was a man of exemplary
life and a consistent member of the Methodist Church. In politics he was a
Whig. His first marriage was to his first cousin, Julia Huddleston, who was
born in Tennessee and was a daughter of Henry Huddleston. The nine children
born to them were: Allen; Mrs. Maria Hampton; Mrs. Julia Netherton of
Macoupin County; Mrs. Milbey McGovern; Mrs. Huddleston, of this sketch;
John; William H., of Kansas; Thomas and Louisa. The four children of his
second marriage were: Stith, of California; James, of California; Charles,
of De Witt County; and Samuel, of Texas.
In 1838 our subject married
her second cousin, Daniel Huddleston, who was born in Ohio, and was a son of
Abraham and Mary (Roe) Huddleston, who had two other children — Mrs. Jane
Krider and Mrs. Emily Kinder. Thirteen children were born to Mrs.
Huddleston, as follows: Preston, who died aged 29 years; Henry, who died in
infancy; Julia, who married Amos Rickman — both are deceased; John Wesley,
residing on the home farm, who has four children — Daniel, Rachel, Florence
and Viola; Mrs. Carrie James, a widow, who resides with her mother — she has
one daughter, Mrs. Nettie Dodge, of Alton, who has two children, Harold and
Frank; Mary Jane, who died at the age of 20 years; Jasper, who died at the
age of 29 years, survived by three children— Nina, Mrs. Josephine Cryder and
Mrs. Viola Corbett; Mrs. Emma Dugger of Pinkneyville, Illinois, who has
three children— Earl, Edna and Harrison; Mrs. Florence Williams, a widow,
who resides on a farm in Gillespie township, with three sons— Roy, Ruby and
Roland; Susan and Nina, who died aged two years; Luther, who died aged seven
years; and Katherine, who died in infancy.
Mrs. Huddleston has been
a resident of Macoupin County and Gillespie township since she was six years
of age. She has lived through many vicissitudes and has seen many wonderful
changes. She is well known through the district of her home and is most
highly esteemed.
A portrait of Daniel Huddleston, our subject's
husband, accompanies this sketch.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 279-281.
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