(Compiled from the book, "A House with a Heritage" by Michael Kelly and information from many of George's descendants)
While the Huntoons were living in Ohio, events were unfolding in the middle west that would influence the destiny of thousands of American families, including the Huntoons.
In August of 1833, 150 residents of a settlement on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan voted to incorporate as a town and called it Chicago. A month later, the Treaty of Chicago was signed, whereby the Potawatami Indians ceded to the U.S. government a vast territory of over five million acres, including the last Indiand lands in Illinois. The treaty also provided for the removal of the remaining Indian tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River.
By 1834, the new government lands were opened to settlement. Thousands of emigrants embarked that year from the port of Buffalo, sailing over the Great Lakes to Chicago. The land route for westward emigration to the Great Plains followed the Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence along the southern shore of Lake Erie via Cleveland to Detroit, thence across southern Michigan to Chicago.
Most of the pioneers, intent on claiming a piece of the fabled prairie, saw Chicago as merely a way station. They "laughed at those foolish enough to end their journey at such an uninviting place and termed it a one-horse mud town."
Constable Huntoon quickly gained a reputation as a diligent officer of the peace. The Chicago American of August 13, 1839 noted the re-election of George M. Huntoon, the Whig nominee for constable. He received 407 votes, running first in a field of twelve candidates.
That same year, on November 22, George M. married Maria Reed, daughter of Daniel Reed and Ruth Glover.(see below for more information)
A year later, the Chicago American reported that Constable Huntoon had apprehended two pickpockets:
"The rogues were pursued by George M. Huntoon, one of our viligant officers, and arrested, one at Peru and one at Hennepin. Huntoon is becoming quite a formidable character among rogues; and they may well fear him, for he is quick on the scent."
During this time, the first two children of George and Maria were born. Philena Marie Huntoon was born on July 20, 1842 and Emeline Huntoon was born in 1845. Emeline died on January 1, 1848 (due to inflamation of the lungs.) She is buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
The trustees original record book, now in possession of the Evanston Historical Society, bears the following inscription in the handwriting of George M. Huntoon:
"Records of the Trustees of Township Forty-One, Range Fourteen East, Commenced in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Six. George M. Huntoon, Treasurer."
The first meeting of the Township 41 Trustees was held on May 6, 1846. At the third meeting, held on May 20, 1846 at Mulford's Ridge Road House in Grosse Pointe, it was "ordered that we proceed to hire Miss Cornelia Wheadon to teach our school the present season at one dollar and twenty-five cents per week." Also it was "ordered that the schoolhouse be repaired as soon as possible and furnished with a water pail and dipper."
Miss Wheadon's license to teach was signed by George M. Huntoon, dated June 1, 1846. She was sixteen years of age at the time. Her class numbered twenty-nine pupils. While she taught at the Grosse Pointe schoolhouse, Miss Wheadon boarded with the family of "Father" Huntoon, as George Washington Huntoon was known in those days.
During this time period, George M. Huntoon began what were to be many years of success in businesses in the new village of Evanston. He ran a hay and feed store, a grocery, a cemet and brick yard, a real estate and insurance office.
Two more children were born to George M. and Maria. Rueben F. was born on May 7, 1846 and Celinda was born on August 9, 1848.
George M. Huntoon was appointed the first postmaster and seved two and one half years. In 1848, the post office was moved to the Buckeye Tavern (near present day Ridge Avenue and Noyes Street in Evanston), at which time David Burroughs was appointed postmaster.
The Evanston Historical Society has a desk with eighteen pigeon holes which was built by Postmaster Huntoon and used for many years by him and his successors. The postmaster would bring the mail once a week from Chicago. Each postal patron at Gross Point was allotted a box or pigeon hole, in which his mail was placed, awaiting his call.
The first town meeting and elections were held at Ridgeville in April 2, 1850. George M. Huntoon was nominated clek pro tem.
That same year another child was born to George and Maria. He was named Georgie after his father but he died in 1853 and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery.
In April of 1855 George was elected Ridgeville town supervisor and he served for a period of three years. At about the same time that Ridgeville Township was being organized, developments were taking place that would have a far-reaching effect on the small pioneer community.
