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.
