Herman G. Huckstadt, ex-county clerk of Pottawatomie county and one of the leading business men of Westmoreland, has demonstrated what the descendant of sturdy German ancestry may accomplish when transplanted to new soil and given a good working education. He was born near Louisville, Pottawatomie county, Sept. 18, 1878, the son of Otto and Rosa Huckstadt. His father was born in the province of Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1851, and lived there until he was fourteen. in 1865, though still a young boy, he came to America, the land of promise to so many brave young Germans. He first settled in Iowa, but he had an uncle who had been in Kansas as early as 1849, and in 1868 they came to Pottawatomie county, where the uncle, also named Otto Huckstadt, introduced sheep, being the first man to raise them in the county. Young Otto helped his uncle and remained with him until 1877, when he married and decided to start in life for himself. He bought 240 acres of land in Shannon township and continued to reside there until his death, Aug. II, 1908. He was a public-spirited man, entered into the life of the county, held several township offices, and was county commissioner from 1894 to 1897. Five children were reared to maturity on the family homestead: Herman G.; Louis C., manager of the Westmoreland Telephone Company; Lottie, the wife of Robert A. Price, of Westmoreland; Bertha, wife of B. F. Ballinger, of Westmoreland; and Florence, who lives with her mother in Westmoreland. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and during his life Mr. Huckstadt was a supporter of the Republican party. Herman G. lived in the country, attended the district schools and then entered the Westmoreland High School. After graduating there he went to Campbell College, and took a four years' course, graduating with the class of 1901. He liked out door life and at the age of twenty-one he and his brother Louis bought a forty-acre farm. To his first holding they added from time to time until they now have a section of as good farm land as there is to be found in the county. While he has been connected with agricultural pursuits ever since leaving college, Mr. Huckstadt has not confined himself to one line, but has become interested in several commercial enterprises. He is a man with natural business ability and has made a success of everything he has undertaken. At the present time Mr. Huckstadt is the president of the Westmoreland Telephone Company and assistant cashier of the Farmers State Bank, one of the up-to-date banking houses of eastern Kansas. For many years he has been one of the controlling men of the Republican party and has helped shape local opinion, and in 1906 was elected county clerk, which office he held two terms. At the present time (1911) he is serving as mayor of Westmoreland, having been elected to that office in April, 1911. In 1909, Mr. Huckstadt married Vernealia, the daughter of C. E. Caleson, of Westmoreland. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, being a Loyal Arch Mason, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.