Huffmanj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN S. HUFFMAN started in life
on a tract of land near Davenport with almost nothing he could call his
own, and is now one of the wealthiest farmers of his county. He makes
his home in Davenport. He was the son of Elijah and Amanda (Markham)
Huffman, both natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Bushnell, Illinois,
the date thereof being May 26, 1859.
Mr. Huffman's father died in Illinois, and
in 1867 the subject accompanied his mother to St. Joe, Missouri, and the
following year to Neosho county, Kansas, where he grew to manhood.
He was married to Ida M. Samples, November
29, 1884. Mrs. Huffman was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, and
was the daughter of George W. and Sarah A. (Custard) Samples, both native
Kentuckians, in which state the father, a veteran of the Civil war, is
still living. She came with her parents to Neosho county in 1869,
and to Pacific county, Washington, in 1887, where the family engaged first
in fishing, and later in the flour, feed and grain selling business.
They also conducted the first drug store ever opened in the town of Ilwaco,
the old building still standing in a class by itself in the little town.
In February, 1898, Mr. Huffman brought his
family to Davenport, having purchased a tract of land there in 1890, and
engaged in farming. In 1901 he combined stock raising with farming,
and has made a signal success of the business. He now owns eight
hundred and sixty-three acres of well cultivated and productive land four
miles southeast of Davenport, stocked with finely bred horses, cattle,
and hogs. He also has a handsome home in Davenport, where he resides,
a half interest in a large warehouse of which his brother, George W., owns
the other half, and a city residence in Ilwaco.
An active fraternity man, he is a member of
the A. F. and A. M., the W. W., the A. O. U. W., and the Maccabees.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman consists
of six children, as follows: Charles F., born in Kansas; Newton, Raymer
V., Edgar, and Astor, born in Pacific county, Washington; and May Belle,
a native of Davenport.
Mr. Huffman is one of the substantial and
well-to-do business men of the county of Lincoln.
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