(Compiled from the book, "A House with a Heritage" by Michael Kelly and information from many of William's descendants)
During the early 1830's, the Huntoons 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. This belief is based on information from a descendant of the Huntoon family, that William B. Huntoon had attended school with Ulysses S. Grant. Grant, it turns out, was born in 1822, lived in Georgetown during his childhood and attended the subscription school there. (He left Georgetown at the age of seventeen to attend West Point, and many years later won renown as commander of the Union armies during the Civil War and as the eighteenth President of the United States)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 1842, along with the arrival of their first son, George Washington Huntoon, the first schoolhouse opened. James Baker, Mary Ann's brother, was the first teacher.
William B. ran a stagecoach or horse drawn wagon in Grosse Pointe for many years. Mary Ann Huntoon, reminiscing in 1890, seemed to confirm this when she stated that "for ten to twelve years after we came here(to Grosse Pointe) deer were very plentiful. I saw nine in one day. My husband (William B.), on trips to Little Fort, as Waukegan was then called, counted sevety-five deer on one trip."
In 1844, another son, Charles was born to William and May Ann. A few years later, a daughter, Cordelia was born on March 3, 1847.
On April 1, 1850, Ridgeville Township was organized with a population of 443. Several weeks later, the Grosse Pointe Post Office was renamed Ridgeville. The first town meeting and elections were held on April 2, 1850. From the minutes of that days activities were the results of the elections. Among those elected were William B., who would serve a one year term as the Overseer of Highways for his district.
William B. also kept an inn during this time period. (It may have been the Grosse Pointe Hotel which stood on the shore of Lake Michigan near present day Wilmette). Years later, William B. would recall how his inn was turned into a temporary morgue for the victims of the Lady Elgin Shipwreck of September, 1860. Over 300 lives were lost in that disaster which occured several miles off the Lake Michagan shore north of Winnetka.
Lady Elgin, an excursion steamer, collided with schooner Augusta on September 8, 1860, during a storm. This tragendy occured two days after this picture was made.
(Taken from "A Pictorial History of Northwestern University 1851-1951")
William B. was active for many years in the administration of the newly formed village of South Evanston. William B. served as Village Constable after the village was finally organized in 1873, and then he was appointed Street Commissioner of for many years thereafter. In June of 1874, the Evanston Index reported him as boing "quite busy grading strrets and putting in crossings in South Evanston."
For many years during the 1870's and early 1880's, his family resided at the northwest corner of present-day Main Street and Elmwood Avenue in Evanston.
During the mid 1880's, William B. served as Justice of the Peace of South Evanston. At about this time, he moved his residence about one-half mile west, to the vicinity of present-day Wesley Avenue and Lee Street in Evanston.
"In June 1841, a year after their marriage, the couple went west and settled on a modest farm in the wilds of the north shore where cultured Evanston now stands. With the exception of three years spent in Michigan, this has been their home ever since. They and their children have been active agents as well as witnesses of the remarkable growth if Chicago's largest and best suburb. No history of Evanston can be complete without frequent mention of Mr. and Mrs. Huntoon. The PRESS unites with their wide circle of friends in wishing them many more pleasant years in their journey of life."
A year later, the Evanston Press announced that William B. Huntoon and his wife would soon move to southern California. Five of their children also emigrated to California about the same time. They were Celenia, Albert, Charles, Frederick, and Willard. Only one son, George W. remained in the Chicago area. Their other daughter, Cordelia, passed away on June 25, 1889 in Petosky, Michigan.
"William B. Huntoon of Bloomington, California died Thursday, January 5 at the age of 78 years. Mr. Huntoon was formerly a resident of Evanston for years, having moved here from the east in 1840 where he remained until 1891, when he went to California for the benifit of his health. Mr. Huntoon leaves a widow and six children to mourn his loss, all of whom were at his bedside but one, George W., who resides here. Thus the old settlers are passing away one by one."
A little over a year later, Mary Ann also passed away on November 23, 1900. They are both buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Riverside, California.
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