| Notes |
- Submitted to Mrs Lou Chauncey Wheeler, Historian, Coldwater Chapter of D.A.R. by M. Belle Huff Schmedlen (3rd child by 2nd wife of Henry Huff):
Henry Huff resided in New York for a few years prior to moving to Michigan in 1834. He and his brother and family made the trip in a covered wagon. The wagon became home until they could fell trees to build a log house.
In 1840, Henry Huff married Mariah Franklin. Mariah died in 1847 leaving one daughter, Sarah. In 1851, Henry Huff married Mary Briggs of Honeoye, New York. They had three daughters; Fannie, Eva and Mary Belle.
Henry Huff bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Hillsdale County, Michigan. He, with the help of one hired man, cleared the land with an ox team. They often averaged two acres per day. Huff rapidly acquired a fortune, by hard but ingenious labor. He improved his stock by importing cattle from his native state, New Jersey, and sheep from Vermont. He was one of the first importers in Michigan and paid as high as $3,000 for one sheep. His stock was on exhibition at fairs and received their merited first premiums. Huff also gave great care to the raising of 1" bees and was a large honey dealer. He was one of the men who established the Hillsdale County Fair.
Henry Huff was also one of the founders of Hillsdale College. He served the County as Supervisor for a period of nine years and served in the Michigan State Legislature two terms as Senator. His portrait still hangs in the Hillsdale County Court House.
Henry Huff was one of a few successful men who were willing to share the honor of their prosperity equally with his wife. In describing Mary Briggs Huff, it had been said; "A more thorough lady, and one more willing to help and encourage her husband, and more ready to assist the poor, is seldom found in any community."
Mr. and Mrs. Huff were members of the Methodist Church. They both sang in the choir for many years. Henry Huff died at the age of fifty-nine, honored and beloved by all who knew him. His untimely death was caused from the effects of an injury received when his team of spirited horses ran away at the Hillsdale County Fair.
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1817 - 1877 (60 years)
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