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I only know of one Huffman. Sarah Painter's maiden name was almost always given as Sarah Huffman although I have since found one occurrance of it as Hoffman. And on Sarah's death certificate her son, Cornelius Painter, indicated that her father's name was John Hoffman. And while her son Cornelius gave the spelling of her father's name as Hoffman, when Cornelius died his wife Anetta indicated his mother's maiden name was "Sarah Huffman." I have no other documentation confirming the spelling of the surname of Sarah's father.

Sarah Huffman was born in the month of February 1830 in Pennsylvania to John Hoffman. No other information is known about her parents. In 1830 America was fifty-four years old and had a population of about twelve million. The Indian Removal Act was enacted by Congress allowing President Andrew Jackson to run the Five Civilized Tribes out of their lands in the southern US. And in the 1830's came the "Second Great Awakening" which was a religious revival movement that swept the Nation. The Oregon Trail came into use by settlers migrating to the Pacific Northwest.

Based on the birth date of her first child Sarah married Joseph Painter (1823-1894) in 1851 in Pennsylvania. They would raise seven children to adulthood.

There are no census records that correspond to this family. There were many men named John Hoffman in the census records, but most were in eastern Pennsylvania and didn't match, in some respect, even the little we know about the members of this family. There were, however, many death certificates of the children of Sarah (Huffman) Painter and of herself.

The Certificate of Death of Sarah Painter indicates that she died in Pine Creek [Township], County of Jeff, Pennsylvania. It indicates that her full name was Sarah Painter, that she was female, white, a widow, and retired. It indicates she was born Feb -, 1830, in Penna. Her age was given as 87 years one month and - days. The name of her father was given as John Hoffman and he born in Penna. Maiden name of mother and her mothers birthplace is given as "don't know." The person testifying to this information was C.C. Painter of Falls Creek. The doctor providing the medical certificate of death, Jay C. Booker (of Falls Creek), said that Sarah died Apr 18th, 1917, and the cause of death was intestinal carcinoma of about one year duration. Sarah was buried in Emerickville, Apr 20, 1917, by N.R. Moore, Undertaker, of DuBois, Pennsylvania.
[Ref: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death of Sarah Painter, dated 20 Apr 1917, in Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania]

The Certificate of Death of Cornelius C. Painter indicates that he died in Falls Creek, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. It indicates that his full name was Cornelius C. Painter, that he was a male, white, married to Anetta L. Painter. He was born 7 Nov 1859 in Pennsylvania. He died 2 Sep 1924 at the age of 65 yr 9 mo 26 days. The name of the father was given as Joseph Painter, born in Pennsylvania. His mother was Sarah Huffman, born in Pennsylvania. The person testifying to this information was Mrs. Anetta L. Painter of Falls Creek, Pennsylvania.
[Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death, filed 3 Sep 1924, File No 88263]

The Certificate of Death of Henry Painter indicated that he was born 1860 in Pennsylvania and died 3 Sep 1925, East Franklin, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He was buried 6 Sep 1925 in Emerickville, Pennsylvania. He was a male, white, married, and a laborer. He was killed in dynamite explosion on state road. His father was Joseph Painter, born in Pennsylvania. His mother was Sarah Huffman, born in Pennsylvania. The person testifying to this information was his brother J. H. Painter of East Brady, Pennsylvania.
[Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death, filed 5 Sep 1925]

The Certificate of Death of Joseph H. Painter indicated that he was born 13 Sep 1867 in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. He died 20 Nov 1945 in East Brady, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, of pneumonia, at the age of 78 years, 2 months, and seven days. He was buried 25 Nov 1945 in Rimersburg, Pennsylvania. He was a male, white, married to Ella Painter. At the time of his death he was working as a mechanic in coal mines. His father was Joseph Painter. His mother was Sarah Huffman. The person testifying to this information was R. A. Painter, Broad Street, East Brady, Pennsylvania.
[Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death of Joseph H. Painter, Certificate No. 93624; dated 22 Nov 1945 in East Brady, Pennsylvania; filed 22 Nov 1945]

There's no record of when John Hoffman was born or died. Joseph and Sarah lived their entire life in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Joseph died at the age of 64 years in 1894. They had lived together forty-three years. The widow Painter survived another 23 years and died 18 Apr 1917 at the age of 87 years. She was survived by all seven of her children so the children they raised where healthy although none of them lived as long as Sarah did. Both Joseph and Sarah were buried in Moore Cemetery in Emerickville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Their original grave markers are still there. Their names and when they died are scratched into the stones. But, someone has placed a modern marker there with both their names, birth years, and death years on it. It is very nicely done. Their daughter Mary Jane (Painter) Hatten is also buried in the Moore Cemetery.