In May of 1850, the founders of Northwestern University proposed to establish in the Chicago area "an institution devoted to the interests of Christian learning, and under the patronage and guidance of the Methodist Episcopal Church."
Several years later, the university trustees selected a site along the lakeshore in Ridgeville township. They purchased several parcels of land, established the university and staked out a small village plat of land surrounding the university grounds. The trustees then proceeded to sell lots in the village, the houses were built and families began settling there.
The plat was recorded in July 1854. At the same time, the university trustees gave to the new village the name of Evanston, in honor of John Evans, one of the university's founders.
In August of 1855, the name of the post office was changed to Evanston. The township remained as Ridgeville until February of 1857, when it was also changed to Evanston. George M. Huntoon, the Ridgeville township supervisor since 1855, became the first supervisor of the new Evanston township. He served in that capacity for about one year, until April of 1858. At that time he turned over the office to his successor.
Although settlement of the village of Evanston commenced during the 1850's, the village was not actually incorporated until 1863.
During this time, George and Maria had three more children, a girl and two boys. Martha C. was born June 18, 1856, Frank Lock was born May 23, 1860 and the youngest son, William B. was born August 29, 1862. (William B. later died in 1885 and is buried in Rosehill Cemetery.)
Consequently a drainage commission was created under an act passed by legislautre in 1855, through the sponsorship of Evanstonian Harvey B. Hurd. Among the citizens appointed to lead the commission was George M. Huntoon.
The commission was chartered for the purposes of draining the wetlands and had the power to "lay out, locate, construct, complete and alter ditches, embarkements, culverts, bridges, and roads, and maintain and keep the same."
Around 1870, George M. built a three story, mansard roofed structure on Davis Street, west of the railroad tracks. It was called the Huntoon Block. It housed Mr. Huntoon's offices, several small businesses, boarding hall, and later one of the first hotels in Evanston, the "Huntoon House." Mr. Huntoon's family resided in the hotel for several years during the 1870's.
In 1874, during a time of economic uncertainty, Geroge M. decided to build a new residenece for his elderly parents. He selected two lots from his father's subdivision and began construction of a surdy Victorian Cottage. The first mention of this new house is found in the Evanston Index on November 14, 1874:
"BURGLARS AGAIN--The new brick house being build by Mr. Huntoon near the South Evanston Methodist Church was entered Thursday night, and a large quantity of carpenters tools stolen."
Several weeks later, the house stood completed. The following report appeared in the Evanston Index a week before christmas, 1874:
"Who has not seen the new brick house just west of the South Evanston Church? It was built by G.M. Huntoon for his father G.W. Huntoon, and is a model of convenience and comfort. Evanston may boast of more pretentious and elegant homes, but none more complete and comfortable. Yesterday the old folks took possession; and last night were surprised by their many descendants, for they have sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters and great grandsons and great granddaughters by the score. The old gentleman is near eighty five and the old lady seventy nine. Age sits lightly upon the old man. There are few men of half his years more active and vigorous. Long may they live to enjoy their new home and the honor and respect of their many firiends."
Unfortunately, it was the last time that George W. and Lucinda Huntoon would be together to celebrate the Christmas holidays with their many children and grandchildren.
George M. Huntoon died on December 22, 1879. The Chicago Journal carried the following notice:
"EVANSTON-Death of one of the original settlers George M. Huntoon, Esq., one of the oldest residents of Chicago and Evanston and for many years a justice of the peace in this town died yesterday at the residence of his son-in-law Dr. F.M. Weller in Chicago, aged 65 years.
Mr. Huntoon became a resident of Chicago in 1836, and a few years subsequently moved to Evanston, then known as Ridgeville, and had resided there ever since. He was elected Justice of the Peace of Evanston for over a dozen years, and was formerly a merchant, a real estate owner, proprietor of a brick-yard, and built and for several years kept the Huntoon House. After many years of success in business, he like many others was carried down by the effects of the great panic in 1873, and about the same time his health failed, which for the past four years has been rapidly declining. He leaves six children, all grown, and three of them whom are married."
After George's death Maria lived with her daughter Philena Weller for a few years and then lived with her daughter Celinda Aikin for several more years. In 1905, while visiting with her son Rueben, in Iowa, Maria passed away.
Both George and Maria are buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
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