George Huffman Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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George Huffman Farm
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | SR 1479, southeast of the junction with Tate Blvd., near Conover, North Carolina |
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| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Built | c. 1810 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| MPS | Catawba County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000861 |
| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1990 |
The George Huffman Farm is a historic farm and a historic district located near Conover in Catawba County, North Carolina. It's also known as the Huffman-Herman Farm. This special place includes two important old buildings and a historic site. The main house was built around 1810. It's a two-story farmhouse built in the Federal style.
Also on the property are an old storage shed and the Huffman Family Cemetery. The farm was started by George Huffman, who was a successful farmer, wagon-maker, and barrel-maker. Later, his son-in-law, William Punch, farmed the land. Today, the farm fields are not used for crops, and much of the land is covered in trees. However, the old buildings still stand, showing us what life was like long ago.
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The Story of George Huffman
George Huffman built his house between 1807 and 1815. During these years, he bought 415 acres of land for his farm. George was born in 1780 in what is now Catawba County. In 1801, he married Catherine Houk. By 1810, they had five children, and they eventually had ten children in total.
George Huffman's Life and Work
George Huffman was a respected person in his community. When the War of 1812 started, he was chosen to be a Captain in the local military group. We don't know much about his time in the war, as only a few North Carolina troops saw active fighting.
By 1820, George Huffman's household included twelve people. He also owned one female slave. By 1830, he owned four slaves. George was likely a wagon-maker and barrel-maker himself, and his sons probably helped him. His sons, Langdon and George, worked as a wagon-maker and a blacksmith.
In 1840, George Huffman's 415-acre farm was quite valuable. He also paid taxes on three slaves and a stud horse. This shows he was doing well financially.
George Huffman's Legacy
George Huffman passed away on December 9, 1848, and was buried in the family cemetery near his house. His will, written in 1847, shows that he was very successful. He divided most of his land among his nine children who were still living.
He left his wife, Catherine, the house and other buildings for her lifetime. He also gave her food, farm crops, animals, tools, money, and two slaves named Mat and Eve. She also received furniture like beds, a desk, a table, chairs, and kitchen items. Other household items and farm tools were sold after his death. These included many woodworking tools, showing his work as a wagon-maker and barrel-maker. The sale brought in a lot of money, and many people owed him money, showing he might have acted as a local banker.
The Farm After George Huffman
George Huffman's wife, Catherine, lived in the house until she died in 1862. In 1850, her household included herself and seven slaves. Her farm was valued at $450, and she grew corn, oats, and wheat. She also had a horse, a cow, a sheep, and pigs. Ten years later, only two slaves remained in her household. Catherine died on July 23, 1862, and was buried next to her husband in the family cemetery.
New Owners of the Farm
After Catherine Huffman died, her sons sold the house and 98 acres of land in 1862. The high price they got probably shows how much money was worth during the Civil War. It seems that William Punch, George and Catherine Huffman's son-in-law, bought the house. He was married to their daughter, Amy Huffman.
In 1870, William Punch was listed as a farmer. His 159-acre farm was valued at $800. He grew oats, corn, wheat, and rye, and had horses, cows, sheep, and pigs. William Punch died in 1873, and his land was divided among his family.
In 1891, the house and seven acres were sold to J. R. Gaither, who then sold it to Milton L. Herman. Milton Herman's family owned the house for many years.
The Herman Family and Later Changes
Milton Lafayette Herman lived in the house with his wife, Ida, and their children, Lillie and Vernon, in 1900. He was a farmer and rented his farm at first. By 1915, he owned a 33-acre farm near his house.
During the Herman family's time, some changes were made to the house, like the stairs and adding decorative brackets to the roof. When Milton Herman bought the house, it was called the "Red House" because of its reddish-brown color. However, the Herman family painted it white. Milton Herman lived in the house for 48 years until he died in 1950. His son, Wortha Herman, then owned the house.
At some point, the seven-acre house lot was joined back with some of the original George Huffman farm, making it 17.4 acres. Today, the house and the remaining farm are owned by Classic Leather, Inc., a company that makes leather furniture. The company keeps the house and grounds neat and plans to continue taking care of the house and the cemetery.
The Farm Today
The "George Huffman" house has recently been moved to the historic Murray's Mill site in Catawba County. Now, visitors can tour and learn about this important piece of history. George Huffman was a very important person in Catawba County in the 1800s. He owned a lot of land, farming tools, and several slaves. He was also a Captain in the War of 1812.
The George Huffman Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
