Rev. Dr. Frank C. Huston was a native of Indiana and become widely known throughout the nation as an Evangelist and a minister of the Church of Christ and later the Disciples of Christ. He also established and built up a large business as a music publisher.

He was born September 12, 1871, at Orange, Fayette County, Indiana, son of Thomas M and Mary E. (Harris) Huston. Brother Huston's father from who he claimed his membership in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, enlisted in Company L, 3rd Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (45th Indiana Volunteer Infantry)

Doctor Huston was the younger of two children, his sister Eva being born in 1870. He attended the district and high schools of Fayette County, and later was a student of the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. For one year he taught common schools, and then became an evangelistic singer, a vocation he followed for 19 years in many states. He was also a regularly ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and for a number of years has served as local minister in towns and districts around Indianapolis. He was a pastor of the Oaklandon, Indiana congregation near Indianapolis. He was commander of Ben Harrison Camp 356, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana in 1919 and Indiana Division Commander in 1925-1926.

On May 13, 1894, he married Miss Bertha E. Martin. They had seven children: Annie Jane (Mrs. H.B. Henderson), Ruth LoReign, Mary Rebecca, Nelle Katheryn, Thomas Weldon, Frank Albert and Elizabeth Jean.

In 1899, the late Charles Reign Scoville, on of the county's top evangelist, engaged Dr. Huston as his singer. He served in 180 evangelistic campaigns from Nova Scotia to Florida. Dr. Huston was ordained a Disciples of Christ minister in 1915 in Indianapolis. He lived at 4001 Graceland Avenue from 1909 to 1941 when he moved to Jacksonville, Duval, Flordia.

 While still in the ministry, he founded the FRANK C. HUSTION Publishing house. This business published and circulated some of the most popular patriotic songs during World War I. He was himself the author of the words and music of many of these stirring compositions. Among these are: "My Indiana Home", Sing Again those old-time Melodies", "For the Honor of Old Purdue" and a popular World War I song "When Our Boys Come Marching Home Again" and scores of others written even before a state of war was declared against Germany.

He also was the composer of numerous Hymns, including: "It pays to Serve Jesus", "The Christ of the Cross", "Keep on Believing", "Wonderful Savior" and "Wonderful Land of Tomorrow." He was the publisher of a collection of 100 hymns and gospel songs including 84, which he wrote. In 1898 he published his first successful song, "We Shall Gather Round the Throne."

During World War I, Rev. Huston offered his services to his country and he was recommended and appointed by Governor Goodrich of Indiana as chaplain of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Field Artillery, Rainbow Division but through some mistake somehow he was never called upon to join the regiment before the signing of the Armistice. His services, however, were in great demand in his home state and city, and he became widely known as the "Singing Chaplain." During World War II, Dr. Huston volunteered his services to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was made a boatswain's mate when he was 74 and given duty as a recruiter. He was discharged as an ensign.

Dr. Frank C. Huston, Real Son, Composer, Evangelist and Singer, died 14 November 1959, at Jacksonville, Duval, Florida. He was 88 years old. He is buried at Glencove Cemetery, Knightstown, Wayne Township, Henry, Indiana, Section 12.

At the time of his death, survivors included two sons, Frank Huston of Lewisville, Henry County, Indiana and Weldon Huston of North Springfield, Virginia. And five daughters Mrs. Alfred Perkins, Alegan, Michigan , Mrs. Theodore Allebrandt, Indianapolis, Indiana Mrs. W.R. Rothhaas, Indianapolis, Indiana Mrs. Rodney Gray, Eau Galle, Flordia. And Mrs. Leroy Miller, Muncie, Delaware, Indiana

References:
Glencove Cemetery-Index Book, Wayne Township, town of Knightstown, Page 92
History of Fayette County Indiana, Frederick I Barrows, 1917 B.F. Bowen and Company, Page 932
Indiana and Indianans, Volume 3, Page 1551- 1552, Dunn, 1919
Indianapolis Star April 14 1940, Part 1, Page 13, Column 5
Indianapolis Star July 02 1948, Page 11, Column 1
Indianapolis Star May 21 1955, Page 10, Column 4
Indianapolis Star October 16 1959, Page 12, Column 5

Submitted 4 July 2000 by:
Stephen Bruce Bauer, Signals Officer
Department of Indiana
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
2412 North Saturn Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46229-1152
suvcwsb2@worldnet.att.net