DNA testing continues to find proofs among HUFFORD descendants. To date, the following lines have been proven via DNA matches with autosomal tests:

• Snowie Beatrice Hufford (1905-1992) > Lewis Townsend Hufford (1869-1939) > Solomon Hufford (1838-1893) > Peter Hufford (b. abt 1788) > Christian Hoffart II (1746-1826) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).

• Earl Leslie Hufford (1907-1933) > Jesse Emanuel Hufford (1876-1959) > Emanuel Hufferd (1831-1913) > Abraham Hufford (1788-1859) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).

The above two lines are proved by a DNA match between Snowie’s grandson and Earl’s grandson, on chromosome # 8, from 11156163 to 18892233.

My line to the immigrant Christian Hoffart (1716-1788) is the following:

• Sarah Catherine Hooker (1871-1952) > Elizabeth Hufford (1851-1929) > Andrew Hufford (1827-1881) > Abraham Hufford (1788-1859) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).

Based on my line, the following lines are proven:

• Martha Jane Curtis (1927-1991) > Edith E. Hufford (1883-1952) > Jacob Leonard Hufford (1841-1907) > Jacob Staley Hufford (1798-1884) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Martha Jane’s daughter.]

• Ivan Clyde Smith (1910-1959) > Mabel Edna McKinley > Mary Amelia VanHellen > Mary Ann Hufford > Jacob Staley Hoffert > Casper Hoffert > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Ivan’s son.]

• Norma Jean Hufford > Richard Robinson Hufford > Walter Arthur Hufford > David D. Hufford > Andrew Hufford > Abraham Hufford > Casper Hoffert > Christian Hoffart. … [Proven by DNA from Norma Jean’s grandson.]

• Dorothy Lorraine Hufford (1934-1972) > Clarence Everett Hufford, Sr. (1903–1987) > Levi Silas Lee Hufford (1871-1912) > Aaron J. Hufford (1846-1915) > Michael William Hufford, Sr. (1804-1875) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Dorothy’s only daughter, who was placed for adoption at birth: a 5 cM match on chromosome # 13, from 108162547 to 109642722.]

• Vernon Clarence Carstensen (1928-2013) > Helen Anna Seiling (1904-1972) > Delia Mary Limmer (1874-1951) > Lucinda Hufford (1853-1914) > Jacob Stanley Hufford (1798-1884) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Vernon’s son.]

• Fred Louis Remer (1944-1996) > Frederick Jesse Remer (1925-1973) > Jesse Henry Remer (1880-1949) > Mary Ann Bader (1854-1884) > Elizabeth Hufford (1826-1889) > John Hufford (1801-1825) > Casper Hoffert (1762-1825) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Fred’s daughter.]

• Bess Levada Fasgold (1926-2010) > Iva Alberta Pumphrey (1898-1986) > Clara Elizabeth Hufford (1877-1967) > William Lafayette Hufford (1848-1928) > Jefferson Hufford (b. abt 1807; d. aft 1880) > John Hoffart (b. abt 1758; d. bef 18-May-1819) > Christian Hoffart (1716-1788).
[Proven by DNA from Bess’ son. This line has been problematic. The autosomal DNA match says the line is correct; however, another male descendant of this line has done a 37-marker Y-DNA test that showed a match at 0 points removed from someone who descends on a MOORE line from a MOORE who lived in Woodford County, Kentucky, in the 1800s, at the same time the HUFFORDs were there.]

If you are a HUFFORD descendant who has been able to prove your line with DNA testing, please share the information with me so that we can begin to collect information on proven lines. I’ll add the information here in this HUFFORD FAMILY HISTORY.

My line is above (Elizabeth Hufford). I have tested at familyTreeDNA, at 23andMe, and at ancestryDNA. My raw data has been uploaded at gedMatch.com, and I will provide my gedMatch number upon request.

Autosomal DNA testing is the new world for genealogists.  I won’t try to explain it here, but it has moved into the realm of being reasonably affordable — typically about $100 per spit test.  Unlike Y-DNA testing that is good only for straight-line paternal ancestry, and unlike mtDNA testing that is good only for straight-line maternal ancestry, autosomal DNA testing shows close and distant relationships between two people.

After another HUFFORD descendant told me that he’d had his spit tested, I decided to step into the world of DNA testing.  For one hundred dollars and a small cup of spit, I would have the chance to learn if my 2nd cousin once-removed really is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Our connection is through Elizabeth HUFFORD (1851-1929) and her husband George HOOKER (1844-1921).  About four weeks after I put my spit in the mail, the DNA analysis showed that the relationship was for real: An eight cM segment on chromosome seven said, “Yes, you’re related.”

Still, that alone did not say whether the DNA segment came from Elizabeth Hufford or from her husband.

If you walk into the world of DNA genealogy, you’ll find that there is a learning curve: The more you fiddle with it, the more you learn. After some fiddling (that I won’t explain here), I found three others who also have that same eight cM segment on chromosome seven. They have strong Brethren and Anabaptist connections, but they have no knowledge of being HUFFORD descendants.

It may be that the gene that we five carry — while it proves that I descend from Elizabeth Hufford — may in fact be from another common ancestor above Elizabeth, other than straight back her Hufford line.

If you have not walked into the world of autosomal DNA testing, I recommend it.  It goes hand-in-hand with standard documentary genealogical research.  With DNA, you can prove what the documents say is so.