A native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Cumberland County on the 29th of January, 1829. His parents were John and Priscilla (Davis) Huff. In his youth Henry worked on a farm and a short time in a tailor's shop, attending a district school part of the time each year. At an early age he had a desire to be a lawyer, and at sixteen, while spending three terms at the Edinburgh Academy, near where he lived, he also devoted some time to the study of law. Three or four years later, having read diligently all the time at home, he went to Muncie, Indiana, and studied with Judge March, and was admitted to the Bar in that place in August, 1853. In December, 1853, Mr. Huff removed to Iowa, and the following spring opened an office at Marengo, Iowa county, in partnership with Hon. J. D. Templin, of Iowa City. At the end of one year he removed to Hardin County, and on the 20th of May, 1855, located at Hardin City, then the principal town in the county. Here, in connection with C. G. Ankeny, under the firm name of Ankeny & Huff, he opened a real estate and law office. In the fall of 1856 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Hardin County, and in 1857 moved to Eldora. A portion of the time that he was County Attorney he was ex-officio County Judge. Except during the short period in which he was in the service of the State, he has devoted his entire time to his profession. Mr. Huff was a member of the lower house of the General Assembly during its thirteenth session, in 1869-70. He was on five or six committees, and chairman of two or three. He drew all the bills presented by the committee on commerce; was a leading member, though not chairman, of the judiciary committee, and was known as one of the most diligent men of that body. He was a fluent speaker, but his work more than his eloquence left its impress on that assembly. On the 11th of May, 1861, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth B. Devin, of Abingdon, Illinois. Mr. Huff is a Master Mason, and is a member of the Eldora Chapter. In politics, he was originally a Democrat, and continued as such until the opening of the rebellion, since which time he was been a Republican. In every public enterprise, Mr. Huff has taken an active interest. He was one of the prime movers in that enterprise which brought a railroad from Ackley to Eldora, and was President of the Eldora and Steamboat Rock Coal Company, which originated the enterprise. In its incipiency, and during its progress, he gave much time and his great energies to the work. On the organization of the Terra Cotta and Fire-clay Company, he became a stockholder and a director. In fact, every public enterprise has had his support. As a lawyer, he has but few equals. Coming to the State in an early day, he has had the privilege of watching the legal advancement of our State; and being possessed of a very retentive memory, he is well calculated to judge of the intendment of legislation. He is a prudent and save counselor, and a first-class jury lawyer.