Civil War Records of John C. Huggins

Service

Pension

Grand Army of the Republic

x

Death

Additional Information

Born in Cornish, N.H. Son of Eri Huggins and Semantha Huggins (source: marriage certificate in pension file); brother of A. Judson Huggins and Eri Huggins, Jr. 

John Huggins, age 10 (b. N.H.) is recorded as inhabitant of Acton in the 1850 federal census, in household with Eri Huggins, age 42, a farmer (b. N.H.); Samantha Huggins, age 42 (b. N.H.); Anna Huggins, age 12 (b. N.H.); Susan C. Huggins, age 18 (b. N.H.); Elmina R. Huggins, age 6 (b. N.H.); and Adoniram Huggins, age 4 (b. Mass.) and Eri Huggins, age 2 (b. Mass.) ("1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).

John Huggins, age 20 (b. N.H.) is recorded as inhabitant of West Acton in the 1860 federal census, in household with Eri Huggins, age 50, a farmer, born in N.H.; Nancy Huggins, age 46 (b. Mass.); Anna Huggins, age 22 (b. N.H.); Susan Huggins, age 18 (b. N.H.); Almina R. Huggins, age 16 (b. N.H.); A. Judson Huggins, age 14 (b. Mass.) ; and Eri Huggins, age 12 (b. Mass.) ("1860 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).

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From: Child, History of the Town of Cornish,1:320-321, http://www.archive.org/details/historyoftownofc01chil:

John C. Huggins was the oldest son of Eri Huggins. He was born in Cornish, March 3, 1840. He early sought to try his fortune in life by himself, so at fourteen years of age he left the parental roof and went to West Acton, Mass., where relatives were residing and afterwards to Petersburg, Ill., where an uncle of his had resided since 1849. Here he completed his education and went to Racine, Wis., and engaged in teaching. This he followed until the opening of the Civil War when, at twenty-one years of age, he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Regiment, which formed a part of the famous "Iron Brigade," which rendered such distinguished services during the war. Here he was promoted, first as private commissary and afterwards as colonel on General Fairchild's staff. While here he was joined by his youngest brother, Eri, his "pet," then but fourteen years of age. They passed through the war together and both came out unharmed, although they passed through many hard-fought and bloody battles.

After the war was over, he engaged in mercantile business in St. Louis and Chicago for a few years.

After this he returned to Racine, where he united with the "Fish Brothers" in establishing a large carriage manufactory, in which business he continued several years. Here he was an active citizen, holding many offices of trust and honor. But for a time he was induced to change his business for a more lucrative one. He engaged with other capitalists in the lumber business on the Pacific Coast with headquarters at San Francisco and Fort Bragg, Cal., with his family residing at Oakland, Cal. In this enterprise, too, he was successful.

After he left Racine, Wis., it appears that the carriage manufactory there suffered a financial depression, and he was induced to return for a time (leaving his family still in Oakland) that he might rehabilitate the manufactory and put it again in a prosperous condition. He had nearly accomplished his purpose, when he was attacked by la grippe, and after a relapse, superinduced by overwork and exposure, he returned to his family in Oakland, shattered in body and mind, and died December 19, 1892.

Mr. Huggins' life was a busy and active one. Possessed of superior ability and character, he was the most genial of associates and truest of friends. He inherited from a long line of uncorrupted ancestry all those virtues, inborn courage, unfailing hope, and manly aspirations that have individualized the genuine New Englander in every part of the world.

In 1870 he married Eva J. Bowers.

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See also:

Hosmer, The Town of Acton in the Civil War: 11, 95-96, 121.

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