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
