Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-07
JONATHAN HUNTOON DEAD
he was One of Rock Island COunty's
Oldest Settlers.
His End was sudden and Entirety I'm.
expected - Sketch OF His
Busy Life in the
Community

home in Moline Tuesday evening, re-
moves one of The oldest settlers of Rock
Island county, and one of the earliest
white men to locate in this community.
MIR. Huntoon's death was very sudden
and entirely unexpected. 1t was caused
by rheumatism of the heart During the
day he was in unusually good spirits and
was about the town during the forenoon,
and in the afternoon drove to Riverside
cemetery on business connected with the
| board, Of which he was q member At
the supper table he laughed and ioked
with the family, apparently in perfect
health. In the evening he had q bust
ness caller, and after he had gone Mr..
| HuntOon made memorandum of the
business transacted. He then took up
his violin and played few pieces, after
which his daughter law read some ar
ticles from an evening paper at his re-
quest While she was reading, she heard
him gasp, but before she could reach him
he was dead His son, Frederick, was in
the room and caught him just as he died.
The death coming so suddenly makes the
blow especially heavy on the bereaved
FAMILY.
He was one of the oldest resident settlers
in the county. He was born at Hanover
Grafton county, New Hampshire. on
Nov. 49, 1915, and was the son of John
and Rebecca (CaleO Huntoon. He was
brought up on farm. and pu! sued that
calling until 1897, when he emigratci to
Illinois and settled at ADdover, Henry
county, where he joined his brother,
Nathaniel who was operating a flour mill
for the "Andover Colony" He was in
duced to engage in the business and thus
learned the miller's trade. This was the
first mill in northern Illinois, and people
came from a great distance, sou-e-
times hundred miles or more to
have their grists ground. In this
way MIR. Huntcon became acquainted
with people throughout the northern por-
|
Mississippi, and learned many important
facts regarding the country. While thus
engaged he made the acquaintance of
Messrs. Spencer and Sears, of Moline,
who induced him to come to that place
aud take charge of mill they were about
to start, situated on the ground now oc-
cupied by the Moline Plow company
building He consequently came to this
county in February, 1912, and set up
and operated the first grist mill in this
vicinity.
The mill was soon succeeded by one
erected by the same parties and which
contained four run Of stones. MIR. Hun
toon had charge of the new mill also and
was employed in the two about eight
years, and three years in the manufacture
of what was called the Grapevine Grain
Grader"
In 1858 he became associated with
Messrs. D. b Sears, Timothy Wood and
George Stephens in the manufacture of
lumber and furniture on the north side of
the island. They continued the business
until the Island Of Rock Island was ap-
propristed by the government as mili>
tary reservation. About 1877 he became
interested in the Moline & Rock Island
Street Railway company's line, now of the
Chicago syndicate's lines, and in
July, 1884, was elected president.
Mr.. Huntoon formed a matrimonial
alliance in Hanna township, Henry county
with Miss Mary Psddleford, daughter of
William Paddleford. She was born at
Enfield, New Hampshire, April 9, 1920.
The issue of their union was five children,
three of whom are living, namely: Mrs.
Hannah C. Irwin Los Gatos, Cal. Sarah E.
wife of R. W Hodgson, of Newton, Kas.;
and James F 3, who married Elizabeth Jam.
ieson and until recently resided in Henry
county, but now lives at the family resi>
dence in Moline.
Mr. Huntoon, as the above record indi>
Gates. was among the very first white set
the first frame house In Hanna township,
Henry county, near where Green River
Station now is. He built the third house
in Moline. The deceased was one of the
founders of the First Congregational
church, of Moline, and for time the
meetings were held at his residence pre-
vious to the erection of the original house
OF worship.
Mr.. Huntoon had been q republican
since the organization of the party and
cast his first republican vote for the path
finder John G. Fremont. While not an
aspirant for poll icsl honors, he has served
in the capacity of supervisor and assessor
49, .nze