For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 762
THOMAS J. HUFFMAN....A successful farmer of Orono township and also a popular public official, Thomas J. Huffman has by his industry, intelligent and enterprising spirit gained the confidence and respect of the entire community. He was born in Louisa county, Iowa, March 13, 1857, son of Thomas S., and Katherine ( Miller ) Huffman, the father being a native of new Jersey and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were married in the Keystone state and came west early in the ' 50s to Illinois, where they remained for several years, and then removed to Louisa count, Iowa. Mr. Huffman became one of the successful farmers of the county and was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. He departed this life in January, 1889, and his first wife died November 23, 1875, their remains being interred in Concord cemetery, Louisa county. There were eleven children in the family, namely : Mary, who married Jonathan Drake of Louisa county and is now deceased ; George, who was last heard of in California ; William, who was born October 23, 1848, and died February 25, 1862 ; James, of Western, Iowa ; Thomas J., the subject of this review ; Henry, of Illinois ; Charles F., of Dakota ; Johnson, of Kelerton, Iowa ; Amanda, the widow of Abner Ball of Louisa County ; Alice N., widow of William Storey of Wapello, Iowa ; and Martha E., now the wife of John Hank, living near Wapello. The father of these children was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Weber, a native of Germany, widow of Fred Weber. She passed away in 1904.Thomas J. Huffman received his early education in the district schools and continued at the parental home until he arrived at the age of twenty-two years. After engaging in farm work upon his own account for a short time he was married and rented land, which he cultivated to such good advantage that he was able in 1895 to purchase a farm near Conesville, Iowa. He has greatly improved the place and is recognized as one of the most energetic and successful farmers in this section.
On the 28th of June, 1882, Mr. Huffman was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Bede, who was born in Ohio, October 6, 1842, a daughter of William and Mary ( Price ) Bede. The father was a native of Scotland and the mother of Kentucky. Thery were married in Ohio and subsequently came to Van Buren county, Iowa, later removing to Louisa county, where Mr. Bede passed away in January, 1857. His wife died May 23, 1871, and was laid to rest beside her husband in Wapello cemetery. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bede : Mary, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Richard, who gave up his life for his country at the time of the Civil war ; Cynthia, now Mrs. Thomas J. Huffman ; Robert, of Nebraska ; Elizabeth, the wife of Israel Hill of Conesville ; Minerva, who became the wife of John Price of Illinois and is now deceased ; Jackson, who died at Conesville, February 7, 1910 ; and Nancy, who died in infancy. One child came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman. She was born September 11, 1883, and received a high school, education. She is now the wife of E. C. Snyder, of Conesville.
Socially, Mr. Huffman is identified with Lodge No. 8342, M. W. A. He and his family are valued members of the Reformed church of Conesville and are active workers in its behalf. Politically, he gived his support to the democratic party and although he has never urged his claims for public office he has served most acceptably as road supervisor, member of the school board and also for seven years as member of the city council. He is now mayor of Conesville, and as he gives to his public duties the same interest and energy that he devotes to his private affairs, his administration is proving highly satisfactory to the people of the community.
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