This aged citizen was born on the 15th of June, 1800, in Wayne County, Kentucky. The grandfather of Mr. H. was of German extraction, and immigrated, with his people, to Virginia, when but a small lad. He married a girl of German birth, and had several children, among whom was Jacob, the father of the subject of this article. Jacob Huffaker was born in 1764. He married Margaret Bodkin. Miss Bodkin's family were of Irish extraction. She was born near King's Salt Works. About 1796, in company with two brothers, he [Jacob]came to Kentucky, and settled in Wayne county. He [Michael] labored for his father till after his twenty-first birthday, and then, inasmuch as he had had a desire to visit the prairies of the upper countries, he started on a trip through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. During the next year (1822), at the age of twenty-two, he was married to Miss Jane Bartleston, daughter of William Bartleston, Esq., an old settler of the state, and among the men of mark, whom the pioneers of that date were wont to honor and respect. In 1823 he started on another tour to Illinois, and arrived in Springfield during the winter of that year. He remained in Springfield until the spring when he came to Morgan County, and located in Mauvaisterre precinct, arriving there in the spring of 1824. Mr. H.'s wife died in 1833, leaving seven children to be cared for by the bereaved father. He was again married, at Springfield, in 1834, to Miss Frances J. Smith, daughter of Edwin Smith, Esq., of Xenia, Ohio. Ten children were born, of whom six are yet living to cheer their aged parents.
(from ATLAS BOOK OF MORGAN COUNTY, Illinois 1872)

Michael and his first wife established the Woodlawn Farm outside of Jacksonville, IL in 1824. He built a cabin for their growing family and four cabins for free black families who helped Michael raise cattle, horses and crops. In 1840 he built the two story brick home which to this day stands on the property. This house was a stop along the Underground Railway. Michael and his family were members of the Antioch Christian Church founded by Barton Stone.