THE HUDDLESTON FAMIILY

By Clarissa B. Loving

In 1907, Mr. G. M. Huddleston and wife of Montgomery, West Virginia visited the Huddlestons of Indiana and there attended a "Family Reunion," so when he returned and conferred with some of his relatives in Fayette and Kanawha counties, they decided to meet each year in a "Family Reunion" for the benefit of those who should come after and to honor the memory of their honorable ancestors, who bore the hardships of a pioneer country to leave to us an honorable name and property accumulated by honest toil for, "the lives of all great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us foot-prints on the sands of time."

In September, 1908, the Huddleston family met at Kanawha Falls, and organized a Union, with Rev. G. W. Huddleston of Barboursville, 14. Va. for President. Our second meeting was in September, 1909, at Deepwater, I4. Va. At that time two of John Paddy Huddleston's grandsons asked me to write what I could of the Huddleston family as this was the first home of Daniel Huddleston when he came from Virginia. Daniel F. Nihoof, a great grandson and namesake, got some dates and historic events for me, he being born sometime about 1834 and brought up by his grandparents in the old homestead, knew many things that had gotten away from the younger grand-children. At that time, my mother, Minerva Boatright Settle, was living and she had a great memory and mind. She being born in 1826 and having lived on this farm, once the home of Daniel Huddleston could remember a great many things of the old settlers. She was also a great granddaughter of Betsy Huddleston, but what relation she was to Daniel Huddleston, Mother failed to find out, but her grandmother, who reared her, was Nancy Martin Jenkins, a first cousin to John Paddy Huddleston, They lived one on either side of the Kanawha River, and in those days they could talk to each other across the river, so what one family did, the other knew about it, as the talking was done just in a natural voice.

"We are a three-ringed circus
What our forefathers made us-
What our friends make us-
And what we make ourselves."

So, as a friend of the Huddleston family, I am writing this for the benefit of some of the great grandchildren, that they may know they have an honorable family back of them, and my prayer is that no Huddleston will ever bring a blot on the fair name, for never, in my knowledge, has a son or grandson been behind prison bars, or been guilty of criminal acts. See that you make good!

The Huddleston family are of English origin, the Oliver Cromwells, still holding sway. Mr. Samuel B. Huddleston of Indiana, has written a history of the Huddleston family from England over to Bedford county Virginia, in the U.S.A. He told me some historic events and gave me some dates, but I have no right to copy what he has written. Neither am I writing a history -if you want the history of the Huddleston family, buy a book of Mr. Samuel B. Huddleston. I am only writing a kind of family record, for the benefit of the great grandchildren of John Paddy and Thomas J. Huddleston as I remember it and have been told by my mother and Daniel Nihoof. I pray that the younger Huddlestons may keep up their separate family record and keep it as free from blemish as the records of their ancestors, that they may go down through history as a great family.

CLARISSA B. LOVING