From the 1885 History of Steuben County, Indiana

pages 709-710

John Huffman, deceased, was born in Armstrong County, Pa., in 1808, and lived in his native county till eighteen years of age when he was married to Mary Rifenberrick, a native of New Jersey, born in 1811. Soon after his marriage he removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, and two years later moved to Portage County. In the fall of 1844 he moved to Crawford County, and the following spring to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on a farm on section 26, Jackson Township, for which he had exchanged his farm in Ohio. The land was wholly unimproved, consisting of what is known as openings. His first residence was a board shanty and his second a hewed-log house. With the assistance of his sons he cleared ten acres of land the same spring and planted it to corn, from which he realized a fair crop. Mr. Huffman made of this land a fine farm, residing here till his death, March 17, 1872. His wife, Mary, died March 29, 1863. They had a family of thirteen children-- Jane, Richard W., Lucinda H., Catherine, Samuel, William J., Joseph, John W., Melissa, Anna, Benajah, Rachel A. and Mary. Five sons and two sons-in-law served in the defense of the Union in the war of the Rebellion. Richard was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Infantry. Samuel enlisted in the Fourth Michigan Infantry and later in the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry. William J. enlisted in Chicago in Company A, McClellan Dragoons, April 21, 1862, and served four months. May 16, 1863, he enlisted in the Ninth Michigan Cavalry, and served till July 21, 1865. He participated in many severe engagements, serving in the raid after Morgan, the Atlanta campaign, and Sherman's march to the sea. Joseph was a member of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and John W. of Company A, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry. Jane married Franklin Alexander and died many years ago. Richard W. is supposed to be living in Missouri. Lucinda is the wife of Albert Markle, of Michigan. Catherine died at the age of thirteen years. Samuel is living in Idaho. Joseph is living in Flint. John W. died Aug. 2 1864. Melissa, Anna, Benajah and Mary died in childhood. Rachel is the wife of James Miller, of Waterloo. William J. was born in Protage County, Ohio, April 13, 1835. He was married Aug. 20, 1865, to Martha J. Stiles, daughter of Rud Stiles. In 1866 he moved to Rome City, Noble County, but the following spring returned to Steuben County. He is by trade a blacksmith, but his health failing he ran a produce wagon ten years, and then worked at the shoemaker's trade. Since December, 1881, he has been engaged in the mercantile business at Flint.

Submitted by Kim Davoli

E-mail: davoli82@juno.com