- JAMES HUFFMAN is one of the prominent and prosperous farmers
of Clarno township, Green
- county, residing four and one-half miles southwest of Monroe.
- Mr. HUFFMAN is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (JONES) HUFFMAN,
who were natives of
- Pennsylvania, of German descent, and located in Wisconsin
in 1845. They became the parents of eight children: Absalom,
deceased; Solomon, deceased; William, deceased; James, our subject,
who was born Oct. 19, 1839; Ellen, who married Isaac MILLER,
and died on the overland route to California in 1862; Christiana,
who married John B. STARR, of Iowa; Elizabeth, who married Andrew
HISEROTE, of Nebraska; and Jacob, of Clarno township. The mother
of these died in 1846, and for his second wife Mr. HUFFMAN married
Barbara MOWERY, two children being born of this union: Daniel,
of Nebraska; and Mary, who married E. BARNES, also of Nebraska.
- James HUFFMAN came to Wisconsin with his parents when he
was but six years of age, and
- received his education in the rural free schools, which were
then held in log cabins. He was poor in purse, but he possessed
energy and hope. On Oct. 21, 1858, he married Mary E. DOWNS,
of Green county, daughter of Jesse and Malinda (DE LONG) DOWNS,
who were among the early settlers of the county, coming here
from Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1845. They died while Mrs. HUFFMAN
was a child, she being reared by her grandmother, Mrs. Susanna
DE LONG. For some time after marriage our subject and his wife
resided in a log cabin 18 x 16 feet, floored with slabs, and
covered with boards that were held by logs being laid on them,
but peace, health and happiness filled the cabin, and now this
worthy couple own one of the fine farms and substantial residences
of Clarno township. Children as follows have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. HUFFMAN: Emma E.; Albert, deceased; James, a resident
of Chicago; Anna, deceased; Alva S., a resident of Clarno township;
Minnie, who married Arthur GILMORE, and lives in Cadiz township;
Jacob C., who married Nellie E. MEACHNER, now deceased; and Lizzie,
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. HUFFMAN have six grandchildren, all boys,
two of whom have reached manhood. In 1862 Mr. HUFFMAN made the
overland trip to California with a team, returning in 1863, and
in 1865 migrated to Iowa with his family in 1871, returning again
to Green county, where he has since resided. He is the owner
of 160 acres of fine farming land, and also twenty acres of orange
land in Florida. Although he has become a successful and prosperous
man, Mr. HUFFMAN still enjoys looking after his interests. For
seventeen years he conducted a dairy business in connection with
his farming, and now takes great pride in his fine Shorthorn
cattle.
- In politics Mr. HUFFMAN is a stanch Democrat, in which faith
he was reared, and he has been
- called upon to serve in many of the local town offices, having
been school director, clerk and township assessor, which positions
he filled to the entire satisfaction of the community. Both he
and his wife have been consistent members of the U. B. Church
for twenty-five years, living exemplary Christian lives, and
esteemed by the whole neighborhood.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 849-850.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|