From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print
John S. Huffhines, the oldest son of George and Mary C. Wilson Huffhines, was born 9 January 1852 in Simpson County, Kentucky and came to Dallas County with his parents in 1853. As his father was killed in the Civil War, John at an early age assumed some of the responsibilities of running the family farm. He attended the Cottonwood Creek school. A new teacher was employed when John was in his teens. Mr. Larkin, a believer in strict discipline, so irritated John that he vowed he would whip Mr. Larkin when he was grown. Years later he met his former teacher and ordered “Get down off your horse, I vowed to lick you when I grew up, so now I am ready to make good.” Mr. Larkin replied, “Well, Johnny, you do not feel that way now, do you?” John, of course, had no intention of carrying out his vow, so after exchanging pleasantries, they shook hands. John never saw him again. John S. joined the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in 1867 when it was located a mile west of their home on the site of the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Helping his mother run the farm, he did not marry until almost 30 years of age when he married Mary Ella Fox in Denton County on 24 March 1881. Ella was born on 7 December 1859 in that county. To this marriage were born two sons: Waldo Emmett born in 1884, died in 1886, and Julian Sanger born 6 November 1887 near Richardson. John and Ella lived on their farm near Richardson until 1894 when they moved to Lewisville. They moved to Quanah, Hardeman County in 1908. There their son married Julia Crawford. Ella died 14 December 1916. She was buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery near her son Waldo.
After Ella’s death John divided his time between Quanah and Richardson where he lived with his brother George Huffhines. One wall of his upstairs bedroom had shelves containing many of his books. As John was a talented artist, many of his works hung on the walls. A deeply religious man, he produced pictures of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Richardson and the Baptist Church in Quanah, both now owned by his niece Verna Huffhines Pistole. A life-like portrait of Mary Wright Huffhines, his brother George’s first wife, is owned by the children of Mary Huffhines Jackson.
Suffering from a heart condition several years, he died at the home of his brother “Major” Huffhines on 22 June 1929. His nephew George Fender assisted in the services at the church which he joined sixty two years earlier. He was buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery beside his wife.
By Everts E. Jackson, Richardson
