Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Huffman, John M. June 22, 1824 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:05 pm Author: Chapman Brothers JOHN M. HUFFMAN, has been a resident of St. Joseph County for forty years, and until his retitrement from the active cares of life to his present home on section 23, just outside the corporate limits of the village of Constantine, was connected with its agricultural interests. He was a practical, skillful farmer, and worked his farm in Park Township to such good advantage that he gained a comfortable competence, and can now pass his remaining years without the necessity of hard labor. Our subject comes of good Pennsylvania stock. His parents, Samuel and Polly (Jones) Huffman, were both natives of the Keystoen State, and there spent their whole lives, dying in Clarion County. The father was a substantial farmer, and he and his wife were held in general esteem by those who knoew them for their many solid virtures. They had a family of nine children, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. Mr. Huffman was born June 22, 1824, in Clarion County, Pa., and there on the old homestead grew to sturdy manhood. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and remained an inmate of the parental home, affording his father active assistance in the management of his agricultural affairs until 1849. He was then twenty-five years old, and had obtained a god start in life, so he determined to try farming in Michigan, and built up a home here. With that end in view he came to St. Joseph County, and settled n Fabius Township. A few years later he removed to Park Township, of which he remained a resident for twenty-eight years. He became the possessor of a farm there, comprising eight acres of as fertile and productive land as is to be found in the limits of the county. This, by careful cultivation and constantly added improvements, he greatly increased in value, and ti was classed among the fine farms of the township, and when he desired to retire from active labor he had no difficulty in disposing of it at a good price. In May, 1885, he sold all of his property in Park Township and came to this village, where he owns a small place, to spend his declining years in retirement. Mr. Huffman has been three times married. His first marriage, which took place in Clarion County, Pa., was to Lucinda Briggs. By her he had two children: Margaret, who is the wife of Emanuel Strome; and Dorsey, who is a resident of Muskegon. Mrs. Huffman's wedded life was of brief duration, as she died while yet young, in Fabius Township, April 19, 1854. The second marriage of our subject was to Elizabeth Miller, and the following is the record of the four children born to them: Effie is the wife of of Emanuel Eichholtz; Samuel died when about two and one-half years old; Ada lives at home with her father, and Charles died in infancy. Mr. Huffman's second wife died in Park Townshp, June 9, 1877, and he was again married, June 21, 1878, being then united to Mrs. Louisa Richmond, his present wife. she was born in Tioga County, N.Y., March 16, 1830. She has also been three times married. Her first husband was Josiah N. Fisher, who died in Ligionier, Ind. By that marriage she had five children, as follows: Eliza O., who is the wife of Lewis II Bossett; Frank lives in Three Rivers; Albert lives in Denver, Col.; Fred lives in Lansing, Mich., and Alva J. lives in Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Huffman's second marriage was to John Richmond, who died in Ohio. One daughter was born of that marriage, Minnie R., who is the wife of Thomas J. Keene. Mrs. Huffman is a devoted member of the Baptist Church, and her daily life is guided by the highest Christian principles. Mrs. Huffman's maiden name was Louisa Tracy, and she is a daughter of Erastus and Eliza (Arnold) Tracy, natives respectively of Massachussetts and Undadilla N.Y. After marriage her parents settled in Tioga County, N.Y., and thence subsequently came to St. Joseph County, this State. They settled in Constantine, where he died in June 1884. Mrs. Huffman's mother still survives, at an advanced age. They were among the earliest settlers of this county. They had nine children, of whom Mrs. Huffman was the second, as follows: James, Louisa, Romelia, Mary, Martha; Levi and Lavina, twins; Walter B. and John. Mr. Huffman, although not among the early settlers of St. Joseph County, has some claim to be classed among its pioneers, as in improving his farm he did his share in developing and strengthening the great agricultural interests of this part of Southern Michigan. He stands high among his neighbors as a man of truthful, honest, kindly nature, and one on whom they can rely for friendly aid or wise counsel. In his political sentiments he is a sound Republican, giving staunch support to his party. Additional Comments: Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman Brothers 1889 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/stjoseph/bios/huffman677gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb