The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-04

fered in August combined With the
neutral failing Of ola age, Colonel Hun
ten was in his eighty-second year
When Ire died three Of his children,
Fred R. Huntoon. Mrs Eva J. Griffin
and Mrs. Coler L. Sim, were with him.
During the past four years Colonel
TIuntoon mas been attended by relatives,
owing TO his advanced years. Mrs.
Ruth Huntoon Atkinson, his grand
daughter. was With him until three
months ago. when Mrs. Eva Griffin,
widowed daughter, made her home with
her father. She was with him during
his last illness.
The funeral viii be held from tho resi-
deuce at > O'Clock Friday Afternoon. the
Masonic order and tle Lincoln Pos
G. A. r. being in charge of the ser
vices The q. A R VIII hold the service
at the residence, and the MasOns viii
take charge Of The services a the grave
III the Topeka cemetery The venera bic
soliier and citizen Win be laid beside
lis wife in the family lot. Mrs. huntoon
Gied seven years ago.
Colonel Huntoon was a charter mem
Der and first master Of lodge II, the
first Masonic organization in Topeka,
which was established before the civil
war and has been a member of the
Masonic order about so years.
Joel Huntoon vas born at Unity.
sullivan county, New Hampshire. Oc-
tober il, 1923, and was a direct de-
scendant of the original Philip Hun
toon who came to America in the
1600's.
He received an ordinary education.
and in May, 1S45, married Ellen 5.
Richardson. Of Alstead, n. H. In the
summer of 1856 he came TO Kansas,
stopping first at Leavenworth. In
October OF the same year he came to
Topeka, and the following month pre-
4 Ts-.- ~-r,11 No NV
q resident portion Of the city, extend
ing from Huntoon street south TO
Fourteenth street and from Jackson
street one-half mile west. Tt is due to
his stubborn regard for the compass
that the city south of Huntoon street
is square with the world instead of
the Kansas river. He refused to open
his property and divide it into city lots
on the old survey, and is therefore re-
sponsible for the wedge" between
Huntoon and Twelfth streets. He was
a civil engineer by profession, and he
could not abide the insult to section
lines.
In the winter Of 1888 he under
took what was then a colossal feat OF
enEfneering-th bridging OF the kan
sas river. This broad, sandy stream
was a nuisance to both army and
civilian freighters. who were forced to
cross it on their long trips from Fort
T eaveuvvorth southwest. At that time
building material or other modern ap-
nIfances, and the task was a large
one Only one bridge material was to
be found-wOod. Joel Huntoon hauled
logs. with OK teams. from the woods
north and south of the stream, and
then began the work of construction.
Topeka was small and poor It had
no steam pile driver, but the man who
had undertaken the job made horse
power driver and began work. All
through the winter he and his few la
barers fought floating ice and BY
sprfng had built bridge. The spring
freshets threatened to destroy the
structure. but Huntoon. with volun-
fears from the village of Topeka,
fought driftwood away from the piers
and saved it-for the time. It was an
important event in Topeka when the
first government train crossed the
bridge and plodded slowly southwark
through the mud Of Kansas avenue A
wear later. in the summer Of 1883 the
bridge was swept away. a total wreck
~ the June food. Joel Huntoon was
r5tv engineer at that time. and with all
The workmen and volunteers ne could
muster fought the destructive drifts
nfeht and day for week, but to no