Perrin Cuppy Huffman

HUFFMAN, BAIRD, BARNARD, HOLMES

Posted By: Allamakee co. Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/21/2007 at 04:37:51

PERRIN CUPPY HUFFMAN (1832–1894)

Huffman had a studio in Waukon, Allamakee County, in the 1870s through the 1890s. Was in partnership as Huffman & Barnard, Huffman & Son and P. C. Huffman & Lady. His son, Laton, was the famous Montana photographer, L. A. Huffman. A prominent series was “Northeastern Iowa Views.” In 1870 census, he was 37 years old born in Ohio, married to Chasta M., aged 38, who is also listed as a photographer and was also born in Ohio. Daughter Dell, aged 17, born in Ohio and son Laton aged 15, born in Iowa.

From 'The Frontier Years: L. A. Huffman, Photographer of the Plain', 1955, p. 27: “Laton Alton Huffman was born October 31, 1854, on a frontier farm near Castalia, Iowa. His father, Perrin Cuppy Huffman, was the grandson of a German emigrant; his mother's maiden name was Chastina M. Baird. Laton had no brothers and only one sister, Ardelle - or Dell as he usually called her. His father moved to Waukon, Iowa, in 1865, where he opened a photographic studio. Farm work in these times required both brawn and endurance, for the labor was heavy and the hours were often from daylight to dark, and since both father and son were of slight build it is not strange that the father sought a new occupation. He (Laton) later returned home to work in his father's shop until he had learned the techniques of photography and then, when about 21 he opened a studio of his own in Postville.”

There are seven examples of this photographer's work in the SHSI collection, four as Huffman & Barnard, one as P. C. Huffman, and two as P. C. Huffman & Son.

A laudatory obituary appears in the Waukon newspaper in July 1894 explaining that Huffman died in

“...his studio on Saturday, July 7, 1894 at age 61 years, 11 months, and 16 days. Mr. Huffman was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 21, 1832 where he grew to manhood. September 21, 1851 he was married to Miss Chasta M. Baird. They removed to Iowa and established a home near Castalia, Winneshiek Co., in 1854 and in 1855 they removed to Waukon, which has been his home ever since. To them were born two children who survive him - Layton A., now residing in Miles City, Montana, and Della, wife of Alonzo A. Barnard of Waukon. The companion of his early life died March 16, 1875 and August 12, 1880, he was married to Miss Susie R. Holmes at Lansing, who survives him.”

~source: 'Stereo Photographers, A-Z'; State Historical Society of Iowa, research collection