SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Henry H. Huson, Page 620

HENRY H. HUSON, senior member of the firm of Huson & Zerler, general merchants of Plymouth, and Secretary and Treasurer of the Schram & Huson Chair Company, is a native of the Empire State, and was born in Lorraine, Jefferson County, May 11, 1845.  He is a son of Willard W. and Parnee (Lyman) Huson, pioneer settlers of the town of Lyndon, Sheboygan County, Wis.  His father who was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1810, was married in his native State.  In 1856 he emigrated to Wisconsin with his family, and was for many years a prominent farmer of the town of Lyndon.  His death occurred in March, 1889, at the age of seventy-nine years.  His wife, the mother of our subject, was born in the State of New York, April 15, 1822, and died in Plymouth, November 11, 1888.

    Henry H. came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1856, when eleven years old.  He attended school in the East and in Lyndon, and was also a student of the Sheboygan High School, of the Michigan University, and of Ripon College.  At the age of twenty-one he began his business career as merchant's clerk with the firm of Smith & Elwell, of Plymouth.  In 1867 P. H. Smith bought out Mr. Elsell's interest, and in the following spring, 1868, Mr. Huson bought an interest in the business, and has been connected with it ever since.  The business was founded by Smith & Elwell in about 1860.  Mr. Elwell retiring, the firm became Smith & Huson.  In 1873 G. W. Zerler bought an interest in the business, and until 1880 the firm name was Smith, Huson & Zerler.  Mr. Smith having sold his interest to his partners, the firm title was changed to Huson & Zerler.  This house occupies two stores, and does a general dry-goods and clothing business.  Their yearly sales amount to $65,000, and they are classed among the most successful and popular merchants of Sheboygan County.

    In 1891 Mr. Huson became one of the incorporators of the Schram & Huson Chair Company, of which he is Secretary and Treasurer.  This company was incorporated with a capital stock of $40,000 and A. W. Schram is President.  The plant cost about $25,000 and gives employment to seventy-five hands.  The annual output amounts to $65,000 in value.

    On the 14th of June 1870, Mr. Huson was married to Miss Sarah Skinner, a daughter of William Skinner, of Royalton Windsor County, Vt., Mrs. Huson's birthplace.  Her parents are deceased, both having died in the East.  Mr. and Mrs. Huson have one child, a daughter, Alice M.  They are members of the Episcopal Church.

    In politics, Mr. Huson is a Republican.  He has served two terms as Mayor of Plymouth, and six years as Clerk of the School Board.  Mr. Huson is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Acassia Lodge No. 167, A. F. & A. M.; of Harmony Chapter No. 10, R. A. M., of Sheboygan; of Fond du Lac Commandery No. 5, K. T.; of Wisconsin Consistory of Milwaukee, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.  He is also a member of Fidelity Lodge No. 19, K. P., of Fond du Lac, and of the B. P. O. Elks, of Fond du Lac.

    As a business man and citizen, it is no flattery to say of Mr. Huson that he is the peer of any in Sheboygan County, and that he has been the architect of his own fortunes.  His success has been achieved by intelligent application of correct business principles, strict integrity and assiduous attention to business in all its details.  Notwithstanding the important business interests under his care, Mr. Huson always finds leisure to meet his friends or a casual caller with respectful attention and kindly cordiality.  While he is a careful and sagacious buyer, he is very popular with the "fraternity of the grip," who appreciate business courtesy and fair treatment, something they do not always receive in the course of their varied experience.  Mr. Huson and family have an elegant residence on the bluff south of the river, which commands a fine view of the city and surrounding country.