California Biographies, Alameda County Socrates Huff History of Alameda County, California Publisher: Oakland, Calif : M. W. Wood Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Socrates Huff.�This worthy and well-known pioneer settled in Alameda County m the long ago time when it formed a portion of Contra Costa County We have much pleasure in presenting to our readers a portrait of this estimable gentle man. Socrates Huff is the son of William and Pleasa (Carver) Huff, and was born in' Crawford County, Ohio, July 1, 1827, and two years thereafter was taken by his- parents to St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan, where he lost his mother in the year 1830. Here under the genial influences of the breezes from Lake Michigan our subject grew to man's estate, being there grounded in scholastic lore, and acquiring the rudiments necessary for fitting him to face the battle of life. About New Year's Day, 1849, letters were received in the town from California corroborating the exciting intelligence of the discovery of gold in the previous year, therefore, Mr. Huff at once, set to work to form a party of his companions and townsmen to proceed to the golden shores of the Pacific in search of the precious metal and to become rich in one gigantic bound. To compass the long and dreary journey across the plains, mules were purchased in Indiana, wagons in Chicago, and provisions in St. Louis, and in February, 1849, the party�composed of Socrates and L. B: Huff, L. C. Wittenmyer (now of Contra Costa County), A. M. Church, James M. Morton (deceased), and A. P. Pinney (deceased)�-started up the Missouri River on their way to the "land of promise." At the outset of their travels they commenced to encounter the dangers of the trip. When sixteen miles below Council Bluffs, the steamer " Bacoia," whereon our subject voyaged, sank, and all was lost save mules and wagons. Refitting, however, at this point the route was continuous, by way of the old emigrant route to Salt Lake, and finally entered California by the Truckee route, arriving at Bear River August 12, 1849. Mr. Huff now tried his hand at mining, but at the end of two weeks abandoned the pick and rocker, and moved to Sacramento, where he engaged in business, but only for a short time, when, his health being poor, he sought a more genial climate. Mr. Huff now proceeded to Mission San Jose, where he remained in the employ of H. C. Smith until March, 1851, when he paid a visit to the Eastern States. Returning to the Pacific shores in the following August, our subject purchased a vessel and put her on the line between Alvarado and Stockton, a trade He conducted until November, 1852. At this period, Mr. Huff once more returned to the Eastern States, and was married on February 14, 1853, to Miss Ameha Cassidy, a native of Pennsylvania, after which he proceeded to Iowa, and on May 1st of the same year, started for California, with a large band of cattle and horses, which he drove direct to Green Valley, to the farm now occupied by Hon. D. N. Sherburne. Here Mr. Huff resided until 1857, in which year he transferred his residence to Haywards. Eighteen months thereafter he proceeded homewards with his family, but returning in December 1859 he settled in San Leandro, where he has since resided. Mr. Huff has ever been alive 'to the requirements of citizenship, and when he has felt duty call, lie has been foremost to obey. In 1863 he was elected to the high office of Treasurer of Alameda County, a position he held four years, while at the same time he was engaged in mercantile business in Carson City, Nevada, and continued in this business until 1870. Besides being now engaged in real estate transactions he is and has been since the founding of the Union Savings Bank of Oakland one of its directors. He has always taken an active "part in politics, and in 1880 was delegate at large to the National Convention, at Chicago, that nominated James A. Garfield. Mr. Huff is a gentleman respected by all classes of the community in which he resides, as his unswerving rectitude of purpose and undeviating honesty make him a man to be trusted and, honored. His family consisted of seven daughters, viz.: Ida, Jennie, Katie (deceased), Nellie, Carrie, Mamie, and Laura.