Christopher Columbus Huffman’s letter offers a brief example of farming life in the Ozarks. Written from “The Land of Sorrow,” Huffman corresponded with H. F. Owens, a cousin, about crop cultivation, weather and family news. Huffman noted the hard work of harvesting crops, rendering his hands to sore to write. The chintz bug ruined Huffman’s oat, corn and wheat crops. Wheat production in the region was generally poor for the season, and they experienced a drought impacting the quality of corn.

Huffman was born in Barren County, Kentucky on September 9, 1855. His family moved to Texas when he was three, and then 10 years later to Sebastian County, Arkansas. His family moved to Bentonville in 1873, where Huffman taught school for 5 years. In the letter Huffman noted his desire to teach school, and hoped to find an opening during the summer. Huffman married Georgette Jefferson on December 23, 1880. The couple had five children, two of which died in childhood. Huffman worked as a banker, merchant and farmer, and he was a Mason and member of the Knights of Pythias. Christopher Huffman died on November 30, 1912.

Contributed by the Shiloh Museum of Ozarks History

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