Tombstone Tuesday–George F. Huffman

George F. Huffman, Chattanooga Mausoleum, Mercer County, Ohio. (2017 photo by Karen)

This is the mausoleum marker of George F. Huffman, located in the Chattanooga Mausoleum, Mercer County, Ohio. The vault is inscribed:

Father
George F. Huffman
1853-1937

George Ferdinand Huffman was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 29 June 1853 according to Zion’s Familienbuch. He was the son of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Hartzog/Herzog) Hoffman. This record indicates that he was baptized in Mercer County, Ohio, but I did not find his baptism record at Zion Chatt.

The Huffman family lived south of Chatt and had a Skeels Cross Roads Post Office address in 1860. George was enumerated in the 1860 census when he was 7 years old. [1]

The family attended Zion Chatt for a time and George was confirmed there on Palm Sunday, 21 March 1869.

In 1870, at age 17, George worked on the family farm, living with parents and seven siblings. [2]

George Huffman married Sarah Rosanna Dodge on 16 August 1877 in Adams County, Indiana, married by Thomas E. Macy. [3]

In 1880 the couple lived in Liberty Township where George worked as a carpenter. They had one child, Burley, spelled Burleigh here, a 1 year old boy, although the relationship was not given on this enumeration. Later information shows Burley was indeed their son. Their household in 1880: George, 25; Sarah R, 23; and Burleigh, 1. [4]

By 1900 the George Huffman family had moved across the state line and resided in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. They had moved to Indiana in about 1884, where daughter Emma was reportedly born. Their household in 1900: George F, 46; Sarah, 44; Burley, 24; Emma, 16; Nora, 13; Mary 10; Maggie, 8; and Francis, 3. George and Sarah had been married 23 years and six of their seven children were living. George farmed. [5]

In 1910 only two of their children still lived at home with their parents George and Sarah on their Adams County, Indiana, farm: Maggie, 18, and Francis, 13. Five of the seven Huffman children were still living. George and Sarah lived next door to their son Burley, who was married to Maggie. [6]

George and Sarah still resided in Jefferson Township with son Francis H, age 22, in 1920. George was 63 and Sarah was 61. George was a general farmer and Francis helped on the farm. [7]

The last census George was enumerated in was the 1930 census: George F, 77, and Rosanna, 73, living next door to their son Francis, his wife Effie, and their three children. George’s occupation was livestock farmer. [8]

George Ferdinand Huffman died of pneumonia, senility, and paralysis on 18 January 1937 in Chattanooga, Ohio, according to Zion Chatt’s records. This record indicates he was 83 years, 6 months, and 20 days old and was buried on the 20th. He was survived by his wife, 3 children, 20 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 4 brothers, and 2 sisters.

According to his death certificate he died of lobar pneumonia which he had had since 13 January. This record gives his age as 82 years, 6 months, and 18 days. His wife was the informant for the information on his death certificate and she indicated that they lived in Chatt, where he died. Wells and Byer Funeral Home of Geneva were in charge of the arrangements. [9]

George F. and Sarah (Dodge) Huffman had 7 children:
Burley (1878-1948), married Margaret “Maggie” (Engle) Fetters
Emma V (1884-1903)
Nora (1887-1971), married Welker Woodruff
Mary Olga (1889-1920), married William G Bollenbacher
Margaret “Maggie” Iona (1892-1976), married Jacob Dewald Bollenbacher
Francis H (1896-1988), married Effie Boice
Clarence (1900-1900)

Chattanooga Mausoleum

George’s wife Sarah is buried next to him in the mausoleum.

 

[1] 1860 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.358, dwelling 998, family 1003, Fred Hoofman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 805009, NARA microfilm M653, roll 1009.

[2] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.147A, Dwelling 78, family 72, Finland Hoffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 552742, NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[3] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” FamilySearch.org, George Hoffman & Rosanna Dodge, 16 Aug 1877; Adams County Marriages, FHL microfilm 2321470.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.474C, dwelling 50, family 53, George Hoffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1255048, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.11A, dwelling & family 198, Geo F Huffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1240357, NARA microfilm T623, roll 357.

[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, Ed 4, p.2A, dwelling & family 34, George Huffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1374351, NARA microfilm T624, roll 338.

[7] 1920 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.7B, dwelling 148, visited 158, George F Huffman; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T625, roll 420.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.4B, dwelling 94, family 95, George F Huffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 2340309, NARA microfilm T626, roll 574.

[9] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, George Huffman, 18 Jan 1937; Liberty, Mercer, reference 5214; FHL microfilm 2023488.

 

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