Alfred Hurst
Alfred Hurst | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | March 25, 1915 (aged 68) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1871–1900 (business and political career) |
| Known for | Founder of A. Hurst & Company Lime Works; Iowa Senate (1892–1900) |
Alfred Hurst (November 19, 1846 – March 25, 1915) was an English-born American entrepreneur and Democratic public official. Representing the 23rd district, he served in the Iowa Senate from 1892 to 1900 and was the founder of a prominent lime manufacturing enterprise.
Early life
Hurst was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, and moved with his family to the United States in 1852, where they settled in Davenport, Iowa. Following his father’s passing in 1856, he joined the Union Army as a young soldier during the Civil War. He took part in significant engagements, including Shiloh and Fort Donelson. Captured at Fort Donelson, he later escaped amid the Second Battle of Memphis.
Career
After the war, Hurst initially worked in steamboat operations based in St. Louis before returning to Davenport to pursue stonemasonry. In 1871, he launched A. Hurst & Company Lime Works near Maquoketa, Iowa, constructing four lime kilns with a combined capacity of up to 8,000 barrels daily. His firm supplied lime across numerous states nationwide and became a leading entity within Iowa’s lime sector. Additionally, he developed the company town of Hurstville, which included housing for workers, commercial establishments, and employed approximately fifty individuals.
In 1886, Hurst secured election to the Jackson County board of supervisors, where he served for five years. He founded the Maquoketa, Hurstville and Dubuque Railway Company in 1888 to facilitate efficient transportation of goods between Maquoketa and Hurstville. Winning election to the Iowa Senate in 1891 and reelection in 1895, he completed two terms through 1900. His legislative committee assignments encompassed Appropriations, Commerce, Labor, Mines and Mining, Agriculture, Railways, and Ways and Means. He also played a key role in establishing Maquoketa’s fire department.
The lime operation experienced decline as portland cement became more widely used, leading to cessation of production by 1920 and final closure in 1930 after the death of his brother William.
Personal life
On December 12, 1873, Hurst married Sarah Lary from Virginia; together they had six children. His brother William K. Hurst was actively involved in supporting his business endeavors. Alfred Hurst became ill during a visit to Chicago in 1915 and passed away on March 25 at age 68. He was affiliated with the Freemason fraternity as well as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.