This page is dedicated to James E. Huffaker who graciously donated years of research and photos for this project.
James E. Huffaker was a former chemist who was in research and development his entire professional career of about 40 years. He worked for Eastman Chemical Company, formerly a Division of Eastman Kodak. He had a wide variety of assignments but found that the most interesting one was as Director of Asia Pacific Technical Center in Osaka, Japan. In 1988, the Company decided it needed a Technical Center for the entire Pacific Rim and Jim Huffaker was asked to build it. He hired the staff and took on the challenge of training and servicing customers from Japan to Pakistan down to Australia and New Zealand and everywhere in between. He traveled extensively and his wife accompanied him on most trips. He returned in 1993 and retired soon after. In 2002 his older brother died and left a large library of Huffaker research to him. Now he would like to share that history with you.
Pennsylvania Huffaker Research From James E.
Huffaker
Many spellings of the name "Huffaker" were found in the records of Pennsylvania. This is a list of some of those:
Hävecker, Halfaker, Hofäcker, Hofaker, Hofecker, Hoffacker, Goffecker, Hoffker, Hofker, Hooffacker, and Huffaker.
Many spellings of the name "Huffaker" were found in the records of Pennsylvania. This is a list of some of those:
Hävecker, Halfaker, Hofäcker, Hofaker, Hofecker, Hoffacker, Goffecker, Hoffker, Hofker, Hooffacker, and Huffaker.
This
Michael Huffaker is a Grandson of Michael Huffaker and son of Jacob Huffaker
He is a brother to Simpson David Huffaker (Our Grandfather)
Morgan County ILGenWeb © 2000
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s).
ATLAS BOOK OF MORGAN COUNTY, Illinois 1872. MICHAEL HUFFAKER. - This aged citizen was born on the 15th of June, 1800, in Wayne County, Kentucky. Wayne county, as regards soil, is one of the poorest in the state, and reminds the looker on of the most broken and rough portions of East Tennessee. The county joins Tennessee, and might easily be mistaken for a portion of the latter state. The grandfather of Mr. H. was of German extraction, and immigrated, with his people, to Virginia, when but a small lad. He married a girl of German birth, and had several children, among whom was Jacob, the father of the subject of this article. Jacob Huffaker was born in 1764. He married Margaret Bodkin. Miss Bodkin's family were of Irish extraction. She was born near King's Salt Works. About 1796, in company with two brothers, he came to Kentucky, and settled in Wayne county. The country was then a wilderness. Buffaloes, wolves, bears, and all manner of game, abounded. The distinguished pioneer, Daniel Boone, was then operating about one hundred miles north, and exploring that hitherto unknown country. The entire country was covered with a heavy growth of timber. The labors of the early settlers were extremely severe and wearisome. Trees were felled, hewed, and used in the construction of their houses and barns. Timber land was burned over in order to prepare for crops. These were only a portion of the troubles that perplexed the farmer. The soil was shallow and very poor in quality. Not being versed in agricultural chemistry, the land was soon rendered too poor for any crop. How little do we appreciate the struggles of those early farmers for the possession and maintenance of a home among those rugged hills. In spite of every obstacle they succeeded, at least, in populating the country, and adding to its wealth and influence.
Michael, at an early age, attended school in a little log house on the side of a steep hill. The school house was two miles distant. When the weather allowed farming he remained at home. In winter and foul days he attended to his learning. Brief was his scholastic career, and his absence from school so much prolonged that only a few principles were engrafted on his young mind. He labored for his father till after his twenty-first birthday, and then, inasmuch as he had had a desire to visit the prairies of the upper countries, he started on a grip through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He wished to purchase land and have a home of his own. The trip was a pleasant one, until he reached the vicinity of Springfield, Illinois. When within six miles of the city he was seized with a sudden illness, which caused his delay for some time. As soon as he was able to mount his horse, he returned home to recuperate his health. He remained at home until the next summer. During the next year (1822), at the age of twenty-two, he was married to Miss Jane Bartleston, daughter of William Bartleston, Esq., an old settler of the state, and among the men of mark, whom the pioneers of that date were wont to honor and respect. In 1823 he started on another tour to Illinois, and arrived in Springfield during the winter of that year. He remained in Springfield until the spring when he came to Morgan County, and located in Mauvaisterre precinct, arriving there in the spring of 1824. Land could be purchased for one dollar and a quarter an acre, the choicest pieces only bringing that amount, at private or public sale, and upon the arrival of the emigrants, they had the selection of the finest prairie and timber land in the state. Jacksonville had no existence, and the hunter roamed over the present site of the city for deer and other game. Wolves prowled around the sheep fold, and greatly disturbed the new comer by preying upon his stock, and rendering the night hideous with their barking. Here and there upon the prairie huge piles of buffalo bones cold be perceived. Now and then a black bear would make his appearance, and the hunters would gather together and have a long and jolly hunt for Bruin. The hunting stories of those days cause the modern tales of the hunt to sink into