MEMO TO: Huggins Files
BY: Trish Tolley
DATE: 13 April 2001
FOCUS: William Huggins family, George Aker Huggins family—solidifying links between family members.
SUMMARY OF KNOWN INFORMATION (as of 20 Jan 2001): 
George Aker Huggins was born 5 Apr 1839 in Toms River, Ocean, New Jersey. He was the son of William and Emeline Aker
Huggins. George married Eliza Adams 30
May 1856 at the age of 27. George and
Eliza moved west and settled in Fountain Green, Sanpete County, Utah. George and Eliza had one child, Martha
Frances Huggins 17 Oct 1876 in Fountain Green.
George died 2 Nov 1896 in Fountain Green.[1]
Eliza Adams was the daughter of William Henry Sr. and Martha Jennings Adams. She was born 6 Oct 1847 in Dover, Kent, England. She presumably came to America with her parents and settled in Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah. Sometime on her way to Utah, or shortly after getting to Utah, she met and married George Aker Huggins. She died in Fountain Green 22 Jan 1913 and was buried in Fountain Green.[2]
William Huggins, the father of George Aker Huggins, was born
2 Jun 1811 in Varmon, Monmouth, New Jersey.
He was the son of John Huggins and Permillia Gullin. He married Emeline Akers about 1835 in New
Jersey. He joined the Church (of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints) 9 Feb 1839 and came west with the Saints before
1856 to eventually settle in Fountain Green, Utah.[3] William and Emeline had six children[4]:
Elizabeth Ann (b. 18 Jan 1838), George Aker (b. 5 Apr 1839), Permillia (b. 23
May 1841), Hannah Potter (b. 2 Jun 1844), Mary Ann Smyth (b. 24 Aug 1847), and
Sarah Lane (b. 2 Jul 1850) Huggins.
William’s death date and place are unknown.[5]
Emeline Akers Huggins was the daughter of Stephen Akers and Elizabeth Lemon (or Bird). She was born 14 Mar 1816 in Toms River, Ocean, New Jersey. She was baptized into the LDS Church 1 Aug 1841.[6] She died in Fountain Green 16 Jun 1899 and was buried there.[7]
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS (13 Apr 2001): I was able to fill out the details of the lives of George Aker and Eliza, their children, William and Emeline, and their children. Since the information I had already obtained on the family was from Ancestral File and Ordinance Index, I chose to search other compiled records next. I found many helpful compiled sources, most of which were compiled by or as a result of the LDS Church - sources such as the Early Church Information File, Kate Carter’s collection on Mormon pioneers, Daughters of Utah Pioneers biographies, and Ancestry World Tree. George Aker was, in fact, born 5 Apr 1839 in Toms River, Monmouth, New Jersey.[8] George was rebaptized in the Church 10 Feb 1855.[9] Although a solid marriage date is still being sought, George and Eliza were married in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah on either 1 Aug 1865 or 24 Nov 1868.[10] George and Eliza actually had eight children: George William[11], John Ephraim[12], Joseph Stephen[13], Franklin Dee[14], Martha Frances[15], Joshua[16], Emeline[17], and Elva May.[18] George was a farmer in Fountain Green.[19] He died at the age of 64 on 5 Nov 1893 in Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, and he was buried in the Fountain Green City Cemetery.[20] His estate was not settled until 1900, when his widow, Eliza, made a petition to sell parts of the certain land contained in George’s estate.[21]
William Huggins was born 2 Jul 1811 in Varmon, Monmouth, New
Jersey.[22] He was baptized into the LDS Church 9 Feb
1839 in New Jersey.[23] 
He married Emeline Aker about 1837 in New
Egypt, Monmouth, New Jersey.[24] William and Emeline had six children:
Elizabeth Ann,[25]
George Aker,[26]
Permillia,[27]
Hannah Potter,[28]
Mary Ann Smyth,[29]
and Sarah Lane.[30] They also adopted one other child, Ephraim
Smith Ford, who was born 6 May 1838 in Varmon, Monmouth, New Jersey, and died
Sep 1838.[31] William and Emeline came west with the Saints
in the Anthony Ivans Company of 1853, where they then settled in Springville,
Utah, Utah, for a time.[32]
While living in Springville he was elected to be a member of the city council
three times.[33] In 1857, William took a second wife,
Harriet Susannah Saynor, a widow from England who had come west with her two
children, Ann Elizabeth and Joseph Ephraim.[34] In 1861, he moved with a few church leaders
such as Aaron Johnson to a new settlement farther south called Fountain Green.[35] During the Blackhawk War (1865-1866),
William served as second lieutenant in the Utah Territorial Militia—Fountain
Green Infantry Company A, First Regiment, Sanpete Brigade under Captain James
Guyman.[36] William purchased 120.48 acres of land in
Fountain Green 1 Nov 1875 from the Utah Land Office.[37] William died 5 Jan 1879 in Fountain Green
and was buried in the Fountain Green City Cemetery.[38]
ITEMIZED RESEARCH FINDINGS:
I. Cemetery Records of Utah Film 874340; Fountain Green City Cemetery Record of Interments Film 874359 item 1; Fountain Green City Cemetery. (East of 400 N and Main Street in Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah.)
