Merced-San Francisco-Modoc County CA Archives Biographies.....Huffman, J. Walton 1890 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 9, 2006, 12:35 am Author: John Outcalt (1925) J. WALTON HUFFMAN One of the most prominent figures in the development of the East Side of Merced County was the late C. H. Huffman, whose son, J. Walton Huffman, the subject of this review, is one of the young business men of Merced. A sailor before the mast, C. H. Huffman came round the Horn in 1848 and settled in Stockton in early days where he was successfully carrying on the business of hauling freight into the southern mines. He first visited Merced County in 1868 and later became right-of-way agent for the Central Pacific Railway. Acting in this capacity, he purchased the Merced townsite. The father later established his residence here, beginning the acquirement of farm and grazing lands, and became agent of Isaac Friedlander for the purchase of grain in the San Joaquin Valley. In 1882 C. H. Huffman joined Colonel Crocker in the development of the present irrigation system, later incorporated as the Crocker-Huffman Land & Water Company. Mr. Huffman was resident manager until his resignation in 1892, and for many years he occupied, with his family, the company's residence on Bear Creek at the end of M Street, which old timers call to this day the "Huffman mansion." Mr. Huffman superintended the building of the canal system, which was under the engineering direction of C. D. Martin. Mr. Huffman relinquished his connection with the canal company early in the nineties and sold his interest in the canal system and the lands of the company to the Crockers, removing his residence to San Francisco, where he died. J. Walton Huffman is a native son of Merced, Cal., born May 18, 1890, a son of C. H. and Laura (Kirkland) Huffman. The latter, a native of Missouri, crossed the plains in early days with her parents. J. W. received his education in the schools of San Francisco and in young manhood removed to Modoc County, where he spent fifteen years raising cattle and horses. He then returned to his native county and established his present business, that of sand and gravel contractor; his business has steadily increased in volume during the passing of the years. The marriage of Mr. Huffman united him with Miss Pearl Jones, of Los Angeles, Cal., and they are the parents of one daughter Lois Evelyn. Mr. Huffman is independent in his political views. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Native Sons, and he belongs to the Rotarians. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH A Biographical Review OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY JOHN OUTCALT ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1925 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/merced/bios/huffman217gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb