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         JOHN HUFF, attorney-at-law, of Wapello, and a resident of Louisa County since 1851, is the son of Charles and Mary (Cobel) Huff, and was born at Oyster’s Point, Cumberland Co., Pa., Aug. 16, 1828. In the spring of 1832 his father moved to Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, and engaged in the wagon-making business. John was given the benefit of a common-school education, and was required to serve an apprenticeship in his father’s shop. In 1851 the family emigrated to Iowa, and located on a farm near Grand View, in Louisa County.

The following year, on the 25th of August, Mr. Huff was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia Robins, who was born near Wooster, Ohio, and whose father, Jonathan Robins, was also a native of the same State. Mr. Huff opened a wagon-shop at Grand View, which he carried on successfully for nineteen years. In the summer of 1870 he took the United States Census for that year, and at the fall election was chosen Clerk of the Court for Louisa County, was re-elected, and held that office for six consecutive terms, covering a period of twelve years, terminating in January, 1883. The experience acquired in the office led to the study of law, and he was admitted to the bar at the close of his last term. He at once established himself in practice at Wapello, making a specialty of probate business, real estate and collections. Mr. Huff has conducted a large and lucrative business, and is classed as one of the successful lawyers of Louisa County. He was a Free-Soiler in political sentiment in early manhood, and cast his first vote for John P. Hale for President, in 1851. On the formation of the Republican party he joined that organization and voted for Fremont in 1856, since which time he has actively identified himself with that party.

Mr. and Mrs. Huff have had two children, daughters: Mary E. is the wife of J. E. Saunders, of St. Joseph, Mo., and Mary M. was the wife of G. W. Thomas, the present Clerk of Court; her death occurred April 9, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are members of the Church of God, and are actively identified with that denomination. In the temperance cause Mr. Huff has always been an earnest advocate, and he is always a prominent worker in the Sunday-school. The Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school, of which he is the superintendent, under his able management has become among the largest and most prosperous Sunday-schools in the county.

Mr. Huff has now been a resident of Louisa County for thirty-seven years, during which time he has been in active business, either in a private or public capacity, and during that time has established an extensive acquaintance throughout the county. His record as a public officer shows him to have been competent, prompt and reliable in the discharge of duty, and courteous and accom- . . .

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. . . modating under all circumstances. In the discharge of his private business he is known as a painstaking, conscientious, business man, who can always be relied on to do that which he believes to be right and just, without fear or favor. As an earnest Christian he has been indefatigable in his efforts to promote the interests of religion, and especially active in behalf of the Sunday-school. In conclusion, it is but just to say of him that he enjoys, as he well deserves to, the esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens in the fullest sense.