Sierra
County
Biographies
HERBERT HAROLD HUNTLEY
One
of the most beloved men who ever lived in Loyalton
was the late Herbert Harold Huntley, whose death occurred September 15, 1930,
and whose funeral was the most largely attended of any ever held in this
community. He was a capable and
successful business man, an efficient and honest public official, a high-minded
and public-spirited citizen and a loyal and sincere friend and neighbor. Within him there abode the spirit of earnestness,
honesty and charity, so that in all of his relations with his fellowmen his
actions were in perfect harmony with the Golden Rule, and all who came in
contact with him felt the impress of his sterling character. Mr. Huntley was born in the Sierra Valley in
1879, a son of Alonzo B. and Julia (Ferris) Huntley, who were numbered among
the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. He received his education in the public
schools and in the course of time left the home farm and engaged in business on
his own account in Loyalton, to which place he moved
in 1904. He became the proprietor of the
grocery known as The Brick Store, in which he carried a large and well selected
stock of goods, and by reason of his courtesy and accommodation, the excellent
quality of his merchandise and his fair prices, he built up a large and
important trade, being regarded as one of the city’s leading business men.
Mr.
Huntley served for many years as a member of the board of trustees of the
Sierra Valley joint union high schools, and was also a member of the city
council of Loyalton, in both of which offices he did
all within his power to promote the public interests. He was a member of White Pine Lodge, No. 175,
I. O. O. F., and the Daughters of Rebekah, of both of
which organizations he was treasurer at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America. He had for many years been a
member of the church, of which he was a deacon, and his life testified to the
verity of the faith that was within him.
Mr.
Huntley was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Fagg,
and they became the parents of four children, as follows: Hubert Herbert, who is mentioned elsewhere in
this work; Ernest R., who is managing The Brick Store in Loyalton;
Dana, the wife of Elliott Williams, of Oroville, California; and Wilda, who remains at home with her mother in Loyalton.
Mr. Huntley’s health had been
failing for a number of months, and every possible effort was made to relieve
his condition, but to no avail and his death occurred in St. Mary’s Hospital in
Reno. The extraordinary attendance at
his funeral, the many beautiful floral pieces and the innumerable expressions
of sorrow bore evidence of the strong hold which he had on the hearts of the
people among whom he had spent his life.
He was unpretentious in demeanor, but his life was earnest and
consistent and the people knew that he was genuine. He was an exemplar of the best type of
citizenship and his death was a distinct loss to the city and county in which
he lived.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 143-144. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Sierra County
Biographies