Jones County in Iowa

Oxford Junction in Jones County

Henry J. Hults

Homicide

Henry J. Hults
62 YOA
Oxford Junction, IA
Jones County
Case # 6300430
March 22, 1963

Case summary by Nancy Bowers

At 6:30 a.m. Friday, March 22, 1963, 62-year-old Henry J. Hults was found critically injured in the back yard of his farm house near Oxford Junction, where he lived alone. There were several blackened patches on the grass around him.

When he died later that morning, Jones County Deputy Medical examiner Dr. C.R. Smith declared the cause of death was extensive burns.

The fatality was investigated by Jones County Sheriff Lewis Dreibelbis, Deputy Sheriff Ralph Albaugh, and Bob Gregson from the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The circumstances surrounding the case were never resolved.

The Victim’s Life

Henry J. Hults was born September 18, 1900, in Anamosa to Mary Dirks and German immigrant Fred Hults.

He had four siblings — William and Minnie Hults; Tena Hults Wroblewske; and Augusta Hults Bieber.

In his younger years, Henry Hults was a carpenter. Later, he and his wife Mary farmed in the Anamosa area.

In 1959, they began operating a custodial home in Onslow. They divorced soon afterwards, and Henry moved to the house where he died near Oxford Junction.

Henry Hults was survived by his three children June Hults Peterson, Betty Hults Hora, and William Hults, as well as seven grandchildren.

Courtesy photo papajeff, findagrave.com

Henry Hults is buried in Riverside Cemetery, where the famous Iowa artist Grant Wood is interred.

Funeral services for Henry Hults were held March 24, 1963 and he was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Anamosa.

Information Needed

Questions and information about the unsolved 1963 murder of Henry J. Hults should be directed to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office at 319-462-4371 or to Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.

Sources

• “Investigation of Death of Hults Still Underway,” Monticello Express, March 28, 1963.
• “Onslow,” Monticello Express, April 7, 1959.
• “Onslow, Monticello Express, October 1, 1959.
• “Oxford Junction Area Farm Moves Reported,” Cedar Rapids Gazette, March 11, 1960.