Hucksters

This page updated February 18, 2008




The huckster wagon was a most welcome sight on a rural road. The huckster was sort of like a store on wheels; he was a man who was hired by the storekeeper, or sometimes the storekeeper himself. They operated a wagon filled with the majority of items carried in the store. Common items were the staples in pre-packaged amounts as well as some meat and other items. Each huckster operated on his own schedule, but many of them ran through an area twice a week; on his first trip through the area, he would have everything, but on the return trip, his wares were growing slim. The huckster would trade not only for cash, but for other items such as butter, cream or eggs as well; some accepted live poultry in exchange for goods. The huckster also supplied welcome gossip or community news many times. At times, the huckster was a life saver for the housewife if the man of the house could not get away from work to go to town. I think that many stores ran a huckster wagon, but not all of them considered this their sole occupation, so that is why there are so few of them listed below.




Owen County

Anthany NEWPORT

Stephan THRASHER

Wm. ABBOT

John W. COOPER

Reason G. ST CLAIR

Isaac MEEK (brother of Lorenzo & Cecil)

Lorenzo MEEK (brother of Isaac & Cecil)

Cecil Zain MEEK (brother of Lorenzo & Isaac)


Morgan County

James HARRIS

William L. COSTIN

Joseph STAFFORD

John L. FIELDS

John BROWN

J. W. SCRINSCHER

Roe H. MUSSEN

William H. BRIGHT

James HARRIS

Milton BAILY

Ambrose REITZEL

Joseph ALLISON

Wm. SIEHHAMMER

John CUMMINS

J. B. HUTTON

Noah H. BARTLETT

Silas BONOR


Putnam County

Howard MILLER

Thomas WATKINS

John C. GRUBB

William REITZEL

John H. OWENS

J. S. PICKETT







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