My Genealogy Hound

G. GORDON HUNTLY was born in Howard Township, Cass County, where he now resides, on the 19th of April, 1850. His father, Ephraim Huntly, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., being the son of Raynor Huntly, and a descendant of Scotch-Irish-English ancestry. From the age of ten years he was reared in Erie County, N. Y., where he entered upon his life vocation of farming. In Erie County he married Miss Eliza Ross, and shortly afterward, accompanied by his wife, he came to Cass County, Mich., in 1834, entering from the Government the land where our subject now resides. He placed upon the land many valuable improvements and continued to make his home here until called hence by death, in 1883, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife passed away in 1856.

The following is noted by the biographer concerning the brothers and sisters of our subject: Harriet H. was born in Hamburgh, Erie County, N. Y., May 21, 1828, and married Seneca H. Abbott, of California; Benjamin F., who was born in Hamburgh September 7, 1829, died in Sacramento, Cal.; James J., also a native of Hamburgh and born June 25, 1831, died in Iowa in 1883; Joseph U., born in Hamburgh October 16, 1833, resides in Howard Township, Cass County; Mary A., who was born in Howard Township June 20, 1836, still resides here; Phebe L., who was born in this township December 8, 1837, is the wife of Henry Mellinger, of Arkansas; Ellen E., born in Howard Township April 12, 1840, is engaged as a milliner in South Dakota; Charles W., who was born here on the 30th of April, 1843, resides in South Dakota; Emma M., whose birth occurred on the old homestead June 10, 1847, is the wife of Marshall Richardson, of Nebraska.

The father of this family was one of the prominent men of Howard Township, with the history of which he was for many years closely identified. Politically, he was a Democrat and held many important official positions in the township and county. For many years he was Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, and held other positions of trust. He aided in the survey of the roads in the township and did other pioneer work. A life-long Mason, he was one of the charter members of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4. He maintained an unceasing interest in educational matters and was quite prominent in the school work in his district, aiding in the organization of District No. 1 in Howard Township.

The youngest child in the parental family is the subject of this sketch. In his childhood he attended the district schools and the select school taught by Miss Mary Brown, of Niles Township. September 23, 1879, he married Miss Annie, the eldest child of J. W. and Catharine M. (Willard) Reese. She was born in Howard Township on the 21st of May, 1850, and attended the schools of Niles, being a pupil in the school which Mr. Huntly attended. Since his marriage our subject has remained on the old family homestead, where he has one hundred and ten acres of fine land, as fertile as any in the county. He and his wife have become the parents of four children: Eugene R., who was born in 1880; Winifred W., born in 1883; M. Louisa, in 1885; and Clarence G., in 1887.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Huntly has filled various official positions. He was School Inspector, afterward Township Clerk for two years. Treasurer for two years, and Supervisor for seven years. He has also served as School Director. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being identified with Berrien County Lodge No. 6, at Niles; he also affiliates with Anchor Lodge No. 42, A. O. U. W., at Niles; Niles Tent No. 99, K. O. T. M.; Union Tent No. 1, at Niles. As a farmer and stock-raiser, he is energetic and enterprising, and displays in all his dealings the possession of sound common sense and strict probity.