Dear Brother DeWitt,

What I have found for you is a little exciting. Let’s see if I can answer your questions:

Unfortunately, I do not live in Brown County. There are times when I wish I did. However, there is a very strong community of Saints in that area of Illinois. Brown County is only 20 miles from Nauvoo.
I am a relative of James Huffman, though not a descendant. He is the son of Henry S. Huffman, my 4^th Great Grandfather.
Now, for the interesting stuff…

Sophia J. Huffman, the dau. of James Huffman, married James Wilson 7 Nov 1850 and 4 Apr 1861 married John G. Mansir. That could cause the surname confusion in later generations. The reason they are living in James’ household in the 1860 Census is because they are his grandchildren . It looks as though this may have been a shotgun marriage and James Wilson may have taken off after the second child. Anyway, it looks like we are cousins.

Now there is a problem. Sophia was only 12 years old in 1850. Kind of makes her young for marriage. The marriage lists James Wilson and S. J. Huffman as the groom and bride. However, she is the only S. J. Huffman in the county at that time. In my family, the Huffman women tend to mature early.

Here’s a listing of all the James Wilson’s in 1850 Census:

Vantassel

F. M.

Tavern Keeper

Eliza L.

Alonzo

Ill

Wm H.

Ill

Rhoda

Ill

Parker

Winslow

Blaster

Willson

Jas.

Blaster

Brogan

Jas.

Carpenter

Ireland

Widowed in year

Stapleton

Stone Mason

1000

Mt. Sterling, p. 195, 1850

8	424	427	Willson	William	60	m	Farmer	1760	KY
9				Sarah	57	f			KY
10				James	20 or 3	m			Ill

Cooperstown, 1850

1166

1171

Willson

Hezekia

Laborer

Mary

James P.

Plaster

George

Laborer

Ill

Sarah Ann

Ill

Mary C.

Ill

Missouri twp, Oct. 1850

949

954

Wilson

James E.

Farmer

Elzina

Joseph E. T.

1/12

Ill

Lee twp, Sep 1850

31	329	331	Huffman	James	42	m	Farmer	KY
32				Mary	43	f		VT?
33				John H.	16	m		Ill
34				Sophia	12	f		Ill
35				Francis M.	10	m		Ill

Cooperstown, Aug 1850

I could not find a death date for James, but we know it had to be before 1861 or else there was a divorce or abandonment before the remarriage, I’m attaching the gedcom of the information as I have it currently. If you could send me information you have, to fill in the blanks, I’d sure appreciate it. The farthest back Huffman’s are still being researched and most of the information is a best guess. Please do not submit them for temple work at this time. There is too much uncertainty in the connections.

Sincerely,

Ken Huffman

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 11:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: huffman wilson

Dear Ken, All day at work I've thought about writing you about this problem I
have in my genealogy, so when I got home I went looking for an E-mail address
and read your biography for the first time. I've visited your site many many
times and until tonight I didn't know you were LDS too. I didn't think there
were any Mormons in Brown County. Oh well, on to my problem. You see, my great
grand mother was Sarah Ellen Wilson, born 26 Jan 1851 in Brown County and
married Fernando DeWitt 26 April 1868 in Brown county also, some members of the
family and quite a few people on the internet believe her maiden name was
Manser and Matthew Manser of Brown county is mentioned by a few as being her
Father. My grand father told my mother over 50 years ago that her name was
Wilson and the marriage certificate verifies this and I'm convinced in my own
mind that her name was indeed Wilson. Now the problem is finding out who her
parents were. She was born after the 1850 census and was married in the 1870
census which leaves only the 1860 census to find her and her family. The 1860
census lists her as eight years old and living with the James Huffman family.
My conclusion is that either one or both of her parents were dead by 1860. I've
found a Rueben Jennings Wilson in Brown county who died in Sept of 1860 and
this is the best candidate I have at this time. His wife was Lucinda Marden,
she never remarried and in the 1880 census she is living with her father Mark
Marden. To date I have not found Lucinda anywhere in the 1860 census. My first
question is are you related to James Huffman, and if so do you know anything
about Sarah living there? Is there a relationship between the Huffmans and the
Mardens or even the Mansers that would indicate why she was living there?
(Maybe she lived with the Mansers after staying with the Huffmans.)I have a
copy of the marriage certificate, not a photo copy of the original, but a copy
of a pre printed form filled out in 1964 that is not filled out completely. Was
it required to list the parents of the bride and groom in 1868? Also, will the
county clerks office send a photo copy of the original if requested or do they
just fill out the pre printed form?
Thank you, Harold DeWitt

Names: Brogan, Huffman, Parker, Stapleton, Vantassel, Wilson