Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Robert HUSTON, merchant, Braidwood; was born in New York City, Aug. 7, 1844, and is the son 
of Robert and Elizabeth (SHAW) HUSTON, of Ireland; his father was a weaver by trade, having 
immigrated to America about 1832. . Mr. HUSTON, when he was very young (1850), with his 
parents came West to Illinois, and settled in Grandy Co., here be was engaged on his father's 
farm at the breaking-out of the late war. In 1862, he enlisted as private in Co. I, 58th 
I. V. I., for three years or during the war. Participated in some of the hard fought battles;
at the battles of Fort Donelson, Tenn., and Pittsburgh Landing, April 6,1862; here he was 
taken prisoner and taken South as a prisoner; was paroled, returned to his regiment, and 
at the battle of Yellow Bayou, La., 1863, he received a severe gunshot wound which caused 
the loss of his leg; he was sent to the Hospital at St. Louis, and in 1864, was discharged, 
returned home to Grundy Co., and engaged in teaching school; in 1870, he entered the 
mercantile business in Braidwood, and has continued in this business ever since. Married 
in 1872 to Miss E. A. BLANCHARD, of Will Co., IL, whose parents were among the early 
settlers of Will Co.; they have two children. When Mr. HUSTON first came to Braidwood 
he was worth $54; he was engaged at the coal mines in weighing coal and speculating; he 
managed to save enough capital to start in the mercantile business; today he ranks as 
one of the successful merchants of Braidwood. Is a Republican in politics.