The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-26

Americas most pungent
humorist and cleverest para
grapher, Frank Mckinney
Hubbard, known to millions
here and abroad as Kin Hub
bard, creator of Abe Martin,
died shortly after 4::30 a. m.
today at his home, 5437 North
Meridi"n street. Death came
sud- as result of heart
disc
MI bard was restless through
the night and complained of pains
in his upper arms and chest, Mrs.
Hubbard said. He arose from bed
at 4:30 and walked about the house.
Death without Warning
His wife and two children, Tom
and Virginia, were aroused by his
evident discomfort and pain and
attempted to assist him but to no
avail.
Death came as he sat down for a
moment upon a divan Without a
sound, he fell forward, dead.
Kin" as thousands in Indian
apoliS knew him, had been told two
years ago by physicians that his
heart was weak and should not be
subjected to strain.
He was 81 at the time of his
death. The great paragrapher re-
fused to tell his age and it is not
even contained in his biography in
Who's Who"
Came Here in 1891
Mr.. Hubbard came to The News
in 1891, from Bellefontaine, o.,
where for century his family has
been in the newspaper business.
He quickly sprang into promi-
hence with his caricatures and it is
as a 'caricaturist" that he listed
himself.
In 1904, that quaint HooSier char
acter, ABE Martin of Brown Coun-
ty came into existence.
A few years before Mr.. Hubbard
created his Brown county philoso-
pher, and while he still was strug-
Cling for recognition as newspaper
artist, he worked on the Indian
spolis Sun, which later became The
Times.
He was on the Sun at the turn OF
the century, and from that paper
went to the indianapolis News.
Never Made a Speech
The pointed wit and aptness of
the inverted sayings of "Abe" spread
from coast to coast and soon be-
came widely syndicated feature.
Each year his "Abe Martin" book
was awaited by the worlds greatest
critics and his latest, ABE Martins
Broadcast" was acclaimed by the
leading English critics as master
pieces Of wit"
Mr.. Hubbard never made
speech. In spite of the unceasing
demands and the offers of large lee
ture fees, he refused to go upon the
platform.
Father Of Two Children
He would not even deliver little
informal talks at dinners and it was
a source of evaporation to his
friends that he would not accsde to
their requests.
In 1905 he married Miss Josephine
jackson of Indianapolis, and their
two children are Tom, who has been
working on the Bellefontaine paper,
and Virginia, who lives with her
parents.
A brother, Horace K. Hubbard,
and sister, Miss Ada Hubbard,
publishers and editors of the Belle
fontaine (O) Daily Examiner, are
on their way to Florida by auto
mobile.
Efforts were being made today to
get in touch with them. Funeral
arrangements will not be made until
the brother and sister have been
reached.
Boxing fans Of indianapolis long
have reserved warm spot for Mr..
Hubbard. because of his little char
coal sketches of the awkward tyros
and ''palookas," who frequently
feature the local bouts.
Managed Ludlow Campaign
Mr. Hubbard's caricatures of Hoo
sier statesmen" who attended the
legislature and his sprightly comment
were long remembered and every
member of the assembly was eager
to have Kin make a sketch of
him.
Mr.. Hubbard's interest in the
Democratic party was evidenced in
the last general election when he
successfully managed the campaign
for reelection of Representative
Louis Ludlow; and his proud boast
was that he did it without a speech
or public appearance.
Will Rogers and Mr.. Hubbard
were intimate friends and whenever
the formers tours brought him to
Indianapolis Mr.. Hubbard's office
at the News was Rogers first point
Of call.