Macoupin County
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Biography - W. R. HULSE

W. R. Hulse, one of the best known citizens of Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois, is extensively engaged in the real estate, abstract and insurance business, which he has followed successfully for many years. He is one of the most energetic and enterprising men of the city, and has done much to aid its development and progress. He was born in Palmyra, Macoupin County, December 2, 1860, and is a son of Capt. Abraham C. and Martha A. (Ross) Hulse, and grandson of W. K. and Hannah (Cox) Hulse, both of the last named being natives of Tennessee. His maternal great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

W. K. Hulse, the grandfather, was a mechanic and spent many years in constructing flat-boats which were piloted down the river laden with produce for city markets. He served in the Confederate Army, was taken prisoner and sent to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was confined in military prison. He and his wife were parents of the following children: Sarah; John W.; W. A., a physician and surgeon; Caroline; Capt. Abraham C; Polly A.; Thomas, a soldier in the Confederate Army, who was wounded at the battle of Bull Run and died from the effects of his injury; Elizabeth; Louisa; and Elvira.

Capt. Abraham C. Hulse was born in Eastern Tennessee, September 23, 1835, and there passed his boyhood days. In 1853, he came to Illinois and followed his trade as a blacksmith until the Civil War was in progress, when in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 122d Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., as a private. He was promoted to 2d lieutenant, and later for meritorious conduct on the field of battle was commissioned a captain. He was serving with that rank when the war closed in 1865, participating in the last engagement of the war at Fort Blakely, Alabama. He again returned to Carlinville where he opened his blacksmith shop and carried on business until 1882. In that year he was elected sheriff of Macoupin County on the Democratic ticket, and served efficiently for a period of four years. After the expiration of his term, he turned his attention to raising standard bred horses, and this he has followed successfully up to the present time. He is a man representative of the best type of citizenship, and has many friends throughout the county. He and his wife reared the following children: Rosella, Catherine, W. R. and R. S.

W. R. Hulse, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of this county and at Blackburn University from which he was graduated in the class of 1884. Prior to entering college, he taught school one term, and upon leaving served as deputy sheriff under his father during 1885 and 1886. He read law in the office of Hon. C. A. Walker and was admitted to the bar in 1887. One year later he formed a partnership with B. M. Burke in the real estate, abstract and insurance business, which continued until 1890, when our subject purchased his partner's interest in the business. He has since carried on this business by himself, and has attained a high degree of success, particularly in the real estate branch of the business. He has won the title of "Hulse the Hustler," and well may the term be applied, for no man in Macoupin County puts more energy in his work than he. He is well known for his business integrity and the straightforward methods which characterize his every transaction. He represents seven fire insurance companies.

On January 26, 1888, Mr. Hulse was joined in marriage with Mattie L. Mayfield, a daughter of Alfred S. Mayfield, formerly clerk of the Circuit Court for eight years. Mrs. Hulse graduated from the Illinois Female College at Jacksonville, now known as the Illinois Woman's College. She also received a degree from the University of Chicago, for a course in English that she completed. To Mr. and Mrs. Hulse were born two children: Sidney D., deceased; and William M. Religiously, the family are of the Methodist faith. Our subject is a Democrat, and during the last campaign was president of the Carlinville Democratic Club. He is a prominent member of Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 6, A. F. & A. M.


Extracted 2018 May 04 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 40-42.


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