JAMES D. HUSTON, a public-spirited and enterprising citizen of Amwell township, is a grandson of Joseph Huston, who came to Washington, this county, in 1786, and established the old "Huston Inn" (as it was then called), situated on the east side of Main street, below Maiden. He kept the tavern until his death, making a good profit in the business. He married Miss Elizabeth Beckwith, and to their union were born the following children: Mrs. Sarah Meetkirk (deceased at the age of ninety-one years), Mrs. Isabella Sarratt (deceased when aged forty-two), Cyrus (who died in his seventy-eighth year), Mary, wife of Zachariah Reynolds (she died when eighty-seven years old), Joseph (who died in his eighty-fifth year), Hamilton (who died in his eighty-first year), William B. (deceased in his eighty-fourth year; he continued the old "Huston Inn" for many years), and Mrs. Eliza Oliver (who died when eighty-six years old). At the time of his death, which occurred in 1813, Joseph Huston, the father of this family, owned nearly all the southwestern part of Washington, Penn. His wife survived him many years, and died about 1855, in her eighty-fifth year. Cyrus Huston, son of Joseph, was born February 23, 1797, at Washington, Penn., in the old "Huston Inn." In early manhood he learned the trade of a cabinet maker, which he followed for a time in what is now known as Monongahela, thence in about 1843 removed to Pittsburgh, and was there during the great fire of 1845. He afterward sold out and invested in a tan-yard, opposite Horse Island, on the Allegheny side of the river; he was then a very wealthy man, but the flood of 1852 completely ruined him, and he afterward returned to Pittsburgh, where he lived about twenty years, engaged in the real estate and brokerage business. In 1848 he was married to Miss Mary Swart, and they had one child, Sarah. The mother lived but a short time afterward, and Mr. Huston was afterward married to Mrs. Nancy Howden, by which union were born James D. (whose name opens this sketch) and Mrs. Martha Belle Hornish. About 1872 Mr. Huston came to Washington county, Penn., where he remained till his death, which occurred May 3, 1874. James D. Huston was born August 4, 1838, in Washington, Penn., and remained with his parents until they moved to Pittsburgh, when he went to Holmes county, Ohio, and for a time attended a small academy in Knox county, same State. He then went to Pittsburgh and learned the trade of cabinet making, which business he followed, together with carpentering, five years, and removing in 1859 to Amity, this county, he embarked in mercantile business. In 1860 he went to Monticello, Ind., and clerked in a store there for a time, but returning to Amity in 1864 he bought out James Hughes, Sr., and in April, 1865, again began mercantile business. On April 29, 1862, Mr. Huston was united in marriage with Rosetta Hughes, who has borne him five children, namely: William (deceased), born July 15, 1863; Charles (deceased), born September 23, 1864; Mrs. Doisey M. Burroughs, born November 28, 1867; Harry H., born January 14, 1870 (still living at home), and Jessie B. (Mrs. Kerr), born August 7, 1871. In 1869 Mr. Huston removed to Lone Pine, and served as postmaster there for sixteen years. He was president of the academy of Pleasant Valley three years. He has always taken an active interest in school matters, and is ever ready to aid a worthy cause. He has always been a Republican.

Text taken from page 1208 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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