a. Gravestones found and pictures taken for: George W. Huggins, Christena Huggins, George Ezra Huggins, Reuel Leon Huggins, Joshua Huggins, Emeline Huggins, William Huggins, Eliza A. Huggins, George A. Huggins, Robert H. Johnson, Mary Ann H. Johnson, Robert L. Johnson, Polly Ann Johnson, Emma J. Huggins, Franklin D. Huggins, Joshua Coombs, Sarah Coombs, Jens Martinus, Caroline Martinus, Violet Huggins and Glen LeRoy Shepherd.
II. 1920 United States Census Utah: Sanpete County, Fountain Green Precinct. Film 1821864.
a. Found vital information on all living in Fountain Green: Frank D. Huggins with wife and children; George W. Huggins with children; Orren Huggins with wife.
III. Sanpete County, Utah County Clerk Applications for License to Marry 1911-1916. Film 481516
a. Mr. Wilford Green and Miss Elva May Huggins, signed 25 March 1913.
IV. 1910 United States Census
a. Utah: Sanpete County, Fountain Green Precinct. Film 1375621, found vital information on Franklin Huggins with wife and 4 children; George W. Huggins with wife and 7 children; Eliza Huggins with daughter Elva.
b. Idaho: Fremont County, Marysville Precinct. Film 1374237, found vital information on William and Permelia Cordingly.
c. Utah: Box Elder Couny, Bear River Precinct. Film 1375615, too hard to read.
d. Utah: Tooele County, St. Johns Precinct. Film 1375622, too hard to read.
V. Juab County Utah County Clerk Marriage License Records 1899-1909. Film 481657, item 2, page 241. Heber McPherson and Emeline Huggins, signed marriage date 5 Dec 1906.
VI. 1900 United States Census Utah: Sanpete County, Fountain Green Precinct. Film 1241686.
a. Found vital information on Joshua Coombs and two of his other wives and their children; Joseph Huggins with wife and children; Frank Huggins with wife and child; Eliza Huggins with daughter Emma; George Huggins with wife and children.
VII. Sanpete County, Utah, Probate Court Minutes 1899-1905. Film 0481632.
a. (Probate Court Minutes for 1890-1896 Film 481631 were searched first, but nothing was found, and it was discovered that George A. Huggins’ estate was not settled until 1900, seven years after his death.)
b. Page 87 - Petition by widow Eliza Huggins, administratrix, set forth to sell “certain real estate belonging to the said estate and which particularly set forth and described in said petition”. It describes the location of the land that was sold, to whom, and for how much.
VIII. Sanpete County, Utah, Register of Estates 1895-1927 Film 481626.
a. Dates of actions taken in regard to the estate of George A. Huggins 24 Jun 1899 - 1 Sep 1900. Also shows settlement of the estates of Robert L. Johnson and Robert H. Johnson.
