Henry Husk, farmer, owning 157 acres located on sections 22, 23,26, and 27, Shabbona Township, and residing at Shabbona village, was born in Auburn, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 1835. He is a son of Daniel and Catharine (Quilhot) Husk, with whom he resided until 1848.
Mr. Husk received a good common-school education in his native State, and assisted his father until the year 1848. During that year he, with his brother William, emigrated to this State and June 9 located at Shabbona Grove. Some time afterward he purchased a farm located on section 16, Shabbona Township. He cultivated and improved this place for a time, then moved on a farm located on section 11, same township. He followed the occupation of a farmer on the latter place until 1876, during which time he succeeded in putting the farm in a good tillable condition. He then sold his farm and subsequently purchased the land he owns on section 22, 23, 26 and 27. On Feb. 28 of that year named, he moved to Shabbona village.
Politically, Mr. Husk is a Republican. He has held several important local offices, and is the present Deputy Sheriff, which office he also held in 1864. He was also Collector of taxes five years and Constable 12 year.
Mr. Husk was married in Shabbona Grove, Jan.1, 1855, to Miss Mary J., daughter of John and Catharine Palm. She was born in Southington, Trumbell Co., Ohio, Sept. 3, 1838, and is the mother of two children by Mr. H., namely: Elizabeth M, was born Oct. 14, 1858, and is the wife of Lloyd Bouslough, a resident of Shabbona Village; Mary B., born Nov. 8, 1860, is residing with her parents. Religiously, Mrs. Husk and her daughter Mary are members of the Congregational Church.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb County Illinois; Chapman Brothers, 1885, Chicago, IL
Excerpts from Henry Husk’s Obituary
“…He (Henry Husk) came to Illinois from his home in New York 79 years ago when he was 13 years old. His younger brother William was with him. The two brothers walked from Chicago to Shabbona in two and a half days and foot sore and weary the boys came to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Quilhot Miller and made their home there. Six years later we find Mr. Husk driving a stage coach from Shabbona Grove to Galesburg. He spent some time farming and for 39 years he was deputy sheriff of this county and considered one of its most efficient officers.”
“… When the Husks and the Palms settled near Shabbona they there a tribe of Indians headed by Chief Shabbona from whom the village was named. For years the celebrated chief was a familiar figure in the neighborhood of the the two homes.
A great portion of the history of DeKalb county has consisted of the personal history of Mr. Husk. He was a personal friend of Chief Shabbona and many have been the tales told about Chief Shabbona and his friendship for the whites. Mr. Husk was once the guest of chief Shabbona at the Indian village near the Husk home.”
