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His barber shop was bought from Billy Williamson and Son in 1907 when its name was the City Barber Shop. Palacios was a community of 60 houses at that time. In 1947 when the City Hotel opened a barber shop, Mr. Huddleston changed the name of his establishment to the Highway Barber Shop to avoid confusion between the two businesses. The 76-year-old Huddleston was born on a farm in Goliad County in 1880 and has known his share of hard work since he was able to begin doing chores around the farm and ranch. His father died when he was six months old and the whole family had to turn to and keep the farm in operation to remain together. Mr. Huddleston remembers that his mother got a job teaching school for $30 a month. “She was the hardest working woman I ever knew,” the barber remembers proudly. “She used to come in from teaching school and work cattle until night while riding side-saddle.” Around 1900 Mr. Huddleston’s brother came to Matagorda County to work on a steam boat hauling oil from the Bay City Pumping plant. Railroads were in poor condition at the best in those days, and the Palacios man recalls that everybody on board had a scare when the train carrying him and his mother to Matagorda County came uncoupled between Wharton and Bay City due to bad weather. Mr. Huddleston got his first job in Matagorda County working at a county pumping plant. During the pumping season he worked there for the fabulous sum of $1.75 per day. After this job he went to Markham where he tried his hand at carpentering. Markham was then a thriving wide-open little town. Mr. Huddleston helped erect the first two-story building in town, a saloon and gambling house. People came from all over Matagorda County to haul rice to the Markham mill. After their work was through, the rice men were anxious for a good time to celebrate the fruits of their harvest. Next in the life of this week’s feature personality was a steamboat job hauling rice from the Ashby warehouse up the Tres-Palacios River to Hurd’s Landing. Once the crew of the steamboat tied up during a rise in the river. Night was falling and the men heard of a dance that was being held at a residence. The crew crashed the party and danced all night then unloaded the cargo next morning before they bunked down. Mr. Huddleston had just turned 23 when he launched his long career in the tonsorial profession. He learned his trade with Alvie Denson at Markham. Asked if he had any trouble learning the profession, the barber laughed. “Sure, I got a lot of cussing for messing up men’s hair—but that came with the business.” One day a man came into the Markham Barber Shop and mentioned that Billy Williamson in Palacios was looking for a barber. Mr. Huddleston applied for and got the job. After working for Williamson for awhile, he purchased the business and put in his present shop in 1907. Mr. Huddleston was interviewed in his shop one Saturday afternoon while a crowd of customers sat around waiting to get their locks clipped. The reporter asked the proprietor why barber shops have the red and white striped poles in front of their places of business. He explained that in bygone days, barbers had to be surgeons as well as hair clippers. “The red was for blood and the white was for shaving lather,” he said. “Didn’t barbers have to bleed their customers in those days, Ron?” a man getting his shoes shined queried. “Still do sometimes,” Mr. Huddleston joked back. The barber shop owner helped dig the first grave in Palacios Cemetery in the early 1900’s. Interred was the wife of Phil Singer, who died only recently. Sitting in the Highway Barber Shop is the first barber cabinet Mr. Huddleston ever owned, and on the back wall is a large clock that’s a story in itself. In 1906 an ice company where the clock was originally kept went out of business. The timepiece was sold to a second-hand dealer, and Mr. Huddleston purchased it shortly after for $1.50. It turned out to be the best investment he ever made. Since that time the barber has spent only $6 in repairs. “People come in and set their watches by this clock,” Mr. Huddleston said fondly giving the venerable instrument its regular six-day winding. Mr. Huddleston was married in 1908. He and his wife, Lida Gay, have four children, Wayne in Kingsville, D. K. “Buttsy,” Palacios, Mrs. Elaine Ryon, Kingsville and Mrs. Jackie Holt, Palacios.
Palacios Beacon, February 21, 1957 |
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Ron Calvin Huddleston, 82, pioneer Palacios barber, was buried in the Palacios Cemetery, where he helped dig the first grave, after services at the First Presbyterian Church at 3 p. m. Tuesday, October 23, conducted by the Rev. Richard Stone and Rev. Daniel A. Baker. He was found Monday morning near the Shell Pile on South Bay where he had been fishing. A verdict of death by natural causes was ruled. A native of Goliad County, he was born June 10, 1880, a son of the late John Calvin and Mollie Daughtie Huddleston. He came to Matagorda County in 1900 to work at a county pumping plant. He then moved to Markham where he tried his hand at carpentering, then on a steam boat hauling rice from the Ashby warehouse up the Tres-Palacios to Hurd’s Landing. In 1903 he launched his long career in the tonsorial profession. He came to Palacios in 1907 and bought the City Barber Shop, the name of which he changed in 1947 to Highway Barber Shop. Here he worked and greeted his friends until his retirement a few years ago. He was married to Lyda Gay Williams in 1908 who with her four children survive. Wayne C. Huddleston and Mrs. Elaine Ryon of Kingsville; K. D. “Buttsy” Huddleston and Mrs. Jackie Holt of Palacios. He is also survived by one brother, Murray Huddleston of Kemah.
