Reuben S. Huntington. One of the prettiest homes in
Edgewood is owned and occupied by the subject of this
sketch, who is a prominent business man of the place.
A native of New York, he was born in Tompkins county,
March 5, 1839, and is one of two sons. In fact, so
far back as the genealogical record can be traced,
there have been two sons in each generation. The
paternal grandfather, John S. Huntington, was born in
England, whence accompanied by his brother he
emigrated to America and made settlement in New
England. His brother, Lewis, went further west and
all trace of him was lost, although it is believed
that C.P. Huntington, the millionaire railroad man,
is one of his descendants.
The parents of our subject, Samuel and Polly (Higley)
Huntington, were natives of Vermont, the former of
whom died when R.S. was only one and one-half years
old. He had one brother, John, who throughout the
latter part of his life was engaged in milling on the
Hudson River. There he died in January, 1885, at the
age of ninety years. He had two sons, Walter and
Lewis, of whom the latter came west, but the former
continued to reside in the place of his birth.
During the War of 1812, John S. Huntington was
drafted into the army, but our subject's father went
as a substitute, serving through the entire period of
the conflict. Subsequently a pension was applied for,
but there was considerable difficulty in proving that
Samuel was entitled to the pension of John S.
Huntington. However, when the facts of the case
became fully known, the pension was granted, and our
subject and his brother laid the warrants on land in
Kossuth County, Iowa.
After the death of Samuel Huntington his widow kept a
boarding house in Ithaca, N.Y., from which and from
the rental of her sixty-acre farm she was enabled to
provide for her two children, R.S. and Darious. When
the former was eighteen years old, she married
Charles Hoose and removed to Ohio, where he remaining
years were spent. The other member of the family,
Darious, was long engaged as an agriculturist, but is
now retired from active business cares and makes his
home in Strawberry Point. After spending seven years
in Huron County, Ohio, our subject in 1862 came to
Iowa, and settled on a farm four miles west of
Edgewood. He continued farming until 1892, when he
engaged in the hardware and lumber business in
partnership with his brother-in-law C.S Maxon. In the
spring of 1894 the connection was dissolved, he
taking the lumber business, and to this he has since
given his attention.
October 5, 1874, Mr. Huntington married Miss Barbara,
sister of C.S. Maxon, of whom mention is elsewhere
made. Her father, Ephraim, and grandfather, Chester,
were natives of Virginia, and the latter was a
soldier in the War of 1812. The family originated in
Germany. In 1834 her father removed to Indiana, and
thence sixteen years later came to Iowa, where he
established his permanent home. Mr. and Mrs.
Huntington are the parents of two children, Ora Ray
and Daisy Mabel, who are receiving the best
educational advantages afforded by the schools of
Edgewood.
In social affairs Mr. Huntington affiliates with the
Knights of Pythias. He is a man who, both by precept
and example, advocates habits of strictest
temperance. In his dealings with others he is guided
by lofty principles of honor, and his integrity has
won for him the confidence of the people. With his
wife he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. While he is not a partisan in his political
opinions, believing that every man should be granted
that freedom of opinion and ballot which he himself
exercises, he nevertheless firmly champions the
principles of the Republican party. He and his family
are prominent in the social circles of Edgewood, and
their attractive home is the frequent scene of
friendly gatherings of the people of the community.
They are a cultured household and are deservedly held
in high esteem by all who know them.