Thaddeus Huff

Thaddeus Huff was born Aug 5, 1834 in Jasper, Georgia to Thomas and Elizabeth Virginia Adams Huff. Thaddeus is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

After living in Georgia for some time, the Huff family moved to Alabama and Mississippi. While in Mississippi, the Huff family became acquainted with Elder Thomas of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Huff family was baptized into the Church in 1850 and soon after, began making efforts to move to Utah to live with the other Saints.1

"Accordingly, they sold their home and belongings and took passage on the Saluda, which plied up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers as far as Lexington, Missouri. Among the travelers were 110 saints, many of whom were from Europe and had crossed the Atlantic on the Kennebec which had arrived March 14, 1852. The Saluda was an old dilapidated steamboat charted by Eli B. Kelsey and David J..Ross to take the immigrants up the river to Council Bluffs, Iowa where a large body of saints were encamped at Winter Quarters. After leaving St. Louis, the steamer made slow progress as the floating masses of broken ice made navigation very dangerous.

However, they arrived at Lexington April 4, but were compelled to cross the river and tie up for the night as the gloating ice had broken the paddle wheels, making repairs necessary. Five days later, on the morning of Good Friday, April 17, they made another effort to get under way, but in the attempt to get enough steam to round the point, just above Lexington, the engineers carelessly let the boilers get dry and red hot. As the engines started, the pumps forced cold water into them , causing them to burst. The force of the explosion was felt in every part of the city of Lexington. It completely wrecked the boat, throwing timbers, people, and machinery in every direction.

The editor of the Lexington express wrote: "we haven't the heart to describe the scene 26 mangled corpses and as many more passengers with their limbs torn off or scalded-nigh unto death .... wives and mothers frantic at the loss of husbands and children...."2

Thaddeus' brother-in-law was killed in the accident along with his nephews. His father was injured in the accident but recovered quickly. The Huff family stayed in Lexington, Missouri until 1853 when they had enough to travel to Utah. The Huff family joined the Moses Daley Freight Train on July 6, 1853 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 27.1

The Huff family moved to Bountiful, Utah until 1855 when they were asked to settle in Anderson, California. They lived in California until 1862 when Thaddeus' mother wanted to move back to Utah. The family traveled until they reached Richmond where their daughter/sister Rebecca lived. While camping in the area, Thaddeus became acquainted with Francis Russell. After taking care of some church business, Thaddeus moved to Richmond and married Francis Maria Russell on Dec 17, 1864 in Stillman Pond's home.1

Thaddeus built a home in Richmond until 1871, when the Huff family moved to Lewiston, Utah.

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