From Proud Heritage, Vol 1. by DCPA, not currently in print
John and Elizabeth Wright Huffhines came to Dallas County in 1853 from their home in Simpson County, Kentucky. With them came eleven of their fourteen children. William and George had married and brought their families with them. The families of Christopher Columbus and Philemon Wright Huffhines and Thomas and Fannie Huffhines Saunders came in 1852. David, John’s younger brother, and wife Nancy Heffington Huffhines came earlier. They purchased land from Alexander Thomas in November 1850. John’s widowed sister Elizabeth Williams and children joined the other Huffhines who settled vast acres along what later became Valley View Lane and Spring Valley from near Alpha on Preston Road to Abrams in Richardson.
John Huffhines was born in North Carolina on 15 August 1800, one of the seven children born to Christopher or Christian and Mary Williard Huffhines, who moved to Logan County, Kentucky by 1802, before the creation of Simpson County in 1819. Christopher was a charter member of the Shady Grove Baptist Church when it was organized 15 May 1841 in Simpson County. This church granted letters of transfer to John and Elizabeth on 27 August 1853.
Elizabeth Wright was born on 23 February 1805 in Warren County, Kentucky, the daughter of William and Fanny Campbell Wright, who had eleven children to reach maturity. William and Fanny married on 11 December 1800 in Warren County, sold their farm near Smiths Grove to Augustin Clayton on 9 May 1817, and were in Simpson County by 1820. (Clayton later sold this farm to William’s brother George, the grandfather of Nancy Wright, who married John and Elizabeth’s son William Huffhines.) John Huffhines and Elizabeth Wright married 8 March 1821 in Simpson County, when she was sixteen years old. Her parents moved from Simpson County after 1823. They were in Henry County, Tennessee, by 1830. In 1840 they lived in Tishomingo, Mississippi. They returned to Benton County, Tennessee, where William died, probably in late 1859. A notice appeared in the West Tennessee Whig, Jackson, Tennessee, on 27 January 1860 commanding the non-resident of Tennessee heirs of William Wright to appear in court regarding the disposition of his estate. Among those non-residents were John “Huffhinds” and wife Elizabeth. They had come to Dallas County in 1853. Fanny lived to a very old age, living with her daughter Mahala Dowell in Benton County, Tennessee in 1870.
Through good and hard times the family struggled to remain close and together. One of the best means was through faith in God. The desire for a Baptist Church and house of worship in their neighborhood was strong, and in 1865 their dream became a reality. Reverend Robert F. Butler and Reverend Joe J. Butler organized a Baptist Church named Mount Calvary. (The site is now known as the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.) John Huffhines, many of his family members and close friends were charter members. John’s name was the first one on the roster and it was his dying request that his name be kept on the church record so his descendants and friends might know that as he was a Baptist in life, so he was in death. The church was later moved to Richardson and became the First Baptist Church.
The children of John and Elizabeth, all born in Simpson County were: 1) William (Bill) Huffhines born 31 May 1822, died 19 December 1890, Dallas County; married (1) 31 December 1844 in Barren County, Kentucky to his second cousin Nancy Wright born October 1823, died 11 December 1858. Married (2) on 18 November 1859 in Lockhart, Texas, to Sarah Ann Eliza Laney born 25 April 1822, died 17 June 1883; married (3) Emma F. Sanford (widow) in 1884; married (4) Lucinda Dewey (widow) on 2 April 1889 in Plano, Texas. 2) Christopher Columbus Huffhines born 3 March 1824, died 19 July 1863 of fever in Mansfield, Louisiana during the Civil War; married in Kentucky Martha W. Smith born 10 August 1832, died 1 Jan. 1901. She married Thomas J. Stratton on 22 September 1868. 3) George Huffhines born 21 March 1826, died 19 September 1863 on the battlefield at Chickamauga; married in Kentucky Mary C. Wilson born 13 April 1830, died 13 March 1885. 4) Frances (Fannie) Huffhines born 22 January 1828, died 1 February 1890 in Dallas County; married in 1843, Simpson County, Kentucky to Thomas Saunders born 30 March 1823, died 11 February 1899. 5) Mary Huffhines born 7 January 1830, died 7 April 1875 in Dallas County; married (1) in Kentucky her mother’s first cousin Daniel Doughty born 26 April 1826, died during the Civil War; married (2) 14 August 1866 in Dallas County James C. Heffington born 3 January 1827, died 28 December 1899. 