California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 HERBERT KIMBALL HULS. Perseverance and industry have raised Herbert Kimball Huls from a 
comparatively humble and obscure position in life to one of the foremost farmers and land 
owners along the Merced river. Since 1889 this popular dairyman, grain grower and general 
farmer has owned his present ranch of six hundred acres, one hundred and twenty acres of 
which is rich bottom land. On his place is a skimming station known as Huls station, and the 
many improvements which have followed in the wake of his ownership indicate the 
progressive spirit and thrift which have brought him success. Mr. Huls cuts four or five crops of 
alfalfa a year, and he has a dairy of forty cows, the rest of the property being devoted to grain 
and grazing. 

Born in Kane county, Ill., January 30, 1855, H. K. Huls was reared in Louisa county, Iowa, to which 
state he was taken by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Moore) Huls, when three years old. 
Henry Huls and his wife were born in New York and Vermont, respectively, and after their 
marriage started housekeeping in Illinois, which they reached overland with teams and wagons. 
They lived for some years in Iowa, where Mrs. Huls died in 1868. Subsequently Henry Huls 
removed to Benton county, Ind., where he died in 1904. Herbert K. was given the average 
advantages known to the boys of the middle west. His education was acquired mostly in the 
public schools of Columbus, Iowa, where he lived for a few years, and where also he learned 
the miller's trade, beginning to work at that vocation when thirteen years of age. Later he 
settled in Minnesota and followed his trade, and in 1877 came to California, residing in San 
Francisco for a year. He then selected Merced Roller Mills, located near Snelling. Merced county 
as a promising field of activity, and from 1878 until 1889 was manager of the (there is a misprint 
here, end of previous sentence missing, PH) Since then he has been living on and conducting 
his ranch, which today rewards his industry by a varied and luxurious output. 

Through his marriage with Jennie Montgomery Mr. Huls became identified with one of the 
prominent pioneer families of Merced county, the late Hon. John M. Montgomery, the father 
of Mrs. Huls, having been one of the foremost early settlers and upbuilders of this section. A 
sketch of his life appears on another page of this work. Mr. Huls is a stanch upholder of 
Republican principles, and although no aspirant for* political honors, has done much to 
stimulate good government in the county, and to secure the best possible educational 
advantages for the youth of his neighborhood. Fraternally he is connected with La Grange 
Lodge No. 99, F. & A. M., with Merced Chapter, R. A. M., and the Knights of Pythias. He is a 
wide-awake, substantial and popular rancher, enjoying to the full the confidence and esteem 
of his fellowmen.