Frank R. Hufsmith, born January 7th, 1853 in Cincinnati, OH, was an amateur baseball for the 1875 Accidental Base Ball Club.Biography
Hufsmith was the son of Ohioans George and Anna Hufsmith. When Frank was young, the Hufsmiths moved to Missouri where he was raised. Frank became interested in mechanical engineering and soon began working as a machinist and fireman for various railroads around Arkansas.
In 1873, he took a job in Little Rock, AR with the Iron Mountain Railroad. While in the city, he played baseball. In 1875, he joined the Accidentals, a team that with Hufsmith's help won the Foul Flag Association championship. Hufsmith returned in 1876 to play with the Accidentals, though it would the team's final season.
Meanwhile, Hufsmith was promoted to superintendent of numerous Arkansas railroads. Several years later in 1889, he become master mechanic of the International and Great Southern Railway. He moved to Palestine, TX where he began involved in local activities, and in 1893, was elected mayor of the town. He served until 1897 when his railroad position was promoted superintendent.
Hufsmith lived in Palestine the rest of his life. In 1883, he had married Arkansas native Susie Wilbanks and together they had two children. The couples' son Clifford, like his father, played baseball and was captain of the Austin College team from 1907-1908.
In his later years, Hufsmith worked at the First National Bank of Palestine and served as vice president. A small community of Harris County, TX was named in his honor.
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