John Huggins

    John Huggins was born in Whetzel County, Virginia, September 16, 1833, a son of Abijah and Sarah (Twibell) Huggins. The father was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1800, of English descent. He was reared in his native county to a farm life. From Pennsylvania he went to Virginia, and was married in Whetzel County, to Miss Elizabeth Twibell, a native of Virginia, and an aunt of William Twibell of Montpelier.

    In December, 1854, the family removed to Cincinnati by steamboat, transporting their household goods in the same way, and from Cincinnati they came by team to Blackford County, Indiana, where the father rented what is known as the Waugh farm. The following spring he bought 160 acres of heavily timbered land on section 7, Harrison Township, and after clearing a space on his land he built a hewed-log cabin with the assistance of his three sons, into which the family removed as soon as it was completed. He then began to clear and improve his land, on which he worked until about eight years prior to his death, at which time he met with an accident, he never afterward recovered his strength. He died January 14, 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

    In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he became identified with the Republican party, and was after that a staunch advocate of its principles. He was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was for many years a class-leader, serving as such even when living in Virginia. His widow yet survives, and is still living on the old homestead in Harrison Township.

    John Huggins, whose name heads this sketch, was twenty-one years of age when he came with his father's family to Blackford County, and here he has since made his home, experiencing many of the privations and hardships which usually fall to the lot of the early settler. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which occurred December 15, 1859, to Miss Eleanor Elizabeth Rhive. She is a native of Jay county, Indiana, born a half mile from Fort Recovery. Her father came to Blackford County in an early day and bought the old water-mill at Matamoras, which he operated until his death.

    Mr. and Mrs. Huggins have three children living -John William George W. and Charles Alonzo. Their daughter Annie is deceased. After his marriage he removed to his present farm, and still occupies the house in which he first settled. When he first came to this place it was right in the woods, and he was obliged to clear away some of the trees before his house could be put up, and the roads of today surrounding his farm, were at that time mere paths through the woods. He has seen the country change from a  wilderness into its present prosperous condition, and has witnessed all the material changes which have taken place in the county during his residence here. He has cleared part of his farm, which he has brought under fine cultivation, and has made many improvements on the place.

    In politics Mr. Huggins is a staunch Republican, but is not an office seeker. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to Salamonie Grange, No. 521, and is overseer of the Grange.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.