Biography - William J. Huff, M. D.

WILLIAM J. HUFF, M. D., of Prairie Home, is a graduate of the Medical Department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, one of the leading institutions of learning in the country, and in the practice of his profession he has acquired a fine reputation as a skillful and successful physician. He was born in Perry County, Ind., July 10, 1846, and comes of the old pioneer stock of that State.

William Huff, the father of our subject, was born in Spencer County, Ind., and was a son of Aquilla Huff, who was born near Harrodsburg, Ky., his parents, who were Virginians, being among the early settlers of that region.

The grandfather of our subject was reared in the wilds of Kentucky, and subsequently became an early pioneer of Indiana when it was a territory, locating in Spencer County, where he took up a tract of Government land, which he converted into a good farm, on which he spent his remaining days. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Rawlings, and who was likewise a native of Kentucky, also passed her last years on that Spencer County farm, where she had helped her husband to build up a home.

Dr. Huff's father was born in Spencer County, Ind., where he now lives. He was bred to the life of a farmer, and always followed agricultural pursuits until his retirement from active business. He is still living on his farm one mile from Troy, Perry County, Ind., where he enjoys the good will and respect of the community where so many years of his life have been passed. In early manhood he found a true helpmate and wife in the person of Margaret Davis, who was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Indiana in one of its pioneer homes. They reared three children — Joseph G., William J. and Henderson M. Joseph G. was a member of the Tenth Indiana Cavalry during the war, and give up his life for his country while in the service.

Our subject early displayed an ambition to obtain a good education, and after passing his boyhood in study in the public schools of Perry and Spencer Counties, and gaining a thorough knowledge of the common branches, at the age of seventeen he began teaching, and thereby earned the wherewithal to pursue his studies in the state University at Bloomington. In 1868 the young student was complimented by election to the office of County Surveyor of Spencer County, and he served satisfactorily four years, he began the study of medicine with Dr. G. F. Adge, of Newtonville, and later placed himself under the instruction of E. M. Anderson, of New Boston. In 1878 he entered the Medical Department of the state University at Ann Arbor, and was graduated from there in the Class of '80. Thus well-equipped for his chosen calling he entered upon its practical duties at St. Meinrad, Spencer County, where he remained a year. He then came to Illinois, and for a year and a half practiced at Macon. His next location was at Dalton, from which place he came to Prairie Home a year later, and ever since has been in practice here, and is recognized as one of our best physicians.

The Doctor's marriage with Miss Emma E. Avery, a native of Perry County, Ind., was celebrated August 15, 1882. They have two children living, James Karl and Catherine Maud. The Doctor and his amiable wife are among the most valued members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they are among our most agreeable society people.

Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 465-466.

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