Learned carpentry as an apprentice in Brownsville. Married Mary A. Hyde on 13 July 1851 in Uniontown PA and had three children:
Louisa - 1852
Catharine - 1854 marr Jas. Miller
Richard - 1858
His first contract was to build a jail and sheriffs house in Uniontown in 1854-55. He moved to Johnson Co IA in 1856, going on a farm in Lone Tree. He was county supervisor for several years, and then worked as foreman for building the old state capitol in Iowa City in 1856-7. In ‘57-8 he built the court house in Newton. In 1866 he moved to Washington and built the high school and 1st U. P. church. In 1869 he went into the lumber business, which he only withdrew from in 1894.
He was made Master Mason in Newton in 1857, and a Royal Arch Mason at the Cyrus Chapter No 13, where he served as secretary from 1869 to 1895. He had been knighted by Bethlehem Commandery in 1883; and was a member of the state A.O.U.W. and the V.A.S. In public service he served as alderman in 1870, ‘72 and ‘80, and was mayor in 1875, then served in the General Assembly in 1884. He was referred to by the title Honorable in all the published records found.
He was on the invalid list for several years. He injured his eye one night doing draughtsman work. One eye finally went blind, after enduring 1,000 deaths and the doctor advised removal. But he dreaded the operation, the eye ulcerated, and the brain became affected.

Transcribed by Jack Eden from a multigeneration photocopy of an article which was kept in the Henry Devoe [New York and Lone Tree] family bible.
John P. Huskins Dead
John P. Huskins, a citizen of this community for about seven years, several years ago, died at his home in Washington, on Feb. 24. The following is taken from the Washington Evening Journal.
J. P. Huskins died at one o'clock this afternoon at the family residence on South Marion street. His many friends have been watching and caring for him for the past winter, but no human efforts have been of any avail in bettering his condition. It has been the constant inquiry daily on the streets as to his condition, and although death was expected at any moment, it is nevertheless a shock to the community. His disease was a very peculiar one, starting with an ulceration of the eye.
John Patterson Huskins was born Dec. 11. 1827, near Uniontown, Fyette county, Pennsylvania. He was married to Miss May Hyde, daughter of Edward Hyde, July 13, 1851, at Uniontown, Pa. He was one of those solid, self-made men. In 1846 he was apprenticed to the carpenter trade with Osmond Johnson, of Brownsville, Pa., and worked three years and six months for his board and clothing. His first contract, after learning the trade, was in 1855, when he built the jail and sheriff's house at Uniontown. He moved to Iowa in the spring of 1856 and settled on a farm in Johnson county, and was a member of the board of supervisors of that county for several years. He was foreman in the building of the old capitol building at Des Moines. His brothers-in-law, Hyde and Bryan, were the contractors. in 1856-7 he built the court house in Newton, Ia. On February 22nd, 1866, he moved his family to this city and formed the contracting firm of Huskins, Davis & Beard. Built the Hight School building in 1866, also the First U. P. church. In 1869, with J. M. Denny, he started in the lumber business and continued with various changes in the firm until four years ago, when he retired from active business.
He served in the 20th general assembly in 1884, and had the honor of being about the only Democrat holding that office in largely Republican counties. Was elected alderman several times and mayor in 1875. He was made a Master Mason at Newton in 1857, was a member of Chapter 13, Royal Arch Masons in this city, and acted as secretary from 1869 to the close of 1894. When he resigned, in honor of his 25 years' service, he was presented with an engraved copy of memorial resolutions, and was also presented with a beautiful Sir Knight charm. He was a demitted Odd Fellow, also a member of the state A. O. U. W.
The following are his brothers and sisters yet living: Mrs. Lizzie Malin and Mrs. Henry Bovee, of this city, Mrs. Margaret DeBoe, Frank Huskins and Richard Huskins of Lone Tree, Bryant Huskins, of California, James Huskins, of Arkansas, and Mrs. Mary Calvert, of La Mont, Oklahoma.
Besides his wife, three children are left to mourn his death. They are Mrs. James Miller and Miss Louisa Huskins, of this city, and Dick Huskins, of Sloan, Iowa.
The funeral services were held from the family residence at 1:30 o'clock Feb (25). Revs, W. G. Thorne, J. C. W. Coxe and J. R. Logue paid just tribute to the deceased, after which the Masons of which order he had been member for many years, took charge of the services. A large concourse of friends followed the remains to their last resting place in Elm Grove cemetery.