The Mankato free press., 1905-09-01
R. D. HUBBARD DEAD
Prominent Mankato Resident
Dies Suddenly in Chicago.
News of His Death a Shock
to His Many ToWnsmen.
He Was One of The Most
Progressive Citizens.
Had Not Been In Good Health
For Many Months.

Seldom has the community been so
shocked as it was this morning when
word was passed along the street that
r. ID. Hubbard had died during the
night. 1t flew about the city like wild
fire. and people at first questioned the
accuracy of the report, for only Mon
dav Mr.. Hubbard had been seen in his
business rounds on the city streets.
The report was unfortunately only too
accurate, however.
Mrs. r. ID. Hubbard received tele
gram at 1l:45 o'clock last night inform
ing her that her husband was very
sick and asking her to come at once.
second came addressed to the relatives
of Mr. Hubbard, saying that he was
dead and asking what disposition should
be made of the remains. The kilograms
were sent from the Auditorium Annex,
where it was presumed Mr. Hubbard
was staying. The information contain
ed in the two brief messages was ter
rible shock to Mrs Hubbard and her
daughters and to Jay Hubbard. George
Nj. Palmer telephoned to Chicago this
morning to learn whether some mistake
had not been made, but the messages
were confirmed.
Mr.. Hubbard left Monday afternoon
on the 4:45 train for Chicago, to tran
sact some business. He was to have
been in Milwaukee today, and to have
returned home tomorrow. He had not
been feeling very well for some time
past, but felt no worse the day he left
home than usual, and his family were
unprepared to learn of his death.
MIR. Hubbard had been failing for sew
eral years past, in fact ever since he
had the trouble with his eyes about
three years ago. That is looked upon
as having been only symptom of
trouble, and the dangerous hemmorhage
of the nose that he had last April was
considered another danger signal. Yet
he continued to devote his time and
strength to his business, with that in
dominatable energy that had always
characterized him.
Mr.. Hubbard had seemed to his fam
lily to be depressed in spirit for num-
ber of days past, and had complained of
not feeling WELL The cause of his sud
den death is not known, and efforts to
| learn it have thus far failed. A cor
oner's inquest was held this forenoon to
| determine the cause of death.
Owing to the running time of the
trains it was impossible for any mem
Der of the family to 60 to Chicago to
| accompany the remains home, but that
will arrive tomorrow noon, accompanied
| by John T. Hensner, close friend of
the deceased and prominent business
man of Chicago.
The following is a life-history of R.
D. Hubbard, taken from the Semi
centennial of Mankato:''
Born in Maryland township, Otsego
county, New York, December l4th,
1887. His parents, Oliver B., and La
vinia Chase Hubbard, were farmers. ma
| tives of Connecticut, whose ancestry
went back into colonial days, among
| whom were some prominent in the early
history of New England. His educa-
| tion was limited to such as the dis
| trict school and a few months in Sc
lect school, taught by Prof. w. +.
| Barry, could furnish. At fifteen years
| of age he left home to earn his own
living, and obtaining work with sur
| veying party engaged in locating the
Albany and Susquehanna railroad-now
called the Delaware and Hudson Canal
company. In the spring of 1854, he
went with party of men to California,
| the Sacramento Valley, at $50 per
month, and in two years had saved ST.
| 1900, every dollar of which sum he
sent home to his parents. He took a
claim and tried farming on his own
| hook, but owing to the drought his
crops failed and he soon tired of the
| venture. In August, 1857, he went to
the Humbolt country, and for a few
months engaged in trade with the i'm
migrants. In July, 1858, he went to
Fraser river, British Columbia, at the
time of the gold excitement in that re-
gion. In the fall of 1859, he paid visit
to his old home in New York, returning
in March, 1860. to Sacramento. Cal.
where he secured position as clerk in
grocery store at $50 per month, and