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Submitted: 9/15/23 • Approved: 9/15/23 • Last Updated: 9/18/23 • R831946-G0-S3
15 Sep 1824 Sherburne, Chenango, NY
29 Jan 1886 Carthage, Jasper, MO
Son of Ezra Huntley and Polly Gregory
Married 17 Mary Haslett Jun 1852 Will, Illinois
Private
Company K
2nd Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse)*
Civil War Union
His CW Pension that has Mary Haslett's name on it states: "Unit: Pion Mus; D. 97. N.Y. Inf.; B. 97. N.Y. Inf.; G. 18 V.R.C. Filing Place: New York"
*Please note this differs from the biographical sketch given below. The middle initial is either L or A on the Civil War Soldier Index.
The article below was printed in the Carthage Weekly Press newspaper.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
As Given by Rev. C. M. Stewart, at the Funeral Services of Mr. Ezra Huntley, Sunday January 31, 1886.
Mr. Ezra Huntley, the subject of this sketch, was born September 15, 1824 in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York. He departed this life in Carthage, Mo., January 29, 1886 aged 61 years, 4 months and 14 days. He lost his mother when but three years of age.
He began an active and somewhat eventful life when but eighteen years of age. He did so by leaving the inland home of his childhood with the sum of $1.75 with which to begin the battles of life.
Like many others, he turned his steps toward New York City, the active center of industry. But fortunately, unlike many others so young, he did not remain long within the perils of a great metropolis. By means of the canal boats, he worked his own passage to the city. These canal boats he then exchanged for a sailor's place upon a whaling vessel, and very soon was far out upon a voyage at sea. This whaling vessel cruised in the tropical regions of the Atlantic and gave to the crew frequent opportunities to visit many ports in South America and many of the islands of the sea. After sailing south of Cape Horn, he finally went ashore on the Sandwich Islands, [Hawaiian Islands].
The life of a sailor, and even the occasional excitements of whaling were too monotonous for his active and ambitious temperament. Hence he remained upon this island and engaged in the superintending of a sugar factory. He has always claimed that this summer voyage at sea saved him from the disease of consumption.
In 1846, after an absence of about three years, we find him enlisting from his native county of New York, as a Mexican soldier, in Company K of Col. Stephenson's regiment. It was known before they sailed from New York City that the destination was California. This made the movement most popular and many were the disappointed one who were not able to secure the coveted place of a private in this desirable expedition. Company K was assigned a place on the transport Leo Choo, which was one of the four vessels chartered by the government for the voyage. This regiment sailed from New York Sept 25th, 1846. The Leo Choo landed at Rio Janerio in South, America November 30th, passing over the seas familiar to Mr. Huntley on his former voyage. They passed Cape Horn March 19th. By the calm seas they were long delayed in the southern waters.
After a voyage of eight miles [sic/months] the Leo Choo landed at San Francisco March 26th, 1847. Company K was stationed at Presidio, not far from San Francisco, until August 15, 1848. Gold had been discovered a few months previous to this time. Mr. Huntley became a practical and successful miner. Here, at last, he found a suitable opportunity to employ his intense energy and test his ceaseless activities. He was, also, during his stay on the Pacific, captain of a schooner transporting provisions on the Sacramento River. He returned from California by way of the Isthmus of Darien and brought gold dust mined by his own industry, in a small chest and at the Philadelphia mint had it coined into money. He also had chains and other keepsakes made for near relatives out of this gold.
In 1851 he went to Chicago and during one season ran a canal boat from that place to La Salle. When winter set in he went about 45 miles south of Chicago, where Monlence(sic), [Kankakee county] now is and acquired about 1,300 acres of government land, some of it on his land warrant received during his services in Mexican War.
He was married at this place and resided there till he came to Carthage, continuing to own the home place.
He came to Carthage in 1869 and has, through all these eventful years, been a useful and faithful citizen. Soon after choosing this climate and selecting this city as the future home for himself and family, he erected the large brick residence in which he lived and from which only death removed him. It was, when build, the most costly, extensive and beautiful home in Southwest Missouri, and even yet after so many years it compares favorably with its modern successors.
Concerning his financial affairs and his religious opinions he was naturally and equally reticent.
Three years ago Mr. Huntley was stricken with paralysis, the same disease with which his father suddenly died. On Friday,[29th] the day of his departure, in addition to his increasing feebleness, he was seized with a congestive chill which hastened the dissolution toward which he had been for a long time slowly but surely approaching. He leaves in bereavement a widow and three children, his oldest daughter, Mrs. L. E. Steinmetz, having died about three months ago, leaving two children.
As one who more than once sought a new country he has gone to that country "from which no traveler returns." As a sailor, he has at last entered the final port. As a soldier, he has just fought his last battle. As a miner after wealth, he has gone over the "Isthmus" of death bearing his "gold coins" of character into the presence of God, the Judge and Father of us all.
CARTHAGE WEEKLY BANNER
Week of FEBRUARY 4, 1886
Death of Ezra Huntley
From Saturday's Daily
Mr. Ezra Huntley one of the old and substantial citizens of Carthage and Jasper county died this morning at six o'clock. He had been in feeble health for a long time, the result of paralysis and has been gradually sinking for the past few days. Mr. Huntley closed his early career after an eventful life of sixty-one years and four months. He was, while a young man, for some years a sailor and afterwards was a soldier in the Mexican War. In 1869 he removed with his family from Illinois to Carthage and has been a respected citizen ever since. He leaves a wife and three children, Mrs. L. E. Steinmetz one of his daughters only preceded him into the unknown world a few weeks since.
The time of the funeral will not be determined until word can be had from a son, who is now in Oregon, and to whom a telegram has been sent.
-The funeral services of Mr. Ezra Huntley were held at the family residence in the south part of the city, yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock. There was a large attendance of friends and relatives. The impressive ceremonies were conducted by Rev. O. M. Stewart. The pall-bearers were all old soldiers of the Mexican War, and consisted of Messrs. G. A. Cassil, Col. John Dent, Reub. Roessler, Enos Myers, Wm. Berry and B. H. A. Jones. The remains were laid to rest in Park Cemetery.
Contributed on 9/15/23
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Record #: 831946