HUNTOON FAMILY HOME PAGE

BIOGRAPHY/HISTORY

Maria Huntoon (Compiled from the book, "A House with a Heritage" by Michael Kelly, and information from many of Maria's descendants)

Maria Huntoon was the youngest child born to George Washington and Lucinda (Bowler) Huntoon. She was born on November 10, 1834 in Olmstead, Cuyahoga, Ohio

In 1839, after a visit with one of his sons in Chicago, George W. Huntoon, (Maria's father) decided it was time to resettle. Five members of the Huntoon family set out for Grosse Pointe, Illinois in that autumn of 1839. They included George W. and Lucinda Huntoon and their three youngest daughters, Emeline, Ann and Maria. Upon arrival in Chicago, George W. Huntoon arranged to move his family and goods by ox-team to their new cabin. After the Huntoons awoke that first morning in their new home, they removed the blanket from one of the windows and beheld a deer in front of the house, calmly chewing the bark from a maple tree.

Gardner Stearns husband of Maria

While living in Evanston, Maria met Gardner Stearns (born March 6, 1827 in Olmstead, Cuyahoga, Ohio) Maria mentioned Gardner in several of her letters to Alexander McDaniel while he was in California for the Gold Rush. In 1852, Maria traveled with Gardner back to Ohio where they were married on June 6th, in Olmstead. They settled in Olmstead where they had several children. Edward G. born April 17, 1853 (died April 8, 1856), Eva M. born September 1, 1855, Aurilla L. born January 18, 1858, Hattie E. born September 8, 1862 (died April 1, 1864), Philena born December 28, 1867, Irea born September 11, 1870 (died 1873) and Irene, twin of Irea, born September 11, 1870. During this time period, Gardner enlisted in the Civil War and spent three years in the service. While he was in the service, he was injured severely and lost an arm to his injuries. He mustered out on July 10, 1865. He returned to Olmstead and his family and became the Cuyahoga County Registrar of Births and Deaths. Gardner was the one who recorded the death of his wife, Maria, on October 10, 1870, just one month after the birth of their twin children, Irea and Irene. The cause of death is listed as a disease to the leg. Two years later Gardner remarried to Catherine Edwards. He died October 6, 1896. He is buried next to Maria at the Butternut Ridge Cemetery in Olmstead, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

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