Elisha Mills Huntington

Who was Elisha Mills Huntington?

Elisha Mills Huntington was an American lawyer, politician, prosecutor, judge and federal jurist.

Born in Butternuts, New York, Huntington moved to Terre Haute, Indiana to join his older brother Nathaniel Huntington. He read law and was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1827 on his 21st birthday. "Lish," as he was known, was in private practice in Terre Haute commencing in 1827. While residing in Terre Haute, he was a prosecutor for Indiana's 7th Circuit from 1830-32. He returned to private practrice and was an Indiana state representative from 1832-33. He became a presiding judge of Indiana's 7th Circuit from 1837–41, and later was appointed Commissioner of the U.S. Land Office in Washington, D.C., serving from 1841-42. On April 26, 1842, Huntington was nominated by President John Tyler to a seat as the sole judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana, vacated by Jesse L. Holman. Huntington was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 2, 1842, receiving his commission the same day.