insignificance. We delight to dilate upon those good old days, as they are represented to us by Mr. Huffaker. Now as to prices of their produce, wheat, the very best, brought only twenty-five cents, corn from eight to ten cents per bushel, and pork one dollar per hundred. Even at those low prices little or no sale could be obtained. There was a very limited amount of gold in the country, and this was controlled, for purposes of circulation by a very few men. Had it not been for the venison and other wild meat the settlers would have starved. Mr. H.'s wife died in 1833, leaving seven children to be cared for by the bereaved father. He was again married, at Springfield, in 1834, to Miss Frances J. Smith, daughter of Edwin Smith, Esq., of Xenia, Ohio. Ten children were born, of whom six are yet living to cheer their aged parents. Mr. H. remembers the passage of the Mormons on their way from Missouri to Nauvoo. Troops were raised in the neighborhood for the ward with Black Hawk, and other Indian chieftains. The details of the early location of Jacksonville are very amusing. Comfort, rather than fashion, was looked after, and the buildings were constructed with regard to substantiability rather than elegance. The first hotel was built of logs, was eighteen feet square,, and contained two rooms. It was kept by Mrs. Carson, who presided over her hostlery to the satisfaction of all. The city was the point to which all new arrivals came, and the hotel was generally filled with immigrants. Upon the founding of Illinois College, the city became noted for its educational facilities. This institution exerted a beneficial influence upon the heterogeneous mass of humanity which formed society at that time. When Mr. H. first came to Morgan county, not a cabin could be seen where now Jacksonville is situated. About two years afterwards, the state commissioners located the town. Springfield then was a small village, where they kept the land office. Vandalia was the capital, and the chief commercial point in the state. The scenes of the "deep snow" are yet fresh in his mind. Mr. H. fully corroborates the testimony of the other settlers, as given in the personal sketches. Truly, those were strange times, when the deer would not run at the sight of man. Thousands of deer, turkeys, etc., perished for the want of food. This was a great loss to the country, as the citizens depended upon them for food. Mr. H. is in his seventy-third years, and though afflicted with rheumatism at the present, yet his general health is good. For nearly fifty years he has exercised a great influence upon the surrounding country. Mr. H. is a true type of those sterling characters of the past generation. Through weal and woe he has kept the "even tenor" of his way, and won a solid reputation for honesty, industry, and public spirit. From a glance at the view of Mr. H.'s residence, among our illustrations, the reader can form some idea of the remarkable changes which have been wrought since his arrival in the county. The tall prairie grass has given place to the timothy and the blue grass; the wild Indian has been succeeded by the energetic farmer; and the rude log cabin by the elegant and palatial mansion. Everywhere the evidence of civilization presents itself and denotes the wondrous changes that have transpired since that important era in "Old Settler" history - "the Deep Snow." When Mr. Huffaker came to the state, his property consisted of two hundred dollars and twenty-five cents, and what household goods could be packed upon the back of a horse. He rode one horse and his wife another. The money, with the exception of the twenty-five cents, was invested in land, and the remainder was depended upon for food and other necessities. This incident indicates the poverty of our early fathers, and is a touching contrast the wealth, refinement, and luxuries of the present age.
He is a brother to Simpson David Huffaker (Our Grandfather)
Morgan County ILGenWeb © 2000
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s).
ATLAS BOOK OF MORGAN COUNTY, Illinois 1872. MICHAEL HUFFAKER. - This aged citizen was born on the 15th of June, 1800, in Wayne County, Kentucky. Wayne county, as regards soil, is one of the poorest in the state, and reminds the looker on of the most broken and rough portions of East Tennessee. The county joins Tennessee, and might easily be mistaken for a portion of the latter state. The grandfather of Mr. H. was of German extraction, and immigrated, with his people, to Virginia, when but a small lad. He married a girl of German birth, and had several children, among whom was Jacob, the father of the subject of this article. Jacob Huffaker was born in 1764. He married Margaret Bodkin. Miss Bodkin's family were of Irish extraction. She was born near King's Salt Works. About 1796, in company with two brothers, he came to Kentucky, and settled in Wayne county. The country was then a wilderness. Buffaloes, wolves, bears, and all manner of game, abounded. The distinguished pioneer, Daniel Boone, was then operating about one hundred miles north, and exploring that hitherto unknown country. The entire country was covered with a heavy growth of timber. The labors of the early settlers were extremely severe and wearisome. Trees were felled, hewed, and used in the construction of their houses and barns. Timber land was burned over in order to prepare for crops. These were only a portion of the troubles that perplexed the farmer. The soil was shallow and very poor in quality. Not being versed in agricultural chemistry, the land was soon rendered too poor for any crop. How little do we appreciate the struggles of those early farmers for the possession and maintenance of a home among those rugged hills. In spite of every obstacle they succeeded, at least, in populating the country, and adding to its wealth and influence.
