(Compiled from the book, "A House with a Heritage" by Michael Kelly, information located at the Dodge-Jefferson Genealogical Society and information from many of Melissa's descendants)
During the early 1830's, the Huntoon family joined the westward migration, settling in the state of Ohio. It is likely that the family lived for several years in the small town of Georgetown, Ohio in the Ohio River Valley. We do know that at some time during the mid 1830's, the Huntoon family moved north to Cleveland, Ohio's booming port city on Lake Erie.
In 1839, after a visit with one of his sons in Chicago, George W. Huntoon, (Melissa's father) decided it was time to resettle again. Five members of the Huntoon family set out for Grosse Pointe, Illinois in that autumn of 1839. Melissa was not among them. She and George decided to stay in Cleveland
Their first child, Lenora was born in October of 1845 and a son Leroy, was born around 1848. On December 15, 1856, George Shakespeare passed away. Their son Leroy also passed away during that time period.
Melissa decided to move and in 1860 she and her daughter Lenora settled in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. She met and married George Lowell Whitney on October 16, 1861 in Watertown, Jefferson, Wisconsin. George was born on January 27, 1804 in Ellington, Tolland, Connecticut and was the son of George Whitney and Mariam Hunt.
George Whitney died June 20, 1889 in Palmyra and is buried at the Hillside Cemetery in Palmyra. The following year, Melissa moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to live with her daughter, Lenora. While there she was diagnosed with Bright's Disease and after an illness of five months passed away on February 19, 1891 at the age of 73. The funeral services were conducted in Milwaukee by Rev. Ostrom of the Trinity Methodist Church. She was then accompanied by family and friends to Palmyra were she was buried by her husband's side.
1804-1889
Hillside Cemetery, Palmyra, Wisconsin
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