H.
D. Huffaker
H. D. Huffaker, county
superintendent of public instruction in Hamilton County, was born November 18,
1860, in Hamilton, now James, County, Tenn., and is the eldest of a family of
nine children born to Jesse T. and Sarah (Holland) Huffaker. The father was born
in Alabama in 1838, and came to Hamilton County, Tenn., when but twelve years of
age. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, East Tennessee Cavalry, and was sergeant
of his company. At the termination of the war he received his discharge at
Knoxville. He is an ordained minister of the gospel in the Missionary Baptist
Church, and has charge of three churches at the present time. He is of
Dutch-Irish extraction as is also his wife, who was born in Monroe County in
1841, and died March 12,1882. She was the daughter of Rev. H. P. Holland
(deceased). Mr. Holland was a prominent citizen of Hamilton, now James, County,
and was also of Dutch-Irish lineage. Our subject received his education at
Sumach College in Murray County, Ga., and at Coosawattee Seminary, Gordon
County, Ga. He is a graduate of Behm's Commercial College at Chattanooga, and
since then has been engaged in teaching and bookkeeping. January 4, 1887, he was
elected superintendent of the county schools. He has made teaching a success,
and his salary was increased each successive term taught. He is one of five in
Hamilton County who hold five year certificates, and he is also president of
the Hamilton County Teachers' Institute. December 29, 1885, he married Miss
Addie Varnell, of Tyner, Tenn. She was born September 29, 1864, in Hamilton
County, and is the daughter of G. W. and Lizzie (Hughes) Varnell. Mr. Varnell
was born September 15, 1829. He served during the late war as first lieutenant
in Company F. At the termination of the war he received his discharge at
Nashville. He is of Dutch-Irish extraction, as is also his wife, who was born
December 23, 1842 and died February 1, 1878. She was the daughter of William
Hughes (deceased). Mr. Hughes was born October 6, 1806, and served as captain in
Company F. He was a prominent citizen of Hamilton County until his death,
February, 7, 1878. Our subject and his wife are members of the Missionary
Baptist Church, which he served as secretary at his former home in north
Georgia. He is a Democrat in politics and a strong Prohibitionist. He is a very
promising young man. He is at present principal of the Daisy Academy, but
intends at the end of this term to give up school teaching and devote his entire
time to the duties of his office. Mrs. Huffaker is his assistant teacher in the
academy.
Goodspeed's
"History of East Tennessee" 1887