Edward Huber was born on 1 September 1837, in Dearborn County, Indiana. His parents are Phillip & Mary (Hurn) Huber. Edward Huber came to Marion and became a very industrious member of the community. He was well known as an honest and noble member of the community. He is best known for his invention of the revolving hay rake. He went on the become president of several businesses in Marion. He also invented several machines that became known and used worldwide. His inventions and business ventures are already documented and well beyond the scope of this article.
One of Edward Huber’s businesses was the Huber Manufacturing Company that had shops located between the railroad tracks between today’s Main and Prospect streets. Among these shops Edward Huber had his own firefighting equipment. In the mid to late 1800s, Marion did not have very much in the way of a fire department. Edward stood to lose a lot, if he was unable to check a fire quickly. It appears he not only had the equipment but had his own fire department within the Huber shops. His firefighters responded to fire within the community to prevent a conflagration from spreading to his shops.
Also, the history of the Ohio National Guard, states that Marion’s G Company had been preceded by the Huber Guard. The Huber Guard may have been a local militia organized at the Huber shops. In that time the local militias often were called upon to man the fire equipment and were the manpower to fight the fires.
Due to a positive experience with the use of the first fire engine, a call for a hook and ladder company and a fire company was proposed. The Marion Independent newspaper, dated October 19, 1865, stated that, “militia fight very well sometimes, but well drilled volunteers or regulars are much more reliable.”
When G Company left for the Spanish American War, the Marion Daily Star ran an article, “Are Still More. Captain H. N. Love Organizing a New Company,” dated 26 April 1898, in which Capt. Love was raising another company and “Capt. Love announces that the first drill of the new company will take place at Company G’s old armory on north State street next Thursday – evening.” This may be the old Houghton Sulky building.
Of the equipment at the Huber shops, was a hand hose cart. This cart was a cart pulled by manpower and it contained fire hose and other firefighting equipment. Records at the Huber Museum, in Marion, Ohio, describes how the hose cart was used to also protect the community. It is said to have been hitched to the “Marion Electric Street Car Line” and was towed to the nearest intersection to the fire. From there, men would pull the hose cart on to the location of the fire.
Later, 1883, it is reported that part of the Marion Fire Department included the Huber Fire Company: E. D. Barlow, Foreman; James Fairbanks, Assistant; twenty-five members. Also, a hand engine, purchased many years ago. By 1891, there was a fire department at the Marion Steam Shovel Company, also a business of Edward Huber. The departments at the Huber shops and the Marion Steam Shovel were “call departments” with 10 volunteers each. T. J. McFarland was employed as a machinist with the Huber Manufacturing Company from 1886 to 1903. He left Huber to become the first fulltime Fire Chief of the Marion Fire Department.
In a history researched by Phil Reid, Chief (Retired) of the Marion Fire Department, he recorded that a some point Edward Huber was a chief of the Marion Fire Department. It may be that Huber was appointed or was filling in as interim chief in between Chiefs T. C. Bowen and William Fies. And since he had fire equipment and management experience, he would have made a sensible choice. More research is going on to secure verified information and dates on Edward Huber and his possible role as Marion Fire Chief. Either way, Edward Huber played an important role in not only the manufacturing and economic growth of Marion, both in the fire protection of both his businesses and community.
Edward Huber died on 26 August 1904, in Marion, Ohio. A grateful and sad community showed up at Saint Mary Catholic Church to pay homage to his life. Edward Huber is buried in Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Ohio
Much more can be read about Edward Huber’s impact on the manufacturing in Marion and the rest of the United States. There is also a very good museum in Marion, located at the Marion County Fairgrounds. This is the Huber Machinery Museum. It has the history of both the Huber Manufacturing and the Marion Steam Shovel (Marion Power Shovel Company), as well as displays.
Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans 