Edwin Jerrod Huntington (1827 - 1916)

Born 3 Aug 1827 in Morristown, St. Lawrence, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Ann (Partch) Huntington — married 11 Aug 1849 in Canton, St Lawrence Co, New York, USA

Husband of Lucy Laura Lillywhite (Munn) Huntington — married 21 Jun 1869 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co, Michigan, USA

Descendants

Died 29 Jan 1916 at age 88 in Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

Descendant of Richard Warren Mayflower Passenger.

Descendant of Edward Fuller, Mayflower Passenger.

Pvt Edwin Huntington served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: October 3, 1861
Mustered out: March 8, 1866
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. C 4th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry; Co. I 23rd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps; Co. G 4th Regiment, United States Veteran Volunteers

Early Life

Edwin Jerrod Huntington was born 3 Aug 1827 in Morristown, St Lawrence County, New York. He was the son of Ralph Huntington and Judith Ruth Hoar. Many records and newspaper articles use only his initials for his given name, suggesting he went by EJ. ^{[1] [2]}

On 11 Aug 1848, a few days after he turned 21, EJ married Catherine Ann Partch in Canton, St Lawrence County, New York. ^[3]

In 1850, EJ (22) and Catherine (20) were living in Canton, St. Lawrence County, New York. Their first child, Nellie Elizabeth, was born in 1851 and their second child Adelbert Edwin, was born in 1854. ^[4]

Moving West to the Frontier

By 1856, when their son Franklin was born, EJ and Catherine had moved to the frontier county of Stearns, Minnesota, near the town of Clearwater. They were still living in that area in 1860. ^[5]

In October of 1861, EJ and Catherine purchased 140 acres of “Bounty Land” in Stearns County, Minnesota. The federal government was providing bounty land to those who had served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and Indian wars between 1775 and 1855. The land was first offered as an incentive to serve in the military, and later as a reward for service. Only a few soldiers actually received title to the bounty land or settled on it; most veterans sold or exchanged their warrants. ^[6]

EJ and Catherine paid Allen Denmark, a veteran who had served as a private during the Second Seminole War, to assign his warrant (#75873) for 140 acres over to EJ on 1 Oct 1861. The previous year, EJ’s sister Susan, and her husband Lyman Holman, had purchased a warrent for 160 acres adjacent to their land, so the two families lived near each other. ^[7]

Civil War

When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, thousands of men volunteered to fight on both sides. Most of them organized themselves into regiments by state, as the regular U.S. army was small and did not have the resources to expand rapidly on its own. On 3 Oct 1861, when he was 34, EJ enlisted as a private in the 4th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Company C) along with his sister’s husband, Lyman who enlisted with him in the same Company. They probably knew most of the men in their company as they were all from the same small area in Minnesota. ^[8]

Their regiment boarded the Mississippi River steamship “Hawkeye State” at Fort Snelling, on 21 Apr 1862 headed for the Benton Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri. ^[9] Leaving that place on May 2, they made their way downriver, and on May 15, joined the First Brigade, Third Division. Army of the Mississippi under the command of the Union general John Pope.

EJ was either sick or wounded and was reported in the hospital during the last quarter of 1862, ^[10] but was back with his company in 1863 where he was part of the pivotal Vicksburg Campaign. The 4th Minnesota began by marching to Milligans Bend, Louisiana on Apr 16, 1863 and prepared for the long, hot circuitous march to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Along the way EJ fought in these battles:

May 12 Battle of Raymond, May 14 Battle of Jackson, May 18 Battle of Champion Hills, May 22 Charge of Vicksburg

Having surrounded Vicksburg, the Union army held the town under seige until July 4, when General Pemberton surrendered his 30,000 Confederate soldiers to General Grant. Sadly, EJ's brother-in-law, Lyman, passed away from heatstroke during the seige. ^[11]

The conditions EJ and Lyman’s regiment endured in the battles around Vicksburg are described in this 4th Minnesota Infantry report by Lieutenant Colonel John E. Tourtellotte, dated 23 May 1863-

Sir: I have the honor to report, that on April 23d last, my regiment started from Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, on an expedition to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where we are now lying. To reach this place, we marched via Richmond, and Hard Times Landing, Louisiana (where we crossed the Mississippi). We marched to Raymond, Jackson, and Champion Hills and arrived in front of the enemy’s works outside Vicksburg on May 21. To accomplish this we have marched a distance of more than 200 miles. (The personal diaries of soldiers during this time, described the weather as terribly hot, up to 105°. To add to the misery, good water was not always available, and the roads were very dusty.)

Before we we crossed the Mississippi, all but one of our mule-teams were commandeered to transport ammunition. The men carried their knapsacks, blankets, rations and 60 rounds of ammunition. We carried only enough rations for the first few days and until May 17, all rations used by the regiment and all forage used by regimental horses and mules were taken by the regimental quartermaster in the country through which we passed. On May 17, our mule teams were restored to us, bringing five days part rations of hard bread, flour, sugar and coffee. May 23 we drew full rations for the first time since leaving Milliken's Bend. ^[12]

The 4th Minnesota’s brass band, followed by the 4th Minnesota was given the honor of leading the Union Army into Vicksburg after the surrender. This event was commemorated by Francis Davis Millet in a mural painting that is currently displayed in the Minnesota State Capital. ^[13]

Records indicate that EJ was again sick or injured, and was sent to a northern hospital 21 Aug 1863, ^[14] then transferred to the 23rd Veteran Reserve Corp on 4 May 1864. The Veteran Reserve Corp was for soldiers that were too injured or ill for regular duty, but were still able to do administrative tasks. EJ remained in the Veteran Reserve Corp until 2 Oct 1864, when he mustered out in St. Louis, Missouri having completed 3 years of service.

At that time he most likely took a few months to set his affairs in order, very probably settling his family somewhere near St. Louis.

He re-enlisted in the 4th Regiment, U. S. Veteran Volunteers (regular army) on 8 Mar 1865, and listed his residence as Illinoistown, on the east bank of the Mississippi, across from St. Louis. He mustered in at Camp Butler, Illinois, near Springfield. ^[15] When his one year enlistment was up on 8 Mar 1866, he left the army for good, only to have personal tragedy strike almost immediately.

Wife’s Death & Remarriage—Yours, Mine & Ours

EJ’s wife, Catherine, passed away on April 15, 1866, possibly from cholera, when she was only 35. EJ married as his second wife on 21 Jun 1869, Lucy Littlewhite Munn Wright in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lucy was a new widow at 32 and had six children, the oldest 13 and the youngest 6 months. EJ’s children were 18, 15 and 13. ^[16] In 1870, they were residing near Gun Plains, Michigan. ^[17]

EJ and Lucy would go on to have three children of their own, Laura Elmira in 1870, Lewis Emory Willard in 1875, and Albert C in 1878. Laura was born in Gun Plains, Michigan, but in December, 1872, when EJ was 45, he and Lucy along with EJ’s 3 children and 4 of Lucy’s children moved to North Platte, Lincoln County, Nebraska. (See obituary) North Platte had been established in 1866, when the Union Pacific Railroad reached that point. There were many advertisements for cheap or free land in that area—a good reason for locating there. EJ reported his occupation in 1880 as Undertaker and Cabinetmaker. ^[18]

Building a Town in Nebraska

EJ was one of the first cabinet and coffin makers as well as an undertaker in the frontier town, as this advertisement from April, 1873 indicates. —EJ Huntington & Son, Carpenters, Builders and Contractors, Are prepared to do first-class carpenter, jobbing, and building work, at 20 per cent less than usual prices. Undertaking and cabinet work a specialty. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. ^[19]

In the 1885 Nebraska State Census, EJ reported that his occupation was Undertaker. ^[20] He also served as the Lincoln County Coroner as these newspaper articles attest.

4 Apr 1885 —RICHARD BASCOMBE AND HIS WIFE CREMATED IN THEIR OWN HOME. Strong evidence of arson and murder. Coroner Huntington was immediately notified and in company with a number of citizens repaired to the scene of the horror... ^[21]

3 Oct 1885 —Republican Ticket: For Coroner, E. J. Huntington ^[22]

Retirement

In 1890, when he was 62, EJ applied for his veteran’s pension, and was living in North Platte with Lucy. Some of their younger children were still at home, as their youngest child, Albert did not turn 18 until 1896. ^[23]

A North Platte Tribune newspaper article dated 26 Jul 1893, placed the family at Brady Island, a few miles to the east of North Platte. —E. J. Huntington, now living at Brady Island, was notified yesterday to appear before the surrogate of Onondaga County, New York, at the probating of a will in which he is named as one of the legatees. It is said that the estate left is a very valuable one and that Mr. Huntington will get quite a slice. This most likely is referring to the will of EJ’s brother, Ozias, who died in April, 1893 in Onondaga County, New York. ^[24]

This 19 Nov 1897 article, in the North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune, announced the families imminent return to North Platte —E. J. Huntington, who has been living at Brady Island for several years, is having a house built in the south part of town and will remove to this city. ^[25]

At the turn of the 20th century, EJ and Lucy were back in North Platte, on Dewey Street, where there was not yet a system for numbering the houses. ^[26]

On 29 Sep 1909, EJ and Lucy were admitted to the “Soldiers and Sailors Home”, located 3 miles north of Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska. ^{[27] [28]}