IX. Tooele County, Utah, County Clerk Marriage License Records 1888-1901. Film 482502, page 110. John E. Huggins and Lovinia A. Draper. Dated 17 Jun 1896.
X. 1880 United States Census Utah: Sanpete County, Fountain Green Precinct. Film 1255337.
a. Found vital information on Harriet Huggins (second wife of William Huggins) with children; George Huggins with wife and children; Emeline Huggins (widowed); Joshua Coombs with wife Sarah H. Coombs and children; William Cordingly with wife Amelia (Permilia) and children; Alonzo Nay with wife Hannah and children; RH Johnson with wife Mary Ann and children.
XI. Sanpete County Probate Records Book A Minutes 1866-1884 Film 481650 item 3; Sanpete County, Utah, Probate Court Estate Records and Records of Letters of Administration. Film 481629.
a. The estate of William Huggins, deceased as of 6 Jan 1879, is layed out and petition of Emeline Huggins, wife, to have the estate settled. William died intestate, and his children are listed with names and ages to show money distribution. George A. Huggins, William’s only son, received all the land. Proof of father-children relationships.
XII. www.glorecords.blm.gov. Utah Government Land Office Records, Document 1435.
a. William Huggins purchased 120.48 acres of land in Fountain Green, Sanpete County.
XIII. 1870 United States Census Utah: Sanpete County, Fountain Green Precinct. Film 553111.
a. Found vital information on William Huggins with wife and child Sarah L. and stepson Joseph Whitely; George Huggins with wife Eliza and children George W. and John; William Cordingly with wife Amelia (Permilia) and four children; Alonzo Nay with wife Hannah and three children; Hyrum Johnson with wife Mary Ann and daughter.
XIV. Utah Territorial Militia Muster Rolls, Sanpete Military District, 1851-1866. Film 485556.
a. Military involvement of Pvt. William H. Adams, Pvt. Robert L. Johnson, Pvt. Joshua Coombs, Drummer/Pvt./1st Lieutenant William Cordingly, 2nd Lieutenant William Huggins, and Pvt. George Huggins.
XV. 1860 United States Census Utah: Utah County.
a. Springville Post Office. Film 805314. Found vital information on William Huggins and his wife Emeline, and children George, Hannah P, Mary A, Sarah L, second wife Harriet, and daughter Anne E. and son Josh E.
b. Battle Creek. Film 805314. Found vital information on William H. Adams and his second wife Frances A., and their children including Eliza Adams, later the wife of George A. Huggins.
XVI. 1850 United States Census New Jersey: Ocean County. Dover Township. Film 443659.
a. Found vital information on William Huggins, his wife Emeline, and their five living children.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH:
I. Monmouth County Courthouse Clerks Office, State of New Jersey Book C, 1830-1843. Film 595130. Searching for record of the marriage of William Huggins and Emeline Aker.
II. Marriage Records of Monmouth County. Film 1016879, item 3. Searching for record of the marriage of William Huggins and Emeline Aker.
III. Sanpete County Probate Records Film 481651. The years 1873-1875 missing on the film. Searching for Land Grant for William Huggins’ 120 acres.
IV. Justice Docket for Manti City, Sanpete, Utah. Film 497791 items 3, 4, and 6. Scanning for cases involving the Huggins’.
V. Marriage License Records, Sanpete County, Utah 1873-1891. Film 481123. Searching for George William - he was supposed to be on page 82, but only the first 32 pages of the record are filmed.
VI. Death Register for Sanpete County, Utah 1905-1915. Film 599313, item 3. Wrong film—this only contained the Wales Precinct.
FUTURE RESEARCH: Records for the marriage of William and Emeline and the marriage of George and Eliza still need to be located. We can send away to the county courthouses to receive the marriage documents for the couples. Death certificates also exist for each member of these families. Depending on the client desire for exact dates and the expenses involved, these may or may not be sent for. Obtaining the notice of proceedings for the settlement of the estate of George A. Huggins printed in the Manti Messenger in 1900 (Film 1486740) may be beneficial as well.