This is the tombstone of Ferdinand and Barbara (Schott) Huffman, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
HUFFMAN
Mother
BARBARA
1847-1929
Father
FERDINAND
1847-1929
Ferdinand Huffman [spelled Hoffmann in Zion’s Familienbuch] was born in Fechingen, Rhein-Prussia, on 4 January 1847 to Jacob and Carolina (Hoffmann) Hoffmann. According to Zion’s records his parents married in 1846 and immigrated to America in 1849. According to records, Ferdinand was the only child born to Jacob and Caroline Hoffmann.
The records also indicate the Ferdinand was baptized in Europe and confirmed in Mercer County, Ohio, although there is no record of his confirmation in Zion Chatt’s records.
Ferdinand Hoffmann married Barbara Schott on 14 November 1867. Their Zion Chatt marriage record names their parents as Jacob and Carolina Hoffmann and Michael and Catharina Schott. The bride and groom were both 21 years of age and Jacob Schott was the witness to their marriage.
Barbara Schott was born 22 February 1847 in Iffenheim, Elsass, France, the daughter of Michael and Catharine (Brechheisen) Schott. Barbara immigrated to America with her family in 1855. Her father Michael Schott died in 1858 and her mother Catharine then married Nicholas Martin. After Nicholas’ death Catharine married Dietrich Sundmacher. Barbara (Schott) Huffman had three siblings: Maria, Jacob, and Michael Schott.
In 1870 four generations of Huffmans lived in one household in Liberty Township: Jacob, 48; Caroline, 48 [Ferdinand’s parents]; Ferdinand, 23; Barbara, 23; Mary, 1; Caroline, 2 months [Ferdinand and Barbara’s children]; and Margaret, 75 [Ferdinand’s maternal grandmother]. They lived very close to Barbara’s mother and step-father, Catharine and Nicholas Martin. Ferdinand was reportedly a farmer. [1]
The Ferdinand Huffman household in 1880: Ferdinand, 33; Barbara, 33; Mary, 11; Caroline, 9; George, 7; Henry, 1; Caroline, 65 [Ferdinand’s mother]. Ferdinand and Barbara’s 4 children are listed, but their fourth child, Henry, is a mystery. I wonder if this should have been Anna instead. She would have been 1 year old then. [2]
In 1900 Barbara was listed as the head of household and living with them was their married daughter Anna Bollenbacher, son George, and Ferdinand’s widowed mother Caroline. Ferdinand and Barbara had been married 34 years and Barbara had given birth to 4 children, all of whom were living at that time. [3]
In 1910 Ferdinand and Barbara lived with Ferdinand’s 87 year-old widowed mother in on a farm in Liberty Township on “Willshire Pike.” Ferdinand and Barbara had been married 44 years. Barbara had given birth to 4 children and they were all still living. [4]
In 1920 Ferdinand and Barbara lived next door to their son George and his family. [5]
Barbara (Schott) Huffman died of bronchial pneumonia and old age in Liberty Township on 2 November 1929. According to Zion Chatt’s records she was 82 years, 9 months, and 10 days old, but according to her death certificate she was 82 years, 8 months, and 11 days old. She was buried on the 4th and Egger and Ketcham, Rockford, Ohio, were in charge of the arrangements. Their son George was the informant for information on her death certificate. [6] Survivors included her husband, 1 brother, 1 son, 2 daughters, 18 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, according to Zion Chatt’s records.
Barbara’s husband Ferdinand Huffman died less than two weeks later in Liberty Township. Ferdinand died of stomach cancer on 14 November 1929, at the age of 82 years, 10 months, and 10 days. He was buried on the 16th and Egger and Ketcham, Rockford, Ohio, were in charge of the arrangements. Their son George was the informant for information on the death certificate. [7] Survivors included 1 son, 2 daughters, 18 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, according to Zion Chatt’s records.
Ferdinand and Barbara (Schott) Huffman had the following children, all born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio:
Maria “Mary” Elisabeth (1868-1961), married John Gibbons; married Charles Bollenbacher
Carolina Margaretha “Caroline Margaret” (1870-1924), married Perry Gibbons
George Heinrich (1873-1956), married Barbara E. Leistner
Anna Barbara (1879-1986), married Fred Bollenbacher
[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.149A, dwelling 111, family 102, Jacob Hoffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 552742, NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.
[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.472C, dwelling, family, Ferdinand Hoffman; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.
[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.9A, dwelling 164, family 169, Ferdnand Hoffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1241304, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.
[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.16A, dwelling 344, family 304, Ferdinand Huffman; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1375227, NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.
[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.10A, dwelling 195, visited 211, Ferdinand Hoffman; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.
[6] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Barbara Huffman, 2 Nov 1929; FHL microfilm 1992020.
[7] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Ferdinan Huffman, 14 Nov 1929; FHL microfilm 1992020.