PRECIOUS MEMORIES

Ira Andrew HUFFMAN was the only son of Lawson Huffman and Mary (Rawlings) of Parke CO. IN. He was born there October 19, 1843. 18 year old Ira joined Captain Abner Floyd's Company A, 85th Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers August 1, 1862 at Anappolis, IN.

During their first engagement of the Civil War at Thompson's Station,TN, March 5th 1863, Ira was captured as a prisoner of war and forced to march to Libby Prison in Richmond VA. The 85th suffered terribly in dead and wounded. The prisoners were exchanged and entered battle again in Franklin, TN. on April 20th 1864. On November 15, 1864 Ira and the 85th started with General Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea and ended with the march down Pennsylvania Avenue after the war was over. He was honorably discharged June 12, 1866 at Washington DC. Ira was determined to be a disabled veteran due to his treatment after capture and confinement at Libby Prison.

After the war Ira married Manerva Jane Isbell of Arthur, Pike CO, IN. They had one child Mary Lillison born in 1874. Ira's wife died a year and a half later and he took up residence in Anthony, Harper CO, KS. He was married to Lovina Kinnel in Kingman, KS, July 18, 1882 and lived there until the Cherokee Strip opened in 1893. Ira and his wife raised a family of 7 children on their homestead at Lahoma, OK. The children, Effie, Etta, John, and Ellis remained in the area their whole lives. Mary went to Long Beach, CA. Alva went to Weed, CA. Joseph went to Seattle ,WA and James went to Red Bluff, CA. Ira Andrew Huffman was a farmer his whole life as were all the Huffman ancestors to that time. Ira died May 24, 1927 at the age of 83. He is buried in Sunnyside Cemetery S/E of Lahoma, OK.

---

Obituary printed in a local paper CIVIL WAR VETERAN DIES Ira A. Huffman aged 83 years, 7 months and two days died early Tuesday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. V. Roth. He had been in failing health for the past few years and seriously ill for many weeks.

Mr Huffman was one of the original settlers of this community. Having moved to Oklahoma in 1892. He made the run and homesteaded a farm southwest of town. He was born in Parke County, Indiana, October 19, 1843. When 18 yrs old he enlisted in company A, 85th Regiment Indiana Infantry. He served honorably for 3 yrs, 8 months, and ten days. He was one of the few surviving veterans of this community.

When 26 yrs old he was married to Minerva Isbell. To this union was born two children. Millard who died in infancy and Mrs. Mollie Lawrence of Oklahoma City.

His wife having died in 1876, he moved to Harper County, Kansas where he was married to Lavina Kinnel in 1882. To this union was born seven children: John who died when two years old, Alva F. of Weed, Calif.; James E. of Morrison; Joseph E. of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Effie Roth, Mrs. Etta Hollingsworth, and Ellis Huffman all of Lahoma. In addition to these he is survived by his widow and nineteen grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the E.V. Rothhome at 3 P.M. Wednesday. N. E. Proffitt, pastor of the Methodist church delivered the funeral sermon. Burial was made in Sunnyside cemetery southeast of town.

---

I Don Huffman, a great grandson of Ira Andrew Huffman know the facts above to be true and correct. The information above comes from birth and death certificates, marriage certificates, Civil War pension files and family members personal recollections and writings. The obituary is written as copied from a paper of that time. I do not know the name but feel it was probably the "Lahoma Sun" a newspaper of that time in the area.

To contact me: Don Huffman
515 North Fairfield Avenue
Susanville, CA 96130.