Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
Heathcock Genealogy Database - Person Sheet
NameWilliam Henry Huff , GGG Uncle
Birth2 Jun 1829, Sevier Co TN
Death1887, Independence Co AR Age: 57
FatherJoseph Curran Huff III (1809-1882)
MotherLouvina Kear (1808-1901)
Spouses
Deathca 1864, Van Buren, MO299
Marriage14 Oct 1849, Madison Co MO299,1440
ChildrenMarcia Jane (1855-)
 Flora L. (1859-)
Birth18411441
Death7 Oct 1867, Poughkeepsie, AR299 Age: 26
Marriageca 1865, Poughkeepsie, Sharp Co AR
ChildrenDora (1866-1951)
 Caroline “Callie” (1867-1953)
ChildrenAlpha (1869-1919)
 William Monroe (1871-1915)
 Joseph Hampton (1873-1956)
 Mary E. (1875-1954)
 Warwick (1878-1957)
 Luvina (1880-1896)
 Lulubelle (1884-)
Notes for William Henry Huff
William Henry Huff was a Primitive Baptist preacher and constable of Ironton. By family tradition, he was Mayor of Irontown, MO, but this is unproven.

1850 Census of Dist 80, St Francois Co MO:
Name Age

William Huff 21 TN
Mary C Huff 20 TN

1860 Census of Ironton, Iron Co MO
Name Age

William Huff 30 TN Constable Iron Town
Mary C Huff 30 TN
Maria J Huff 4 MO
Flora L Huff 1 MO

William Huff1442 was born June 2, 1829, on his mother's birthday, in Sevier County, Tennessee. [The 1880 census of Independence County, Arkansas shows birthplace as "Ahraches Nation - or Tennessee". Could this have been Appache Indian Territory?]
Although he was a Primitive Baptist preacher, and it was his nature to expound on his doctrine, he never let this interfere with his secondary vocation, a peace officer, or constable. In 1860 Bill was the Constable of Arcadia, and this became a stepping stone to the job of Mayor of Ironton. [ Unproved.]

Sometime before 1860, while still living at Ironton, Richard Rouse and his wife Betty - Bill Huff's sister - were living near Ironton at a wood coaling. Two women had put up a pole shanty nearby and then - and every payday - these two women would get the men's pay, luring them into the shanty with soft words and meaningful promises of pleasure. The men's wives decided to do what was completely within their right - run those harlots out of the camp.

One night, while the two women were practicing their vocation, Betty Huff Rouse and the wives stole out to the camp, tiptoed up to the shanty and before the two women and their partners knew what happened, the shanty was pulled down upon their heads.
When Richard "Dick" Rouse heard of his wife's escapade, a shouting match ensued, and a neighbor, who had heard Dick say he, was going to whip Betty, quickly found Bill and told him the story.

Bill vowed vengeance on any man who would whip his sister, husband or not, and was just about to ride out to the shanty to save his sister's hide when the wives burst tnrouqh the door, demanding a warrant be issued against the prostitutes. Bill had no choice. He took a wagon out to the shanty and loaded up all the women involved, the harlots and their babies and the town wives, Betty too, all riding in the same wagon.

Bill told the women to plead guilty, then he paid their fine, and took the harlots and their babies back to the Camp. The wives, waiting for further word, upon Bill's return were told that they had done a good deed; however, they were toId that if they went back to the camp, there would be nothing left for Bill to do but arrest the wives for disorderly conduct as had been decided upon by the court. So the affair ended at that.

Betty's hide had been saved.

He appears to have played a role in initiating the Battle of Pilot Knob. While was Mayor of Ironton during the civil war, he had definite Southern tendencies. In a discussion with his father, Joseph, Bill wondered what Joseph thought would happen if the Confederate flag were to be raised on the court-house flagpole. Joseph’s reaction was immediate, “Do that and I’ll guarantee you that within 24 hours the whole country-side will be swarming with Yankees.”

Bill, having a mind of his own, along with two buddies raised the flag. Whether it was done as one of the notorious Huff jokes, or in deadly seriousness, the consequence was just that . . . . deadly. Within 24 hours over a thousand federal troops were sent to Pilot Knob by train, andone of the most bloody battles of the war was fought in which over 1200 men were killed or wounded in less than an hour, the Battle of Pilot Knob, that took place n September 27, 1864. Most of the wounded and dead were Confederates.

When Bill heard of the mass movement of the federal troops, he and his two friends fled for their lives, after making swift plans for their families to meet them in (Indepencence Co) Arkansas.

Bill had married Mary Caroline Hampton on October 14, 1849, and had two small girls when he left for Arkansas in a hurry, making arrangements for Caroline to join him as soon as possible. Caroline and the two girls, Marcia and Flora got as far as Van Buren, Missouri, when Caroline suctdeniy became sick and died. Caroline’s parents came to get the girls after they had been
notified by the townspeople that their daughter had died, most likely succumbng to the fever and complication of measles.
The two girls were raised by the grandparents, Joseph and Luvina Huff and the Hamptons, of Annapolis, alternating the responsibility. When the girls married they were living with their Hampton grandparents.

Bill settled in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas, where he married a Miss Thompkins (may have been Marcella Thompkins), and had two more daughters, Dora and Carolyn "Callie". However, when Callie was only three days old, her motlier died. October 7, 1867.

