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Note: Elizabeth's first husband, the HUFF, is unknown. Willis Leatherwood was brought by his parents to Cocke County, TN about 1811, when he was two years old. The following is quoted from the book "History of North and West Texas":
"Following his marriage Willis Leatherwood began farming in which he continued successfully until the Civil War. His sympathies were with the Confederacy and while not able to do active field service he did duty with the state militia and used his influence to advance the Southern cause. Through the ravages of war his estate was largely reduced in value and in order to make a new start he came to Texas in 1866, taking up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres on a branch of Clear Creek on Montague County. Here he built a cabin and began farming. The county at that time was sparsely settled and little farming was done, but he was soon raising crops sufficient to support his family. Game of all kinds was plentiful and there were many wild beasts. Hardships and trials were to be borne in the reclamation of this district for the purposes of civilization. Mr. Leatherwood had to do his milling and trading at Gainesville and Sherman. The Indians were hostile , frequently raiding the country, murdering the inhabitants and stealing the stock. Although they made raids into the neighborhood where the Leatherwood family lived they were never molested at the house. Two of the sons, John and Daniel, were on the range hunting stock when a large band of Kiowas overtook them when they were unarmed and helpless. The Indians, however, had good firearms and shot John Leatherwood, killing him instantly, then scalping him and taking his horse. As Daniel Leatherwood had a better horse he managed to make his escape and lives to tell the tale of the horrible atrocities committed by the red men. The alarm was spread among the settlers, who followed the Indians and a fight ensued. It is thought that a number of the red men were killed, but how many could not be ascertained, as they carried their dead away with them. During this raid ten white people were killed including Nathan Long, Mr. Manasko, A. Parkhill, T. Fitzpatrick, his wife and one child, and three children of the Shegog family. This occurred in January 1868. There were many raids after that time and fighting frequently occurred. Much stock was stolen and the settlers lost heavily by reason of the Indian depredations, which were kept up until 1872.
Soon after the big raid and the murder of his son John, Mr. Leatherwood removed his family to Grayson County where he remained until 1870, when he returned to the old homestead and again resumed farming here. He made a good start in his work and in stock-raising and was thus identified with agricultural pursuits in this county until his death, which occurred in 1881, when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a Baptist preacher for many years and one of the pioneer ministers of Montague County who assisted in organizing the churches, spreading the gospel, and promoting the moral development of the frontier district. He underwent all the hardships and privitations of frontier life in order to make possible the introduction of civilization that others might follow and find a habitable region. His wife survived him and died in 1887. They were the parents of four children: Thomas, Daniel, Marion, who was killed in the siege of Petersburg in the Civil war while serving in the Confederate Army; and John, whose death is mentioned above."
Willis and Elizabeth apparently lived in Cooke County, TX in 1870 (they were counted there in the census) instead of Grayson County as mentioned above, and were back in Montague County in the 1880 census.
The first three children are generally listed by everyone as LEATHERWOODs. I think they HAVE TO BE HUFFs! They were born before Elizabeth married Willis, in the one census record William's name is even listed as William HUFF Leatherwood. I'm leaving them here as Willis's but I think they belong to the HUFF. (jrs).
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