My Genealogy Hound

MAJ. JAMES MONROE HUBBARD, who for about five years was one of the old residents of Holden, departed this life December 2, 1871. He came to this section in October, 1865, from Madison County, Ill. Although he had little knowledge of books, he was a man of excellent business qualifications, and gained a practical education by actual experience in life.

Philip Hubbard, the father of our subject, was a farmer of Bond County, Ill., nearly all his life, but was a native of North Carolina, whence he removed to Tennessee, and later to Bond County, where he died when about sixty-five years of age. He married Millie Smithwick, who departed this life in the summer of 1894, at the advanced age of ninety years. To Philip Hubbard and his wife there were born ten children, of whom we make the following mention: Ann married John Smith, and is now living in Greenville, Ill.; our subject was the next-born; Elizabeth married Henry Gary, and at the present time lives in Macoupin County, Ill.; John, Melvina and Albert are deceased; Simeon is a resident of Greenville, Ill.; Emily is now Mrs. Jonathan Dewey, and makes her home in Shell City, this state; Henry and Franklin are deceased.

Maj. James Hubbard was born near Nashville, Tenn., September 20, 1824, and the removal to the Prairie State was undertaken when he was only six months old. He was brought up on a farm near Greenville, Ill., which his father had entered, and, although his educational privileges were limited, he became a well informed and well read man. Besides being a close observer of men and things, he was a clear reasoner and possessed those business qualifications which make a success of life. He was courteous and genial in manner, and his friends were numerous and devoted. In politics he was a stanch Republican.

Our subject remained at home until attaining his majority when he was married to Susan Etzler, who was born in Virginia, June 8, 1825. Her parents were natives of Maryland, whence they removed to the Old Dominion, and died at the respective ages of eighty and fifty years. They were the parents of nine sons and daughters, of whom two are now living, the widow of our subject, and Elizabeth, Mrs. McNeill, of Greenville, Ill.

After his marriage Mr. Hubbard purchased a farm joining his father’s estate, and was engaged in its cultivation until 1857. In April of that year he changed his location to Madison County, locating seven miles from St. Louis, where he kept a hotel, and where he carried on a farm for a period of three years. He came to Johnson County after the war, where he was living at the time of his decease.

When twenty-two years old, Mr. Hubbard served in the Mexican War. After six months of service he was honorably discharged on account of disability, and returned home. He was a true patriot, however, and when the call for volunteers to enter the Union service during the late war resounded throughout the country, he was one of the first to enlist. He raised a company in Madison County, and enlisted for three years in the First Missouri Cavalry. Having recruited the company, he was elected Captain, and was subsequently commissioned Major, during the rest of his army life and ever afterward being known as “Major” Hubbard. A brave, fearless soldier, he possessed executive ability of a rare order, and was in the thickest of many conflicts. At Prairie Grove he was taken prisoner, and on being paroled went to St. Louis. He then resigned his commission, and, becoming interested in the marine fleet, went with the same to Vicksburg in May. After the surrender of that city, he joined the Twelfth Missouri Regiment as Major, which commission he held until the close of the war, and had charge of the pontoon corps connected with Sherman’s army in the march to the sea.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard there were born ten children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. Addie married Dwight Child, and lives in Holden; Chloe died when eight years of age; Deedie is the widow of Thomas Gollady, and has one son, Edgar; Cassius, Helen, Eugene, Dora, Henry and Belle are deceased. Mrs. Gollady now makes her home with her widowed mother. Mrs. Hubbard’s present delightful home was purchased in 1889, and comprises two hundred well improved acres. The premises show the good taste and refinement of the owner, and the house, which is a modern structure, built in 1891, is nicely finished and furnished.