JOHN HUFF, who owns a well improved farm on section 8, Rockbridge township, comprising two hundred acres of rich and arable land, is accounted one of the worthy pioneer settlers of the county, for he has resided within its borders since 1840 and has always been true and loyal to its interests. A native of Ohio, he was born in Hamilton county, April 16, 1840, and is of German descent. His grandfather, Louis Huff, was a native of Germany and became the founder of the family in the new world, locating in Virginia when he crossed the Atlantic.

His son, John Huff, Sr., was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, in 1799, was there reared, and in the state of his nativity married Anna Hancock, also a native of the Old Dominion. Removing to Ohio he entered land from the government in Hamilton county, where the city of Cincinnati now stands. There he began the development of a farm, tilling the soil for two years, after which he came with his family to Greene county, Illinois, settling upon land near Carrollton. This he also entered from the government and he transformed the wild tract into richly cultivated fields. The place comprised one hundred and sixty acres, on which he reared his family, and when he sold that property he bought a farm in Rockbridge township, spending his last years there. His death occurred in September, 1879, when he was eighty years of age. His wife passed away several years prior to that time. In their family were ten children who reached years of maturity but only three are now living, the eldest being Mrs. Julia Murphy, a widow, who resides in Kansas. James Huff owns and operates the old home farm in Rockbridge township.

John Huff, the other surviving member of the family, was only a few months old when brought by his parents to Greene county, and here he was reared and educated, attending the common schools. He remained with his father until he had attained adult age and then started out in life on his own account, renting a farm for eight years, after which he settled at his present place of residence. He opened up this farm, bought more land and his possessions now aggregate two hundred acres. He has erected a good frame residence, also barns and sheds, has planted fruit trees and placed his gardens and fields in excellent condition. He not only cultivates his land but has also raised good stock, and in both branches of his business has found that success is ambition's answer.

Mr. Huff was married on the 16th of March, 1854, to Miss Catherine Cox, who after a happy married life of about twenty-eight years, passed away in 1889, her remains being interred in Witt cemetery. She possessed many excellent traits of character and her loss was deeply felt by her friends as well as her immediate family.

Mr. Huff has never faltered in his allegiance to the Democratic party and has done all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He was elected and served for four years as constable, was also school director for some time and has been a delegate to conventions of his party. He belongs to the Loyal Americans, a fraternal insurance order. For some years he has rented his farm and has thus largely retired from the active duties of farm life, but still gives general supervision to his property. The confidence and esteem of the community are his, for his has been an upright, honorable life, passed almost entirely within the borders of Greene county, so that friends and neighbors have had ample opportunity to judge of his worth.