BIO: Reuben DUFF, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 102-103.
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  REUBEN DUFF, Saulsburg, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Barree 
township, September 9, 1822, son of John and Winifred (Couch) Duff.  
John Duff, the elder, grandfather of Reuben, was born in Ireland; 
coming to this county, he first settled in Philadelphia, and there 
exercised his calling, which was that of a stonecutter.  He married 
Miss Zell in Philadelphia, by whom he had two children:  John, 
deceased; and Samuel, deceased.  The elder son, John, learned the trade 
of his father, and worked at it first in Philadelphia.  His father died 
in that city, and John, leaving the city, went to Belleville, Mifflin 
county, Pa., and afterwards removed to Stone Valley, Huntingdon county; 
there he bought a farm and cultivated it for a year, and then sold out, 
and came to Barree township.  Here he bought a second farm of 168 
acres, improved it and continued to give his care and attention for the 
remainder of his active life.  He was an industrious, hard-working man.  
The marriage of John Duff and Winifred Couch took place in 
Philadelphia.  Their children are:  William, deceased; Samuel, 
deceased; John, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Edward, supposed to be 
still residing in Cuba; Ann, deceased, wife of William Davidson; 
Charles, deceased; James, died young; Mary, deceased; Margaret, 
deceased; James, deceased; David, deceased; Abbie, deceased wife of 
George Jones, of Ohio; Cornelius, deceased; Reuben, and an infant who 
died, not named.  Mr. Duff was a Democrat.  He died near Saulsburg, 
Huntingdon county, April 2, 1845; his wife died in 1860.
  Reuben Duff attended a subscription school in an old log school house 
in Jackson township.  During his youth and early manhood, he worked 
with his father on the farm; at the age of twenty-five he went to 
Clarion county, Pa., and after working there for a year, left that 
place for Mill Creek, Huntingdon county, where for two years he worked 
in a distillery.  In 1852 he bought his present home, a farm containing 
117 acres, in Barree township, which he has greatly improved, and on 
which he built a commodious dwelling and a barn, at a cost of $3,800; 
here, besides cultivating his land, he raises stock, dealing 
extensively also in purchased stock, selling not only to farmers, but 
also shipping to more distant markets.  Besides the homestead, Mr. Duff 
owns 70 acres in Jackson township.  His political views are Democratic.  
He has served the township as supervisor and as school director.
  Reuben Duff was married in Lewistown, Pa., in 1852, to Ellen, 
daughter of John McCartney, a lady of Irish descent, and a native of 
Barree township.  They have two children:  Mary, born January 4, 1853, 
married John Koch, farmer, has eight children, Robert, William, Homer, 
Blanche, Edward, James, Oliver and Ellen;  Edward, born July 9, 1865, 
farmer and lumberman, married Lydia Whipple, has four children, Oscar 
R., James, Helen and Edna.  Mrs. Reuben Duff died December 12, 1888.  
Mr. Duff is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a good neighbor 
and citizen, and is held in high estimation for his excellent qualities 
and genial manner.