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 OHN HUFFMAN, deceased, who was numbered among the most honored and earliest pioneers of Coles County, first drew breath in Harrison County, Ky., Feb. 16, 1798, where he remained during his youth and childhood and until beginning to form his plans for a home and domestic ties of his own. He became a resident of this State in 1832, locating in Vermilion County, whence he removed in the fall of 1833 to this county, and purchased eighty acres of land adjoining the city of Charleston. There the children were born, and there the parents passed the remaining years of their life. The death of Mrs. Huffman took place on the 14th of January, 1870, aged over sixty-four years, and her remains were laid to rest in Cassel Cemetery. Mr. Huffman was seemingly in good health at the time, but just one week from that day his funeral services were held, and all that was mortal of him laid beside the wife whom he had loved and honored in his lifetime. He was over seventy-two years old. The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Catherine Robinson, a native of Virginia, born Feb. 11, 1806. Her father removed from the Old Dominion with his family when she was about ten years of age, to Harrison County, Ky., where two daughters were born, and whence they removed as we have stated, in 1832, to this State. The parental household finally included eight sons and four daughters, eleven of whom lived to reach years of maturity. Joseph died when a lad of eight years; Catherine became the wife of John Heath, and Polly the wife of George Hunt; both are now deceased. William, James, Napoleon B., and Sarah J., the wife of Samuel Lowe, were the next in order of birth; Benjamin F. during the late Civil War served in Co. C, 54th Ill. Vol. Inf., and now fills a soldier’s grave at Cairo, where his death occurred May 11, 1863; Henrietta is the wife of Benjamin I. White, of Charleston; John T., George W. and Daniel H. were the youngest sons. Daniel H. lives in Missouri, George in Charleston and John T. at the home place. When Mr. Huffman began to exercise the right of suffrage the principles of the Whigs coincided most heartily with his views of political matters and he accordingly identified himself with them, being a great admirer of Henry Clay. In 1860, he cast his ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, and afterward supported the Democratic party. He was fairly successful in his business and farming operations and at his death, besides the homestead was the owner of 200 acres of land unencumbered. Both Mr. Huffman and wife identified themselves with the Close Communion Baptists, and were greatly respected by the community where they lived so long on account of their excellent traits of character and uniform goodness of heart. |
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