Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 657–658; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William F. Haffner is a practical and wife-awake member of the
farming community of Astoria Township, where he is meeting with
unqualified success in agricultural pursuits. He was born in
Augusta County, Va., January 28, 1851, to Daniel and Diana (Lutz)
Haffner, who were also natives of Virginia. In the fall of 1852
his parents emigrated to this State, coming with their family all the
way in a wagon. Six weeks from the time they left their old home
they arrived in this county and established themselves on section 25,
Astoria Township, where our subject now lives. Here the father
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber, and with hard pioneer
labor cleared it and developed it into a fine farm, on which he resided
until death closed his mortal career August 4, 1886. His wife
died November 12, 1889. They reared seven of their eight
children, namely: John B., of Coffee County, Kan.; Mary C., wife
of Alexander Powell, of Livingston County, Sarah, now Mrs. D. Robison,
of Schuyler County, Ill.; Samuel H., of Schuyler County; Elizabeth H.,
wife of William Huff, of Mahaska County, Iowa; William F.; Jacob A., of
Harvey County, Kan. The parents were members of the United
Brethren Church, and in the everyday affairs of life shoed themselves
to be true Christians.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Andrew Haffner,
whose parents came to this country from Germany. Andrew Haffner
married Mary A. Trobaugh, and they reared five sons and four
daughters. They mother of our subject was a daughter of Baltzer
Lutz, a wagon-maker by trade, of German descent, and a farmer. He
married a Mrs. Catherine Wetsel (Wonderlic). His father was John
Lutz, who emigrated to this country from Germany.
The gentleman whose name stand at the head of this biography
passed his early life on a farm, and there acquired a sound practical
knowledge of farming in all its branches. He was given a good
district-school education. He lived with his parents until he was
twenty-two years old, when he began to earn a livelihood in a manner
that best suited him. Since his father’s death he has owned the
old homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. It is a fine farm,
is well directed, and in its improvements compares favorably with the
best in the neighborhood.
Mr. Haffner was married October 7, 1873, to Miss Edna C. Huff, a
daughter of Joshua and Mary (McClelland) Huff. She was a
consistent Christian and a member in good standing of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. She departed this life September 7, 1875.
February 2, 1882, was the date on which our subject was united in
marriage to his present wife, formerly Miss Martha McLaren, a daughter
of Robert and Hannah (McClelland) McLaren. This marriage has been
blessed by the birth of three children – Nellie E., Bessie F. and
Clelie B. Mr. and Mrs. Haffner are valued members of the United
Brethren Church, and are among its most earnest workers.
