Calvin S. Huntley

HUNTLEY, PECK, FOBES, STOCKWELL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/14/2011 at 15:05:04

CALVIN S. HUNTLEY. Among the men who are actively advancing the agricultural interests of Iowa stands our subject, who occupies a leading position among the farmers of Beaver Township, Grundy County. He was born December 13, 1840, and is a son of Selden and Lovisa (Peck) Huntley, natives of Connecticut, where they were farmers by occupation. The great-grandfather of our subject, H. S. Huntley, was also a native of the Nutmeg State, and lived to be ninety-nine years old. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Griffith Peck, likewise a native of Connecticut, where he was a well-to-do farmer.

The father of our subject was reared to man’s estate in his native place, and when emigrating to Ohio, located on a farm of two hundred acres in Ashtabula County. He worked very hard in cultivating his land, and succeeded in securing a goodly amount of money, which he was so unfortunate as to lose, however, by going security for other people. He was a Whig in politics, and died when sixty-four years of age. Mrs. Lovisa Huntley received her education in the town of Old Lyme, and survived her husband many years, dying in 1868. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and reared a family of six children, of whom Calvin S., of this sketch, was the youngest. The remaining five bore the respective names of Phoebe, Parne, Mehitable, Zipporah and Ann.

Our subject received a good education in the schools near his home in Ashtabula County, and upon completing his studies taught school for twenty-two consecutive terms. On attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Miss Lemira Fobes, likewise a native of Ashtabula County, where she was given a good education. Her parents, Levi and Vashti (Stockwell) Fobes, were natives of Connecticut, and after their removal to the above county in Ohio spent the rest of their days on the farm.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Huntley, viz.: Fred L., Sheridan S., Libby A., Etta B., Frank J., Jay O. and Iva M. They have all been given the best possible advantages for an education, and Miss Libby, who is teaching school at the present time, holds a state certificate. Prior to coming to this state, Mr. Huntley owned a farm in Ohio, which he disposed of in 1859, and after his arrival here taught a term of school in New Hartford. In the fall of that year he returned to Ohio, where he was married. There he remained until 1865, when he went to Butler County and rented a farm, which he worked for two years. At the expiration of that time he made his advent into Beaver Township, this county, where he purchased eighty acres near his present home. After locating here he worked on his farm in the summer and taught school during the winter months until he could see his way clear to give his entire time and attention to his farm pursuits. This he was soon enabled to do, and he has added to his estate until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land.

In 1862 Mr. Huntley offered his services to the Union army, enlisting as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Regiment, and went to Cleveland, Ohio, but was never mustered into service, on account of physical disability. Mr. Huntley affiliates with the Republican party, and has filled the offices of Township Assessor, Township Clerk, and was Justice of the Peace for a number of years. He has also been a member of the Board of Supervisors, and is consulted upon many affairs of public importance. Religiously he is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he has been Steward and Trustee.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894