6) Philemon (Phil) Wright Huffhines born 20 August 1832, died 22 December 1909 in Richardson on Phillips Street; married (1) Harriet Bell in 1853 in Kentucky; married (2) in 1862 Dallas County Mary C. (Molly) Moss born 9 February 1839, died 27 October 1896; married (3) Mollie Kidwell (widow) on 5 January 1899. She died 3 April 1940. 7) John Huffhines, Jr. born 3 August 1834, died 19 February 1903 in Richardson; married Surrilda Tarrant born 27 August 1839, died 26 November 1924. 8) James Campbell Huffhines born 6 June 1836, died 6 December 1871 in Collin County; married his first cousin Amanda Williams, daughter of Elizabeth Huffhines Williams, John’s sister. 9) Thomas Monroe Huffhines born 4 July 1838, died 9 May 1907 in Hillsboro, Texas; married Emily Keen. 10) Martha Elizabeth Huffhines born 25 August 1840, died 11 October 1916, lived in Dallas County until after the death of her husband William J. Halsell born 23 August 1830, died 5 May 1913. 11) Amanda Jane Huffhines born 27 June 1842, died 24 February 1922 at Plainview, Texas; married 29 January 1860 F. Bailey Harris. 12) Robert Bruce Huffhines born 8 February 1846, died 15 September 1915 in Crane, Missouri; married Miranda Jane Niel born 6 March 1847, died 12 April 13) Duane Taylor Huffhines born 2 July 1848, died 23 October 1921 in Hillsboro, Texas; married 24 March 1870 Florence White born 22 May 1853, died 16 August 14) Cindarilla Huffhines born 28 March 1851, died 17 September 1926 in Dallas, Texas; married 6 February 1868 in Dallas County Henry Hatcher born 15 August 1839, died 28 June 1912.
All the early Huffhines were landowners, with John buying many parcels of land and settling in the Alpha, Texas area. First records show he bought 300 acres for $400.00 cash on November 7, 1853 and re ceived a warranty deed. (This is in the David Barrow Survey.) His children settled on surrounding sections and in other areas. Christopher C. Huffhines bought 640 acres in the John Young Survey, November 1, 1853, through an attorney deed. Later, February 4, 1857, he sold John a part of the tract on the west for $800.00 cash. For many years they worked the land, raised their families, and became an important factor in the growth and development of the area. Although none held or: aspired to public office, they were much attuned to public affairs and were public-spirited citizens.
John Huffhines raised blooded stock and entered one particular stallion in a fair for four consecutive years and won first prize each year. The fifth year he was barred from entering. The prizes included six silver spoons, one silver goblet, one silver ice pitcher and a silver pitcher.
Although John was too old to serve during the War Between the States, the family was represented by eight sons and four sons-in law. Three of the enlisted never returned to their families. George was killed in the Battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee by a cannon ball, Christopher died of fever contracted during the war while in Louisiana, and Daniel Doughty (husband of Mary Huffhines) died in prison. Interestingly Elizabeth had a premonition about her two sons and one morning told John, “I had such a terrible dream last night, I dreamed Chris died and George was shot in two by a cannon ball.” When the message was received many weeks later, it was just as she had dreamed.
John Huffhines was healthy and hearty at the age of 74; he could stand flat-footed and mount a horse, had never been ill until he contracted measles and died after a brief illness on March 28, 1875. He was followed in death by Elizabeth on February 23, 1881. They left a strong, close family raised in the belief that, “Life was real, Life was earnest” and it is by that thought and belief that all the Huffhines in Texas live today.
For a more detailed account of this family, one should read “The John Huffhines Family” by Eulalie Hatcher Thomas Connally, daughter of Cindarilla Huffhines Hatcher, privately printed in 1949 and updated by Vera Huffhines Stratton in 1976. It may be found in Dallas Public Library.
Two articles were submitted by now living descendants of John Huffhines, pioneer. One, Everts E. Jackson, family historian and genealogist, is the grandson of # 3 George Washington Huffhines and Mary Wright Huffhines. Additional data was submitted by Donald F. Huffhines, Sr., who is the grandson of Elmo and Cecil Clyde Huffhines. Both live in Richardson.
