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.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 453-454
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall