Huntsville's first known settlers arrived in the fall of 1860: Jefferson Hunt, for whom the town was named; his sons Joseph and Hyrum and their families; Charles and Alice Wood; Joseph Wood and his mother, Sarah; Nathan Coffin and his mother, Abigail; the Edward Rushton family; and the James Earl family. The land, owned by Ute Indians, was purchased for two ponies with additional payments made during the succeeding seven years. Scandinavian settlers arriving in 1864 helped build the community through their thrift and industry, and by 1880 Huntsville had grown to a population of over 800.