The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-06-20

Iowa had imbued him with faith in the
western country, and the following
year he returned to Blakesburg and in
partnership with his cousin, Samuel j..
Hurst, engaged in the general mercan-
tile business. This partnership continu-
ed until 1852 when they disposed of
their business at Blakesburg and came
farther west, his cousin locating at
Corydon while he located at Leon. He
opened a general merchandise store in
little frame building standing on the
present site of the Leon postoffice. He
was progressive and successful mer-
chant and when Samuel Caster erected
the first brick store building in Leon in
1864, Mr., Hurst leased it for a term of
years and at once his store became the
big store of Decatur county. This
building is the one now occupied by j..
A. Casters grocery store at the corner
of Main and Commercial streets. In
1875 he erected the brick business
block on the west side of the square
now occupied by Hurst Bros. dry goods
store, where he continued in business
until the close of 1883, when he retired,
selling the store to Hurst, Hawkins &,
Conrey, his eldest son, Geo. E. Hurst
becoming the senior member. He had
been entirely too active businessman
to long remain idle however, and in the
spring of 1885 he organized the Ex-
change Bank, of this city, being elected
president of the bank, in which capac-
ity he continued for fifteen years, re-
signing as president in 1900 when he
sold his bank stock and retired from
active business.
From the time he became citizen of
Leon, forty-tive years ago, he was a
strong factor in the upbuilding of the
county. Active, energetic, he never
missed an opportunity to serve his town
and county. OF a peculiar temperament,
he was deep thinker, an inveterate
reader, and man thoroughly posted on
the affairs of the nation. Politically he
was a democrat, and no party ever had
more loyal supporter of it's principles
and candidates, and no matter how
badly the party was defeated he re-
NAMED hopeful that in time the princi-
pies in which he had such all abiding
conviction would triumph. Always an
ardent worker in politics, yet he was
never an Office seeker himself. He pre-
fered to be worker in the ranks, and
in many local and state campaigns his
influence was felt and respected. At
the democratic national and state con-
ventions he was prominent figure and
his counsel was often sought by men
high in power. The only political Office
he ever held was that of postmaster at
Blakesburg. receiving his commission
from President Buchanan, and he serv-
ed the patrons of the Office in an ac-
ceptable manner for four years. In
local campaigns he frequently had
charge of the campaign work, and to
his untiring efforts many democratic
county officials owed their election
He was not public speaker, but was
an organizer and worker, and was in
politics from the force of his convic-
lions and not with the hope of political
reward.
In 1889 he was appointed by Cover.
nor William Larrabee as commissioner
from the State of Iowa to attend the
Paris Exposition, at Paris, France, and
spent several months in Paris. He
spent several months visiting other
foreign countries before returning