Lucy passed away in January, 1915. The next year, after a long, eventful life, EJ Huntington died 29 Jan 1916, in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska when he was 88. He is buried in row 11 of the Solders and Sailors Cemetery in Grand Island, Nebraska, next to his wife Lucy. ^[29]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikitree Source Page The Huntington Family in America, A Supplement to The Genealogical Memoir Published in 1915 (Huntington Family Association, Connecticut, 1962) : Link to 1962 Supplement, Page 109
2. ↑ Wikitree Source Page The Huntington Family in America (Huntington Family Association, Connecticut, 1915) : Link to 1915 Edition, Page 237
3. ↑ Partch, Nelson Carlyle. (20 Feb 1965). Letter detailing Quinton Patch (Partch) Family History. St. Louis, Missouri.: Carla Hughes68, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., “Catherine Partch, born 1831, Bristol, Vermont, married George Huntington at Madrid, New York”. Page 7.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC1X-NFM : 12 April 2016), Edwin J Huntington, Canton, St. Lawrence, New York, United States; citing family 39, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LL-923 : 14 December 2017), Edwin Huntington, 1860.
6. ↑ "United States Military Bounty Land Warrants", FamilySearch : Wikipedia.
7. ↑ US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Reference Center, Search Documents, : Details.
8. ↑ Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society. :Image

   "Nebraska, Grand Army of the Republic, Burial Records, 1861-1948", database, FamilySearch : Image, Edwin J Huntington.

9. ↑ Brown, Alonzo Leighton 1838-1904. History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1882. Contributer: Cornell University. : Page 42
10. ↑ Brown, Alonzo Leighton 1838-1904. History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1882. Contributer: Cornell University. : Page 161
11. ↑ Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society. : See Image
12. ↑ Brown, Alonzo Leighton 1838-1904. History of the Fourth regiment of Minnesota infantry volunteers during the great rebellion, 1861-1865. Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1882. Contributer: Cornell University. : Page 219-221
13. ↑ Fourth Minnesota Regiment Entering Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, Located in the Governor's Reception Room, Minnesota State Capitol, Saint Paul. 76 1/2” height x 98” width, Francis Davis Millet, 1905 - 1915, See painting
14. ↑ Minnesota, U.S., Civil War Records, 1861-1865. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Minnesota Civil War Muster Rolls. St. Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society. : See Image
15. ↑ Illinois, U.S., Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Databases of Illinois Veterans. Illinois State Archive. : Record
16. ↑ "Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ7N-J4V : 15 January 2019), Edwin J. Huntington and Lucy L. Wright, 1869.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHH4-7MG : 12 June 2019), Edward Huntington, 1870.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (v : 16 August 2017), E J Huntington, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 174, sheet 427B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0752; FHL microfilm 1,254,752.
19. ↑ E. J. Huntington & Son, The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, Enterprise 1873-1874 (North Platte, Nebraska), Vol. 1, No.11, Saturday, 12 Apr 1873, Page 6, Column 3. : Page 6, Column 3
20. ↑ "Nebraska State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3F3-MWC : 11 March 2018), E J Huntington, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M352 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 499,563.
21. ↑ TERRIBLE CALAMITY, The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, Lincoln County Tribune 1885-1963 (North Platte, Nebraska), Vol. I, No.11, Saturday, 4 Apr 1885, Page 3, Column 4. : Page 3, Column 4
22. ↑ Republican Ticket,The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, Lincoln County Tribune 1885-1963 (North Platte, Nebraska), Vol. I No. 37, Saturday, 3 Oct 1885, Page 2, Column 1. : Page 2, Column 1
23. ↑ "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDBM-D1Q : 13 March 2018), Edwin J Huntington, 1890.
24. ↑ The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, North Platte Tribune 1890-1931 (North Platte, Nebraska), Vol. IX, No.29, Wednesday, 26 Jul 1893, Page 3. : Page 3, Column 2
25. ↑ The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, North Platte Semi-Weekly Tribune 1895-1922 (North Platte, Nebraska), Vol. XIII, No.97, Friday, 19 Nov 1897, Page 4. : Page 4, Column 1
26. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3BC-JNX : accessed 9 August 2019), Edward Huntington, North Platte Precinct North Platte city Ward 1-3, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 153, sheet 11B, family 213, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,932.
27. ↑ RG97, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) GRAND ISLAND VETERANS HOME (GIVH), (formerly NEBRASKA SOLDIER AND SAILORS HOME) 1887-2005, 215 cubic ft; 211 boxes & 36 volumes, [1] Page 150
28. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLH8-PH7 : accessed 10 August 2019), Edwin J Huntington, Washington, Hall, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 113, sheet 5B, family , NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 847; FHL microfilm 1,374,860.
29. ↑ “E. J. Huntington Dies" The Community History Archive of the North Platte Genealogical Society, North Platte Semi Weekly Tribune 1895-1922 (North Platte, Nebraska), No. 5, Tuesday, February 1, 1916, Page 5. : Page 5, Column 3

    "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVK6-LTJY : 13 December 2015), Edwin J Huntington, 1915; Burial, Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, United States of America, Soldiers And Sailors Cemetery; citing record ID 39956548, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.