MAJ. P. C. HUGGINS, of Bunker Hill, is one of the most honored of Macoupin County's pioneers and this work would be incomplete if his sketch was omitted. No man has been more prominently connected with its history and upbuilding or done so much toward founding its leading towns as he, and we could not, if we would, efface his name from the annals of the county.

In Cornish Township, Sullivan County, N.H., the Major opened his eyes to the light of the day February 28, 1814, and was reared to manhood in the State of his nativity. He received a good practical education in the common schools and his business training was acquired as a clerk, in which occupation he engaged at the age of fourteen years. He came West a single man and after two years returned to New Hampshire, where he wedded Miss Mary L. Whittelsey, who was also born and reared in Sullivan County. The wedding journey of the young couple was a trip to their new home in the West and they began their domestic life at this place where Mrs. Huggins died at the birth of her first child, which is also deceased. The Major was a second time married in bunker Hill, his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth S. Knowlton. Her maiden name was Woodard and she is a native of Connecticut, where she grew to womanhood and was married to Samuel Knowlton, with whom she came to Macoupin County about 1836. Her first husband died on his farm in Bunker Hill Township. Three children were born of that union - Albert, now living in Newton, Kan.; Sarah, wife of D. W. Woodman, a lumber merchant of Litchfield, now living a retired life; and Nellie, wife of S. O. Sawyer, a dealer in stationery, of St. Louis. Mr. Huggins and his wife have two children - Frank E., who married Laura Spencer, and is Secretary of a coal company in Zanesville, Ohio; and Mary E., wife of Henry B. Davis, an attorney of St. Louis. On the main traveled road between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill., more than a half a century ago was a little village, one of the chief stopping places on the road. It was in a thriving condition and gave promise of future growth. Such a place was likely to attract the attention of an enterprising and ambitious young man who wished to make a successful life. Being pleased with its prospects, Maj. Huggins there located in 1838, securing a small tract of land upon which he built a cabin and has there made his home continuously since, although the first house has long since been replaced by a commodious residence which is now situated on Main Street, in the heart of the little city. After a short time he put in a small stock of general merchandise and began to sell goods, which place of business was the first permanent one of the kind in Bunker Hill. Not long after a postoffice was there located, called Lincoln and a Mr. Phillips, an old Boston gentleman, was made Postmaster. On his death the Major succeeded him, having to take the office first as bondsman and later was appointed the regular Postmaster by President Polk, although he was a Whig. he held the office for some years, during the time when high rate of postage was charged on all mail matter.

The usual experiences and hardships of pioneer life form a part of Maj. Huggins' history. The country around about Bunker Hill was in those days all wild and unsettled and game of all kinds, including prairie chickens, turkeys, etc. was to be had in abundance. However, as time passed settlements were made in the timber or along the streams mostly east and south of Bunker Hill, which was known for years as Wolf Ridge, from the fact that a den of wolves was found there. Wonderful are the changes which have occurred since that time and the transformation which has been wrought. To the early settlers is due a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid for they laid the foundation of the county's prosperity. Mr. Huggins has been prominently identified with the business interests of Bunker Hill and in order to make it a business center he established a castor oil mill, the first in the county, which had the desired effect of bringing people into the town. So well did his enterprise succeed that a large mill of the kind built some time before at Edwardsville, found in him a competitor who was drawing much of their trade, so that the proprietors sought to buy him out, offering him a large profit on his investment. In the meantime, by an accident, he had discovered a successful process for purifying the oil. Snow had blown into his kettles and he found that soft water was the needed article. Having concluded his sale with the Edwardsville firm Mr. Huggins launched into the flouring-mill business, establishing what was known as the Red Mill near Bunker Hill. It was the first one in successful operation in the county and drew custom for more than twenty miles around. He continued to operate it for some years and in the meantime became interested in another enterprise. He saw that the introduction of a railroad would prove of immense benefit to Bunker Hill and began operations towards securing the construction of the Alton & Terre Haute Road through this place. After a long and hard struggle and much engineering on his part the road was secured to this point and he became one of its first directors, a position which he held seven years and during that time he located a number of depots and laid out the towns of Litchfield, Gillespie, Pana and others. the history of the introduction of railroads into Illinois is a familiar one to him. The schemes and intrigues worked by the various roads became known to him and he deserves credit for circumventing these and securing the road to Bunker Hill.

From the organization of the Republican party, Major Huggins has been one of its supporters and by it in 1869 was elected to the county judgeship, which position he filled during the "courthouse fight". He had many intricate questions to settle and had to use every effort to prevent expenses being heaped up upon the people and in this way made some bitter enemies but at the same time he won hosts of friends by his efforts and sacrifices in defense of the rights against malicious intrigues. His rulings were always wise and just and he proved one of the ablest and most efficient judges which Macoupin County has ever had.

Between 1855 and 1860, Maj. Huggins with a number of others of the leading citizens of Bunker Hill determined to improve the educational interests of the city and builded what has since been known as the Bunker Hill Seminary, he becoming one of the Trustees and President of the school, which has had a varied experience and is now run as a private school under the direction of Prof. Stiver. In his social relations the Major is a Mason and a demitted Odd Fellow and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church at Bunker Hill, of which he was one of the organizers and of which he is a liberal supporter. The public and private life of Maj. Huggins is alike above reproach and he is honored as one of the pioneer fathers of the county, where for more than a half a century he has made his home.