Michael, at an early age, attended school in a little log house on the side of a steep hill. The school house was two miles distant. When the weather allowed farming he remained at home. In winter and foul days he attended to his learning. Brief was his scholastic career, and his absence from school so much prolonged that only a few principles were engrafted on his young mind. He labored for his father till after his twenty-first birthday, and then, inasmuch as he had had a desire to visit the prairies of the upper countries, he started on a grip through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. He wished to purchase land and have a home of his own. The trip was a pleasant one, until he reached the vicinity of Springfield, Illinois. When within six miles of the city he was seized with a sudden illness, which caused his delay for some time. As soon as he was able to mount his horse, he returned home to recuperate his health. He remained at home until the next summer. During the next year (1822), at the age of twenty-two, he was married to Miss Jane Bartleston, daughter of William Bartleston, Esq., an old settler of the state, and among the men of mark, whom the pioneers of that date were wont to honor and respect. In 1823 he started on another tour to Illinois, and arrived in Springfield during the winter of that year. He remained in Springfield until the spring when he came to Morgan County, and located in Mauvaisterre precinct, arriving there in the spring of 1824. Land could be purchased for one dollar and a quarter an acre, the choicest pieces only bringing that amount, at private or public sale, and upon the arrival of the emigrants, they had the selection of the finest prairie and timber land in the state. Jacksonville had no existence, and the hunter roamed over the present site of the city for deer and other game. Wolves prowled around the sheep fold, and greatly disturbed the new comer by preying upon his stock, and rendering the night hideous with their barking. Here and there upon the prairie huge piles of buffalo bones cold be perceived. Now and then a black bear would make his appearance, and the hunters would gather together and have a long and jolly hunt for Bruin. The hunting stories of those days cause the modern tales of the hunt to sink into insignificance. We delight to dilate upon those good old days, as they are represented to us by Mr. Huffaker. Now as to prices of their produce, wheat, the very best, brought only twenty-five cents, corn from eight to ten cents per bushel, and pork one dollar per hundred. Even at those low prices little or no sale could be obtained. There was a very limited amount of gold in the country, and this was controlled, for purposes of circulation by a very few men. Had it not been for the venison and other wild meat the settlers would have starved. Mr. H.'s wife died in 1833, leaving seven children to be cared for by the bereaved father. He was again married, at Springfield, in 1834, to Miss Frances J. Smith, daughter of Edwin Smith, Esq., of Xenia, Ohio. Ten children were born, of whom six are yet living to cheer their aged parents. Mr. H. remembers the passage of the Mormons on their way from Missouri to Nauvoo. Troops were raised in the neighborhood for the ward with Black Hawk, and other Indian chieftains. The details of the early location of Jacksonville are very amusing. Comfort, rather than fashion, was looked after, and the buildings were constructed with regard to substantiability rather than elegance. The first hotel was built of logs, was eighteen feet square,, and contained two rooms. It was kept by Mrs. Carson, who presided over her hostlery to the satisfaction of all. The city was the point to which all new arrivals came, and the hotel was generally filled with immigrants. Upon the founding of Illinois College, the city became noted for its educational facilities. This institution exerted a beneficial influence upon the heterogeneous mass of humanity which formed society at that time. When Mr. H. first came to Morgan county, not a cabin could be seen where now Jacksonville is situated. About two years afterwards, the state commissioners located the town. Springfield then was a small village, where they kept the land office. Vandalia was the capital, and the chief commercial point in the state. The scenes of the "deep snow" are yet fresh in his mind. Mr. H. fully corroborates the testimony of the other settlers, as given in the personal sketches. Truly, those were strange times, when the deer would not run at the sight of man. Thousands of deer, turkeys, etc., perished for the want of food. This was a great loss to the country, as the citizens depended upon them for food. Mr. H. is in his seventy-third years, and though afflicted with rheumatism at the present, yet his general health is good. For nearly fifty years he has exercised a great influence upon the surrounding country. Mr. H. is a true type of those sterling characters of the past generation. Through weal and woe he has kept the "even tenor" of his way, and won a solid reputation for honesty, industry, and public spirit. From a glance at the view of Mr. H.'s residence, among our illustrations, the reader can form some idea of the remarkable changes which have been wrought since his arrival in the county. The tall prairie grass has given place to the timothy and the blue grass; the wild Indian has been succeeded by the energetic farmer; and the rude log cabin by the elegant and palatial mansion. Everywhere the evidence of civilization presents itself and denotes the wondrous changes that have transpired since that important era in "Old Settler" history - "the Deep Snow." When Mr. Huffaker came to the state, his property consisted of two hundred dollars and twenty-five cents, and what household goods could be packed upon the back of a horse. He rode one horse and his wife another. The money, with the exception of the twenty-five cents, was invested in land, and the remainder was depended upon for food and other necessities. This incident indicates the poverty of our early fathers, and is a touching contrast the wealth, refinement, and luxuries of the present age.