The earliest information we have on the Huffaker family is an entry in the log of the good ship Loyal Judith of London that one Michael Huffaker set sail from Rotterdam and that this voyage ended in Chesapeake Bay in the year 1730.
John Michael Huffaker had four sons all of whom came at that time. They went to York Town, Pennsylvania. Michael, mentioned above, married Catherine Kitsby who was born in Germany in 1736. They later moved to Washington County, Virginia. Michael founded the first Methodist church on land which he donated. The family lived in a large log home which he called Greenfield. They had nine children.
Michael's son Jacob migrated to Wayne County, Kentucky. Jacob married Margaret Bodkin February 8, 1793 in Knoxville, Tenn. She was born in Virginia in 1770, the daughter of Hugh and Hester Bodkin.
They spelled their name Hoeffaker until that time then changed the spelling to Huffaker. Jacob settled on a farm near Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky. They had ten children there, Simpson David being the ninth. In 1829 Jacob sold the farm and moved to Morgan County , Illinois.
Simpson David Huffaker was born July 23, 1812. He was seventeen when the family moved to Illinois. They were farming people, but Simpson David had a natural aptitude for all kinds of woodwork and cabinet making and did necessary carpenter work and repairing on the farm. He also taught school in Illinois before he was married. He married Susan Green Robinson February 26, 1836. He was baptized into the L.D.S. Church September 20, 1842 in Bureau Creek, Illinois. They moved to Nauvoo in the spring of 1845. His wife and new baby died in 1845, leaving him with four children. He married Elizabeth Melvina Richardson in January 1846 who was seventeen at the time.
There was a great deal of bitterness toward those who joined the Mormon Church at that time and they were threatened with violence if they didn't leave Nauvoo and the State. Simpson David joined the Spartan Band of Nauvoo and started making plans for leaving. There was a great deal of firing and fighting and during an attack a cannon ball struck the chimney of their house.
Sometime before this Simpson had sold several thousand dollars worth of property. Before leaving they tied the money in a sock and threw it in the cellar under the steps in five or six inches of water. His wife was so frightened she and the children started for the hills. They hadn't gone very far when she heard a horseman shouting at them to stop and soon she saw that it was Simpson. He told her they had to hurry and pack what belongings they could take with them and leave Nauvoo in twenty-four hours.
In preparation for this he had five large boxes made to fit his two wagons to carry their provisions and belongings. He made a folding table and chairs to fasten on the side of the wagon to take and use when they camped. He fastened a box on the end of one wagon to carry their five chickens. He took an old well bucket and put his money in it and then filled it up with old iron, nails, and horse shoes. He put it in the front end of one of the wagons. He had two wagons with oxen and a white top buggy drawn by horses for the family. They had to leave their home and all of their nice furniture and other belongings.
When Simpson and family reached the banks of the Mississippi River, they were stopped by the mob to search their wagons for money and firearms. The men who could not swim had to slip away before it was light and go up the river and cross to the other side and remain in hiding. If they were caught the mob would baptize them in the name of Joe Smith and hold them under water for a long time. Then they would toss them out of the river and say "Now call on Joe Smith to help you." Some of the men nearly lost their lives and had to be helped out of the river. Simpson could not swim so he left with the others.
The "Mobocrats" (as they called them) knew that Simpson had sold his farm and they searched his wagons three times for the money and his guns. Each time they would throw everything out of the boxes and leave the wagons in a terrible condition. About the time things were put in place again the mob would return. Simpson had taken a new gun apart and hid the parts in different boxes. The last time the "mobocrats" found one part of the gun, and then continued looking until they found all of it. They sat on the well bucket while searching the wagon, but never disturbed it. They had an older gun which was hidden in sand and two pistols and cartridges in a belt. Elizabeth fastened the belt around her waist and put on a mother hubbard dress. After the mob had left, they proceeded on their journey across the river. After all the company had crossed the river, they started for the Great Salt Lake Valley and traveled as far as the Des Moines River in Iowa where Simpson took the fever and ague. Because of his illness they wintered there.
In the spring of 1847 the group started again to pursue their journey to the Valley and joined the camp at Winter Quarters. They were organized under Jedadiah M. Grant as Captain of one hundred, Willard Snow, Captain of fifty, Simpson Huffaker, Captain of ten men. They crossed the plains and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley October 6, 1847.