Palacios Beacon, October 25, 1962 |
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Funeral services for Lyda Gaye Huddleston were held Saturday, July 31, at 4 p. m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Palacios with the Rev. Leslie Webb officiating. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery. She passed away at 10 a. m. Friday, July 30, at Wagner General Hospital at the age of 86 years, 4 months and 23 days. Lyda Gaye was born in Big Hill, Texas on March 6, 1890, to the late William Conrad and Martha Alice Williams and moved to Palacios in 1905 at the age of 15 with her three brothers and three sisters, all of whom preceded her in death. She was married to Ron Calvin Huddleston on October 28, 1908 and to this union were born four children, Wayne Calvin Huddleston and Elaine Ryon of Kingsville, K. L. "Buttsey" Huddleston and Jacqueline Holt of Palacios. She was also survived by 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Palacios Beacon, August 5, 1976 |
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Wayne Calvin Huddleston, 80, of Kingsville, died Sunday, March 31, 1991 in a Kingsville hospital. He was born in Palacios on December 31, 1910 to the late Ron C. and Lyda G. Huddleston, and moved to Kingsville in 1929. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He formerly operated Huddleston Cadillac and Oldsmobile Company in Kingsville and operated Huddleston Enterprises. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Huddleston of Kingsville; two sons and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Cynthia Huddleston of Wharton and Richard Huddleston of Kingsville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy and Billy Payne of Kingsville, Linda and Hugh Hanes of Victoria; one sister, Jackie Holt of Palacios; seven grandsons; one granddaughter and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted on April 2 at the First United Methodist Church in Kingsville with Rev. Clinton Harris officiating. Burial followed in the Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville.
Palacios Beacon, April 10, 1991 |
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Funeral services for K. D. "Buttsey" Huddleston, 72, were held Sept. 21 at 10 a. m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Doug Blanton and Rev. Ray Boykin officiating. Interment followed at Palacios Cemetery. Huddleston was born July 14, 1913 in Palacios, the son of R. C. and Lyda G. Williams Huddleston. He died Sept. 18, 1985 at Hermann Hospital in Houston. He was a retired rice farmer and the former owner of H & H Chevrolet in Palacios. He was a veteran of World War II and a lifelong resident of Palacios. Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Billy Holt of Palacios and Mrs. E. F. Ryon of Kingsville; and one brother, Wayne Huddleston on Kingsville. He was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Harrison Huddleston, on July 6, 1977 Pallbearers were Jack Maddox, Joe Jenkins, E. T. Oglesby, Billy Jenkins, Carl Hansen, Tom Simpson, Jimmy Shearer and Sonny Brhlik. Honorary pallbearers were Ed Barrett, Jay Blomer, Fleming Goss, J. O. Thompson, Homer Aparicio and Jack Gillett. Palacios Beacon, September 26, 1985 Funeral services were held Friday, July 8, at 11 a. m. at the First Presbyterian Church for Laura Harrison Huddleston, who died July 6 in Wagner General Hospital. The services were conducted by the Rev. Leslie E. Webb. Interment was in Palacios Cemetery. She was born in Palacios May 2, 1924, the fourth daughter and youngest child of George Archie Harrison and Lena Dickert Harrison. She attended schools in Palacios but later attended Junior and Senior High Schools in Austin. She attended the University of Houston and was employed for awhile in her father's office. She was a member of the Episcopal Church, Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 125 of Palacios and a past president of the Harmonie Club. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Darwin Huddleston; her mother, Mrs. George A. Harrison; one brother, George L. Harrison, all of Palacios; three sisters, Mrs. Harley C. (Marion) Robinson of Alvin, Mrs. Horace F. (Naomi) Brown of Houston and Mrs. Abel B. (Ruth) Pierce, Jr. of Blessing and many nieces and nephews.
Palacios Beacon, July 14, 1977 |
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Funeral services for Elaine Huddleston Ryon, 73, were held Saturday at 2 p. m. at the First Christian Church in Kingsville with Rev. Tom Neal officiating. Interment followed at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville. Mrs. Ryon died March 7, 1990 in a Kingsville hospital. She was a member of First Christian Church and the Woman's club of Kingsville. She was a Life Member of the National PTA. Survivors include her husband, Dr. Edwin F. Ryon of Kingsville; four daughters, Rita Shafter and Jan Becker, both of Kingsville, Judy Sisson of Houston and Cyndi Shepard of Alice; one son, Ronald E. Ryon of Houston; one brother, Wayne Huddleston of Kingsville; one sister, Jackie Holt of Palacios; and 13 grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church or the American Cancer Society.
Palacios Beacon, March 14, 1990 |
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Funeral services for Jacqueline J. Holt, 86, of
Palacios, Tx., will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the
First Baptist Church in Palacios with Rev. Zach Nicholson
officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing.
The Palacios Beacon, April 7, 2010 |
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James Murray Huddleston, 94, formerly of Seabrook, Texas, passed away Sunday morning, December 31, in Hill Haven Convalescent Center, Texas City. He was born in Goliad County on March 19, 1878, and was a brother of the late Ron C. Huddleston. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Mabel Ferree of New Orleans and Mrs. Letha Day of Houston; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and six great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday, January 3, from the Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Alvin with the Rev. Travis Holland officiating. Graveside services and burial will be at 2 p. m. Wednesday in the Palacios Cemetery.
Palacios Beacon, January, 1973 |
R.
C. Huddleston operates the oldest business establishment in
Palacios.