James was born on May 26, 1811, in Nelson Co., Kentucky, and moved to Lawrence Co., Indiana in 1825, where he worked on a farm and taught school. He married Nancy Hill on December 29, 1831, in Orange Co., Indiana. (She was the daughter of Joseph Hill of Orange Co., Indiana). They moved to Hancock Co., Indiana, where James sold saddles and bridles as a sideline to farming and teaching. They lived in Hancock County during the 1830's and in Martin County, Indiana, most of the 1840's. James taught school in Hancock County, 1834-35, and Martin County 1839-1849.
James' brother William was evidently selected by the Huston family to go to Iowa by riverboat and locate new land soon to be opened west of Des Moines. In Dallas County, William staked out land for himself, James and brother Jonathan. James and Jonathan followed on land in wagons and arrived on October 14, 1849. James purchased 240 acres of land from the government along the stage route from Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs, and until 1867 was engaged in farming on it. He built and managed a stagecoach line inn, tavern and the first post office in Dallas County on his farm. (It was customary in stagecoach days to have taverns five miles or so out on the main roads from important towns). He prospered until he owned nearly one thousand acres of land in the area. James was the first Dallas County attorney, according to historical records.
The first ten children were born in Indiana and the last two in Iowa. The family, however, was struck with tragedy. Of this family of twelve children, three sons and three daughters were deaf-mutes (Sarah, Mary Ann, David, George, Frederick, Burnetta). In the 1895 U.S. Special Census of Deaf Marriages, David Huston states that his sister, Sarah, became deaf from scarlet fever. David listed his brother, George, as born deaf, but reference to an 1870 document states the 3rd (Burnetta) and 8th children (George) lost their hearing due to disease.
Mary Ann and Burnetta attended a school for deaf-mutes in Iowa City, IA. Two infant sons were lost due to illness, one in Indiana and one in Iowa. The younger infant son was buried in 1851 in the southwest corner of their tract of land in Boone Township, Dallas Co. This was the first of many burials of the Huston family in what was later to be known as the "Huston Cemetery". When the area became more populated, and the lands were surveyed for roads, it was found that the Huston Cemetery was squarely in the middle of the intersection. A county supervisor ordered that the cemetery be moved, but James' sons proved that the cemetery had been recorded years before in Adel, IA. So the roads were made to encircle the plot, thus it became also known as "The Middle of the Road Cemetery".
James gave 40 acres of land to each of his afflicted children living at the time - Sarah, David, George, and Fredrick. He helped his other sons, Joseph and Jonathan purchase farms nearby. His son, James, obtained the elder James' farm in Adel. James retired from farming in 1867, after his wife's death. He died January 29, 1889, in Dallas Co., IA, and is buried in the Huston Cemetery.
from "The Huston Family: Iowa Supplement" by Sgt. Major Richard Alan Huston, Des Moines, Iowa, 1981. State Historical Library and additional research by Lynnette Davis.
Dallas County Records - will of James B. Brown.
JAMES B HUSTON, of Boone Twp, Dallas County, aged 78 years.
Will dated 25 Jun 1888, proven 23 Feb 1889.
Desire a tombstone similar to that of my wife and children be erected. To be buried by my wife in Huston Cemetery at the SW corner of my farm in Boone Township. To my dau Margaret Jane Newby, my clock, looking glass and rocking chair; to my son David Huston my clothing, bed and bedding; to my son James P Huston two plows; to my son Geo D Huston my clothes press and lounge; to my son Fredrick R Huston my musket; to my son Jonathan W Huston my chairs and the contents of my desks; to Charles Huston, son of my son Jonathan W Huston, all my books; remainder of estate to my granddau Ida Huston, dau of my son David Huston.
Executor: Jacob Snyder, my friend and neighbor.
Witnesses: T R Northd, Edmund Nichole, attorneys, Adel.