They lived in their wagon box until they could build a home. It took some time to go to the canyon, cut the logs, and haul them down to get enough for their house. The first child of Simpson and Elizabeth, David Simpson, was born in the wagon box November 6, 1847. The houses were built in a circle facing the inside, with the windows and doors on the inside. There were small holes in the back to put a gun through to fire if necessary as a protection from the Indians. The children and chickens were to be on the inside and the gardens and animals on the outside. They lived there for eighteen months.
In the spring of 1848 Simpson and several other men went out about nine miles southeast of Salt Lake City and filed on a farm of 160 acres each, now South Cottonwood Ward. Simpson built a house, shed, etc. in the bottom land where the "springs" were. He moved his family out in the spring of 1849 but he retained his home in the city.
On November 12, 1849 he left for San Francisco, California and was Captain of about seventy men. They went to look for gold and get some money to help build their homes and take care of their families. Simpson was a handy carpenter and could make most anything. He made cradles to use in harvesting grain. He received $10.00. for each one of these. He made more money at that than mining for gold. He made hundreds of cradles and worked so steadily at it he became ill with a fever and was very sick for two or three months. Everything was so expensive, he paid so much for his room, doctors and nurses, that he spent all of his money. He had to borrow money to come home on. He arrived home November 12, 1850 just one year from the time he left.
On September 28, 1852 he married Elizabeth Ann Brady. These were the days when polygamy was accepted in the Mormon Church. His first wife, Susan, had died. He had married Elizabeth M. Richardson in 1846, so Elizabeth Brady was his third wife. Later he married Rhoda Priscilla Barnum Henry, a widow, on March 24, 1856. We are descendants of Elizabeth Ann Brady through her daughter Frances Matilda Huffaker.
Elizabeth Ann was the daughter of Lindsay Anderson Brady and Elizabeth Ann Hendrickson. Lindsey was born June 11, 1811 in Kentucky and Elizabeth, October 23, 1815. They joined the Mormon church which was founded in 1830 and went to Missouri where their first four children were born - 3 boys and one girl. They endured many of the hardships and persecutions that were inflicted upon all who claimed any allegiances to the Mormon faith. Their daughter Elizabeth was born on March 3, 1839 in Far West, Missouri. When she was 3 weeks old, her father and his family were driven out of Missouri and they moved to Nauvoo. Elizabeth lived there eight years with her parents, and during that time they built a little home and planted an orchard. While there she visited the Kirtland Temple, and heard Joseph Smith preach to the Indians. She was also there when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred.
Shortly after that they were all driven out of Nauvoo by those hostile to them and their beliefs, and they had to hunt for a new place to live. Her parents had only two old wagons and one yoke of oxen. They loaded what few belongings they could into their wagons, and started on the long journey to Council Bluffs. They moved to winter quarters by the Missouri River. Her grandparents came with them as far as Council Bluffs. In the spring they made a temporary home where they stayed for 3 years preparing for the journey to Utah. On June 11, 1850 they left for Utah. Elizabeth, age 11, pushed a hand cart on foot all the way. They arrived there September 18, 1850. They located at Fort Union, Salt Lake County, Utah.
The fall of 1856 Simpson was ordained one of the Seven Presidents of the 9th Quorum of Seventies. On September 10, 1856 Simpson and Elizabeth M. and baby went to Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois on business in company of Parley P. Pratt and others. Simpsons parents were dead and he had gone back to get his share of the property, expecting to stay with his brother while there. His brother would not let them stay on account of the neighbors' hatred of the Mormons. Simpson built a one room cabin on his brother's land and lived in it while they were there. They then went to Lee County, Illinois, where Elizabeth's parents lived. Soon after arriving Elizabeth became very ill, and it was about three months before she was able to travel to St. Louis, Missouri, to buy provisions to take back to Salt Lake.
Simpson bought five wagons, harnesses, oxen and horses, and several hundred pound sacks of sugar, three Charter Oak cook stoves with four holes, oven and hearth. They bought three bolts each of muslin, gingham, shirting, dress goods, etc., and foods that were a scarcity. The wagons were full of everything a large family would need in wearing apparel, household, and farming needs. Each wagon had the name HUFFAKER painted on each side so it would be easier for all to keep together. He hired drivers to help bring the wagons out.
