Libertyville’s World War I Veterans: Frank Huber

Proprietor of the Huber Food Shop at 547 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the “little store with the big service”, Frank Huber was a World War I veteran, successful grocer, and community business leader.

Born January 14, 1896 in Chicago, Frank Andrew Huber was living at 1509 S. Trumbull and working for Chicago Surface Lines as a cable tracer when he registered for the World War I draft. He enlisted in the army May 31, 1918 and was discharged February 6, 1919. Nothing more was found about his service. After the war, he moved back in with his parents in the 34th Ward of Chicago.

He moved to Libertyville in 1921 and sometime that year married Bertha “Bettye” Joccheim, daughter of Fred Joccheim, owner of the Libertyville Bakery. Whether he was already employed there and married the boss’s daughter or was employed later by his  father-in law is not known, but he continued to work at the bakery for several years.

After the bakery, Huber worked as manager of the local National Tea store for a number of years followed by a stint as an office furniture salesman. He went into business for himself in 1932 when he purchased the grocery store run by John Hanlon at  547 N. Milwaukee Avenue above the bakery [home to Chili U in 2019]. He sold Libertyville Bakery products from the new store in addition to a range of grocery products. The store originally did business under the Royal Blue label. The shop became the Huber Food Shop about 1940.

Along with the name change came innovations. In the early 1940s, the store stayed open on evenings, Sundays, and holidays, which was unusual for the time. A new product introduced at the store in 1941 was “Enriched” bread containing added vitamins and minerals. Libertyville residents Murrell “Bud” Boyd and Donald L.Boyd remember visiting the Royal Blue to pick up a dozen sweet rolls costing 2 cents each.

Huber lived at 140 W. Lake with his wife Bettye, and daughters Mary Anne, Bettye Mae, and Florence Marie. He was a charter member of the Libertyville Lions Club and was the club’s first “Tail Twister” –  the “pep master” of the club. He belonged to Libertyville Masonic Lodge No. 492 and was a founding member of the Libertyville Business Men’s Association.

In 1946, Frank, Bettye, and their three girls moved to Florida. In the July 1947 telephone directory the store at 547 N. Milwaukee Avenue was listed as Turner’s Food Shop.

During his years in Orlando, Frank held a variety of jobs including plant manager of Dixie Ready Mix Concrete and salesman for Super Concrete Inc., Thomas Ready Mix Concrete, and Knauer Konkrete.

Frank passed away March 22, 1985 in Orlando, FL.

Sources:

1. “Frank Huber Sells a Lot of Groceries in a Small Space.” Independent Register, May 8, 1941, p.1.
2. “Frank Andrew Huber.” U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on March 31, 2019.
3. “Frank Andrew Huber.” U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on March 31, 2019.
4. “Frank Huber (1896).” Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on June 5, 2019.
5. Frank Huber.1920 U.S. Census. 34th Ward, Chicago, Illinois. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on May 24, 2019.
6. Frank Huber. 1930 U.S. Census. Libertyville, Illinois. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on May 24, 2019.
7. “F.A. Huber Takes Over Hanlon Store.” Independent Register, May 12, 1932, p.16.
8. Frank Huber. 1940 U.S. Census. Libertyville, Illinois. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on May 24, 2019.
9. Libertyville telephone books, http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/search/collection/cookmemo11/searchterm/telephone%20directory/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc
10. Lake County Recorder of Deeds, Book 785, page 80. September 25, 1946.
11. Orlando City Directories 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959. Accessed via Ancestry.com Library Edition on June 13, 2019.
12. “Huber-Jones Marriage Solemnized in Florida.” Princeton Daily Clarion, July 14, 1949, p3.
13. “Miss Moody, Miss Huber Honored at Dinner Party.” Orlando Evening Star, May 3, 1951, p.18.
14. “St. James Morning Nuptials Unite Miss Huber, Mr. Hultin.” Orlando Sentinel, September 16, 1951, p.25.
15. “Sisters Fete Miss Huber.” Orlando Sentinel, December 5, 1954, p.69.
16. “Huber, Frank A.” Orlando Sentinel, March 24, 1985, p. 34.