Huron named by Marvin Hughitt
by
Roger Kasa
The president of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company is responsible for giving this community its name.
Marvin Hughitt, who was born in Genoa, N.Y., became president of the railroad. Because of his influence on the community, the Huron Elks Lodge, which built a hotel here in 1921, decided to honor him by naming the new facility in his honor. It was called the Marvin Hughitt Hotel.
For many years, this was the tallest building in town; it was visible for miles around. According to information compiled by O.W. Coursey, on loan from the Dakotaland Museum, the city was named after the Huron Indians.
Hughitt died at his home on Sheriday Road in Lake Forest, Ill. in 1928. He was 91.
According to Coursey's story, Hughitt began his railroad career as a telegraph operator. He was trainmaster of the Centrallia division o the Illinois Central Railroad during the Civil War; and in this position he rendered invaluable service to the government in transporting special trains of soldiers over that line.
It is stated that several times he remained at his post of duty for 36 hours in succession. This efficient work won him promotion to the assistant superintendent's post and he soon became its general superintendent.
After serving for brief periods as assistant general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Co., and as general manager of the Pullman Palace Car Co., he joined Northwestern Railroad i 1872.
"He was so proficient in everything he undertook, that his rapid rise to lart4r responsibilities was inevitable," he writes. "In 1876, he became general manager of the road; in 1880, its vice president, and in 1887, its president. He held the latter position for 23 years, until advancing age in 1910, forced his retirement ot lighter duties, and he was made chairman of the board,"
Hughitt remained as board chairman for 15 hears.
South Dakota historian Doane Robinson, wrote this about Hughitt:
"Railroad building in the larger sense was due to the forward vision of Marvin Hughitt, president of the Chicago and Northwestern line, who, after a personal inspection of the Dakota prairies, concluded 5that is was good business to extend railroads across them as an inducement ot settlement.'
He continued: "This had not previously been done, except to hold grants of land. Following this vision, he projected the Dakota Central division of the Northwestern road west from a connection with the Winona and St. Peter division at Tracy, Minn. to Pierre, in 1879-80. This theory was promptly confirmed by an influx of settlers, which justified the construction of the lines that make up the Chicago and Northwestern system in South Dakota, east of the Missouri River."
When Hughitt died, the president of th4e railroad issued the following order.
"All trains on the Chicago and Northwestern System will halt for a minute at 11:30 a.m., on Monday, Jan. 9 as a mark of respect to the memory of Marvin Hughitt, former chairman of the board of directors and for many years as president. At the same time, all employees will pause in their work for one minute. This hour is that set for the funeral services."