Two wagons were fastened together, Elizabeth M. drove the White Top buggy drawn by horses. They had several stampedes of the oxen while crossing the plains and each time some would be lost and so every family suffered a loss. One man drove his wagon across the road thinking it would stop the stampede, but they ran right over it. Before they reached the Salt Lake Valley, many of the wagons were lost. They were afraid they would have to camp and have the ones who were able to, go ahead and send back help. However, Homer Duncan of Salt Lake City, came to meet the Company and brought oxen along to sell. They were mostly poor converts from Europe and were without money to buy oxen. Mr. Duncan would not let them have the oxen unless someone would go their security. The only one who could was Simpson. He paid several hundred dollars for them and they were to pay him back as soon as they could. The only pay he ever received was one five year old white cow, from a widow and her son.
Simpson kept two wagons. He gave one to his married daughter, Rozella, who was married to John Pulsipher. Pulsipher had been called to settle St. George, Utah. He sold the rest of the wagons and harnesses, also three or four hundred dollars worth of provisions. He then sent east for a thresher for all the farmers. They worked up to Christmas before they finished the harvest. He caught such a cold he could not work on the thresher the next year. The boys were old enough to take the responsibility. He sold the thresher to three men who were to pay for it in three payments, but they never did pay him. He never pressed those who owed him. He'd rather lose it. While they were away, the children had smallpox, and three died.
In the spring of 1858 Simpson moved south, stopping at Lehi, Utah County, Utah. While there an Indian borrowed his gun, promising to bring it back at a certain number of moons from that time. His friends laughed at him for trusting an Indian, but at the very day of the appointed time, the Indian returned with the gun. He and Simpson were fast friends from that time on.
Simpson and the settlers dug a ditch from the canyon through the upper land for household purposes and for irrigating the land. He then built his houses, sheds, etc., on the upper land. He built two houses and a granary of adobe brick, which he and his boys made. In the early 70's he sold his city property and moved to the farm. In the early 80's he built a brick house from his wife's mother's money which she had received from her parents' estate. It was lined with adobe. He also built a blacksmith and carpenter shop of adobe.
He raised sugar cane and made molasses in his own mill which he had built. It was run by one horse. He had a fine farm and it was well kept. It was divided in that all the buildings and the garden were built on the upper land. Splendid orchards and crops were grown. The lower land made a wonderful pasture with five or six running springs and a winding creek with good clear water and plenty of mountain trout. It ran directly from the canyon and made a channel close to the house.
Simpson was well to do and could furnish equipment for his sons at any time. He was ready to send his sons to protect the people against the Indians. When he heard that Johnstone's Army was coming, he sent his son, Lewis, and three men with supplies to help.
Simpson was called to go and help settle the south. Elizabeth wove blankets, cloth for clothing, and carpets for three families. They worked very hard for several months to get things ready. He sold what he could not take with them. His horses and cattle were turned in at the tithing office at Cottonwood. He would receive others in return at St. George.
Bishop Cahoon, of his ward, didn't want him to go as he felt he could not spare him. He sent a message to Brigham Young and told him that Simpson was the richest man in the ward and that he paid as much tithing as all the rest of the Ward. When asked for donations, he gave three-fourths of the amount. So Brigham Young gave permission for him to remain at Cottonwood.
He was Selectman or Commissioner for Salt Lake County from 1854 to 1858. He was a good provider and always kept his home and farm machinery in good condition. His gardens and orchards were well kept. He did his own building and blacksmithing. He had a well equipped carpentry shop. He made beds, cupboards, chairs, desks, and wardrobes, etc. not only for his own families but for his neighbors. He made the adobes for his own buildings, cut the lumber, and hauled it from the canyons to make the furniture for the interior.
His table was always bounteously supplied with the best and most varied of fruits and vegetables and meats and his hospitality was of the kindest and most generous.
In the early days Simpson made shoes for the family and kept them mended. He had an ice house which was kept filled in summer and packed with saw dust. He had a wonderful cool milkhouse which kept milk and butter as cool as the refrigerators of today. A waterwheel turned the churn and the labor saving devices in the house and outside. He was Ward Choir leader when the South Cottonwood Ward was first organized. Elizabeth M. sang in the Choir. He never sought for positions or notoriety, but was extremely modest and unobtrusive. He was a man, however, of sterling integrity and unswerving faith, and filled with honor every office to which he was called. He was essentially a home man.
Simpson died at his home in South Cottonwood October 25, 1891. The services were held in the family residence, according to his expressed wish and buried in the family cemetery on the farm. This information is authentic as it was taken from Simpson's diary and information given to Pearl Perry McLelland (Genealogist for the Huffaker Descendants).
Continue to Chapter 3, The John Lort Lewis Family page and the rest of the history,
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