Bill was left with the two tiny daughters, the oldest only about 18 months old. So he married Martha S. Tompkins, the younger sister of his second wife, and had eight more children.
Notes for William Henry Huff
William and Caroline's children:1442

(1) Marcia J. Huff, born October, 1855, Arcadia, Mo., married Lavaga Self, ApriI b, 1873. Lavaga, known as "Bud", was born November, 1849. In the 1900 census Marcia and Bud were living in Benton Township, Wayne County, Mo. They bought property from J. G. Clarkson, Dec. 23, 1890, southeast of Piedmont, Mo.

They had six children in 1900, of which only four were living. Known chiIdren were:
Emery Self, born April, 1876.
Ruthie Self, born September, 1884.
Walter Self, born August, 1890. Walter was the spitting image of Art hur Huff, grandson of William Huff and Mary Kear; they could have easily passed as brothers. Walter had a mental condition and spent a lot of time in foster homes or institutions and when he could get away he always went to his favorite place - Great Aunt Caroline Scoggin's home. It was always easy to see why she was his favorite person; her door was always open to the needy. Even though he frightened Caroline, she never let him know it, and in her kind and compassionate way, she took Walter back to where he belonged.

(2) Flora L. Huff was born in 1859. She married William M. Westbrock and had five children, Vira, William, Sam, Luther and Polly Westbrook.

William and Marcella Thompkins' children:

(3) Dora Huff was born April 30, 1866. She was married four times. Her first husband (1) Sam Smith, (2) Freddie Prince by whom she had two children:
James Prince died while young.
Delia Prince married Bill Gower.
Dora then married (3) Caleb Eubanks and ( 4) J. A. Baker. She outlived all four of her husbands. She died at the age of 85, in 1951.

(4) Carolyn "Callie" Huff was born October 4, 1867. She married (1) Jim Brundrett and had one child: Addie Brundrett died soon after her marriaqe. Callie then married (2) John Bowen; had nine children; died Aug. 7, 1953.
Lottie Bowen married a Rich.
John Bowen married a Sulllivan.
Laura Bowen married Joe Rich.
Dickson Bowen married a Stafford.
Mattie Bowen married a Williams.
Connie Bowenmarried a Cobb.
Evell Bowen
Worley Bowen
Burley Bowen

William and Martha Thompkins’ children:

(5) Alpha Huff, born 1869, died 1919, married Will Wright and had one son. Clarence Wright.

(6) William Munroe Huff, born December 25, 1871, died January 20, 1.915, married Edna Tucker and had three children:
Virgie Huff, married an Engles.
Addie Huff. married a Blue.
William Munroe Huff, Jr.married Agnes Lucy.

(7) Joseph Hampton Huff, born January 29, 1873, in Huff, Independence Co., Arkansas, maried Lula Lee Hall, December 12, 1897. Lula was born Jan. 30, 1878 in Alabama. Joseph died July 24, 1956 in Vernon, Texas and Lula died January 24, 1965 in Bowie, Texas.
Joseph A. Huff born November 18, 1898 in Salado, Arkansas, married Zelta Beard, Feb. 19, 1925 in Tahoka, Texas. Zelta was born duly 8, 1905 in Petersburg, II. They have one son and live in Clovis, New Mexico.
Joseph A. Huff, Jr., born Jan. 16, 1926, Lubbock, Texas, married Mary Peck, Sept. 24, 1950. Mary was born Nov. 19, 1930 in Wichita, Kan.
Cheryl Jean Huff born July 15, 1951, Boulder, Colorado. Rona d Paul Huff, born April 29, 1953, Aberdeen, S. D.
Barney Lee Huff born Feb. 7, 1900 in Salado, Arkansas, married Vonnie Allen Robert, Nov. 13, 1921. Vonnie was born April 17, 1904. They are now living in Ryan, Oklahoma.
Robert Lee Huff was born July 10, 1923 in Seagraves, Texas. He married Ruby Dean Miracle, May 7, 1945 in Frederick, OK. Ruby was born Dec. 4, 1924.
Barbara Jean Huff born Aug. 7, 1948, Wictiita Fa!ls, Texas.
Allen Lee Huff was born Dec. 3, 1949, Wichita Falls, Texas.
Terry Bert Huff was born March 11, 1951, AItus, Ok.
Elizabeth Diane Huff, born March 11, 1957, Altus, Ok.
Ena Lee Huff born Sept. 30, 1929, Ringgold, Tx., married Dec. 1, 1917, Ryan, Ok., Hoyd W. Gunter, born Aug. 25, 1927. Now living in Binger, Oklahoma.
David Welton Gunter, born Aug. 29, 1948, Waurika, Ok.
Robert Michael Gunter, born Oct. 6, 1953, Durant, Ok.
Stephen Craig Gunter, born Dec. 30, 1954, Durant, Ok .

(8) Mary E. Huff born in 1875, married Sam T. Willis, died 1954 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. No children.

(9) Warwick Huff, born Feb. 27, 1878, died Feb. 23, 1957, married Molly Tucker. Children:
Inez Huff, maried a Bruce.
Clarence E. Huff worked for a Chevrolet dealer in Batesville, Arkansas, and married Fannie Choat. He died before 1982.

(10) Luvina Huff, born April !2, 1880, while only at the age of 6, was ironing by an open fireplace and was very badly burned. She died from her wound, June 11, 1896.
Notes for Mary Caroline (Spouse 1)
Caroline died in 1864 while travelling from Iron Co MO to Arkansas, shortly after the Battle of Pilot Knob.299
Last Modified 5 Apr 2022Created 3 Jul 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh
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