Simpson David Huffaker, a president of the ninth quorum of Seventy, and a resident of Salt Lake City and South Cottonwood, Salt Lake county, Utah, was born July 23, 1812, in Wayne county, Kentucky, the son of Jacob Huffaker and Margaret Bodkin.

His parents were the owners of a farm and Simpson, being a natural mechanic, made himself very useful repairing machinery, farming implements, etc. With his parents he moved to Morgan county, Illinois, when seventeen years old. In 1836 (Feb. 26th) he married Susan Green Robinson and located later in Bureau county, Illinois, where he became a convert to "Mormonism" and was baptized Sept. 25, 1842.

In the spring of 1845 he moved to Nauvoo, where his wife died, Sept. 20, 1845, leaving him five children, namely, Rozilla (born Jan. 24, 1837), Sarah Melinda (born Feb. 19, 1839), Lewis Albert (born March 19, 1841), Sidney Elizabeth (born Jan. 22, 1843) and Augusta Jane (born Dec. 19, 1844). In 1846 (Jan. 18th) Bro. Huffaker married Elizabeth Melvina Richardson ( daughter of Stephen Richardson and Erepta Wilder ), who was born May 28, 1829, in Coos county, New Hampshire. She joined the Church in 1833 and afterwards gathered to Nauvoo, Illinois, with the Saints.

Soon after his second marriage, Bro. Huffaker began preparing for the long trip across the plains and with his family left Nauvoo in 1846 during the general exodus of the Saints. He spent the winter of 1846-1847 at Winter Quarters and crossed the plains the following summer in Jedediah M. Grant's company, which arrived in Salt Lake City Oct. 6, 1847. Brother Huffaker acted as captain of ten on the journey.

In the latter part of 1849 he went to California with a company of brethren to work in the gold mines and returned to Utah Nov. 12, 1850. In 1856 he was ordained a Seventy and acted as a president of the ninth quorum of Seventy. He also acted as a county commissioner for a number of years. His wife Elizabeth acted as treasurer of the Relief Society of the Seventh Ward; subsequently she acted as first counselor, and later as president, of that association. She was the mother of fifteen children, and she also reared seven others besides her own.

Following are the names of his children: David Simpson (born Nov. 6, 1847), Melvina Elizabeth (born Oct. 17, 1849), Harriet Relief (born Aug. 18, 1851), Willard Stephen (born Nov. 4, 1852), Susan Erepta (born Sept. 28, 1854), Leonard Thurston (born June 5, 1856), Lorenzo and Lauriana Wilhelmina, twins, (born March 29, 1858), Lucy Delaphine (born June 24, 1860), Welby Richardson (born June 3, 1862), Howard Richardson (born May 28, 1864), Wilford Dermont (born Oct. 31, 1865), Ray Elroy (born June 1, 1868), Earl Perry born Aug. 5, 1870), and Etta B. (born Nov. 7, 1872). These children were all born in Utah.

In 1853 (Sept. 28th) Bro. Huffaker married Elizabeth Ann Brady (daughter of Linzy Brady), who was born March 3, 1839, and became the mother of eleven children, namely, Linzy Brady (born March 19, 1854), Elizabeth Vilate (born July 2, 1855), Frances Matilda (born June 5, 1857), George Marion (born April 11, 1859), William Vasco (born Dec. 12, 1860), Simpson Lionel (born Feb. 27, 1863), Aradine Tranquilla (born June 30, 1865), Parley (born Jan. 26, 1868), Beatrice (born Oct. 7, 1869), Mary Eva (born April 6, 1872) and Albert Franklin (born May 2, 1877). In 1856 (March 24th)

Brother Huffaker married Rhoda Priscilla Barnum (daughter of Henry V. Barnum and Lauretta Palmer), who was born Oct. 3, 1834. She became the mother of four children, namely, Shelby Vervelin (born June 18, 1858), Lauriana Eugenia (born March 15, 1861), Jacob Herman (born June 8, 1863) and Rhoda Priscilla (born Dec. 30, 1865). Bro. Huffaker died in South Cottonwood Oct. 25, 1891, universally respected and faithful to his testimony to the truth of the gospel. His second wife, Elizabeth M. Richardson, died April 26, 1911, in Salt Lake City, also a faithful member of the Church, and his fourth wife (Rhoda P.) died Dec. 30, 1865. His third wife, Elizabeth N., is still living.

Simpson David Huffaker was the son of Margaret Bodken and Jacob Huffaker.
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DIED

HUFFAKER -- At South Cottonwood, October 23, Simpson D. Huffaker, aged 79.

-Deseret News, November 7, 1891, transcribed by Rhonda Holton, info by Debra Woods
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Simpson married:
Susan Green Robinson February 26, 1836
Elizabeth Melvina Richardson January 18, 1846
Elizabeth Ann Brady September 28, 1852
Rhoda Prisciila Barnum March 24, 1856