He may be descended from the rather large family of Elias Huff who lived in Pennsylvania, of Dutch (or German?) descent.
Sarah Jane Couch's parentage is well documented, from Mississippi and Alabama. Lizzie P. Mercer's mother was Margaret F. Hartin, and father was John P. Mercer, a confederate soldier who died in a prison camp in the Civil War. Lizzie was raised by her aunt, Elizabeth Hartin. The Mercers and Hartins were from Phillips and Lee Counties, AR. It seems that the Hartins and the Huffs were always close, and there are several instances of the Hartin name in the Huff family tree.
1 James S. (Samuel?) HUFF & Annie | 1.1a (James) Elias HUFF* (1816 - 1873) | b. 9 Jan 1816, Kentucky | d. 24 Sep 1873, McCrory, AR | & Nancy FIELD | | 1.1a.1 Mary Elizabeth HUFF (1855 - ) | | b. Dec 1855 | | d. Ft. Worth, Texas | | & HARTIN ? | | 1.1a.2 William James FIELD | 1.1b (James) Elias HUFF* (1816 - 1873) | b. 9 Jan 1816, Kentucky | d. 24 Sep 1873, McCrory, AR | & Sarah Jane COUCH (1840 - 1901) | b. 10 Jan 1840, Tishamingo Co, MS | d. 4 Apr 1901, McCrory, AR | m. 11 Mar 1858, Jackson Co., Arkansas | | 1.1b.1 James Louis HUFF (1859 - 1899) | | b. 17 Feb 1859, McCrory, AR | | d. 3 May 1899, McCrory, AR | | & Elizabeth (Lizzie) P. MERCER (1861 - 1905) | | b. 15 Jul 1861, Phillips Co., AR | | d. 30 Jul 1905, McCrory, AR | | m. 20 Jan 1880 | | | 1.1b.1.1 Nettie HUFF (1881 - 1958) | | | b. 25 Feb 1881, McCrory, AR | | | d. 8 Jun 1958, McCrory, AR | | | & Jeff L. BRONTE (1878 - 1932) | | | b. 17 Feb 1878, Winona, MS | | | d. 15 Sep 1932, McCrory,AR, | | | m. 30 Sep 1900, Woodruff Co., AR | | | | 1.1b.1.1.1 Myrtle Lurline BRONTE (1901 - 1903) | | | | b. 3 Sep 1901, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 22 Jun 1903, McCrory, AR | | | | 1.1b.1.1.2 Elizabeth (Lizzie E.) BRONTE (1904 - 1958) | | | | b. 22 Sep 1904, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 14 Jun 1958, Newport, AR | | | | & James Lewis WELD (1902 - 1990) | | | | b. 28 Aug 1902 | | | | d. 12 Nov 1990, McCrory, AR | | | | m. 19 Jun 1927 | | | | 1.1b.1.1.3 Alma L. BRONTE (1906 - 1979) | | | | b. 18 Oct 1906, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 23 Feb 1979, Pasadena, CA | | | | & Clayton WHITE (1902 - 1983) | | | | b. 4 Oct 1902, Lonoke, AR | | | | d. 8 Mar 1983, So. Pasedena, CA | | | | m. 28 Dec 1927 | | | | 1.1b.1.1.4 Paul Huff BRONTE (1907 - 1961) | | | | b. 1 Dec 1907, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 18 Jul 1961, Amarillo, TX | | | | & Dorothy Vivian HAMILTON (1909 - 1975) | | | | b. 28 Nov 1909, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 19 Mar 1975, McCrory, AR | | | | m. 4 Aug 1934, Woodruff County, AR | | | | 1.1b.1.1.5 Jeff Love (Jay) BRONTE (1909 - 1959) | | | | b. 29 Jan 1909, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 14 Nov 1959, Nanuet, NY | | | | & Evelyn Alvera MAZZOCHI (1915 - ) | | | | b. 21 Oct 1915, New York City, NY | | | | m. 30 Jun 1937, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | | | 1.1b.1.2 Effie HUFF (ca1883 - ca1883) | | | b. ca 1883 | | | d. ca 1883 | | | 1.1b.1.3 Daniel Milton HUFF (1885 - 1952) | | | b. 28 Oct 1885, McCrory, AR | | | d. 18 Jan 1952, McCrory, AR | | | & Ora B. WATSON (1887 - ca 1980) | | | b. 29 Oct 1887, El Paso, AR | | | d. ca 19 Feb 1981, McCrory, AR | | | m. 24 Nov 1907, Woodruff Co, AR | | | | 1.1b.1.3.1 Jessamine HUFF (1914 - 1995) | | | | b. 25 Aug 1914, McCrory, AR | | | | d. 22 Sep 1995, Walnut Ridge, AR | | | | & Wright HATCHER (1914 - 1990) | | | | b. 10 Feb 1914 | | | | d. Mar 1990, Walnut Ridge, AR | | | | m. Jun 1937 | | | | 1.1b.1.3.2 James Milton HUFF (1923 - ) | | | | b. 17 Jun 1923, McCrory, AR | | | | & Mary Elizabeth(Betty) KELLEY (1931 - ) | | | | b. 18 Aug 1931, Vicksburg, MS | | | | m. 18 Jan 1952, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.1.4 Mamie Louis HUFF (1889 - 1965) | | | b. 2 Jun 1889, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 18 Apr 1965, Easter Sunday, McCrory, Arkansas | | | & Dolphus Edgar CHAPPELL (1887 - 1975) | | | b. 11 Aug 1887 | | | d. 9 Apr 1975, McCrory, Arkansas | | | m. 30 Dec 1914, Woodruff County, Arkansas | | | | 1.1b.1.4.1 Edgar Wayne CHAPPELL (1922 - 1993) | | | | b. 9 Jan 1922, Cave City, Arkansas | | | | d. 26 Sep 1993, St Paul, Minnesota | | | | & Dorothy Elaine MYRVOLD (1924 - ) | | | | b. 16 Sep 1924, Wisconsin | | | | m. 7 Oct 1944, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois | | | 1.1b.1.5 Vernon Elias HUFF (1891 - 1962) | | | b. 28 Apr 1891, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. Oct 1962 | | | & Gretchen A. TARPLEY (1893 - 1978) | | | b. 27 Jul 1893 | | | d. Jan 1978 | | | m. 11 Jan 1921, Woodruff Co., Ark. | | | 1.1b.1.6 Walter B. HUFF (1893 - 1954) | | | b. 18 Mar 1893, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 19 Oct 1954, Newport, Arkansas | | | & Agnes Barbara MCGEHEE (1894 - 1989) | | | b. 12 Jul 1894 | | | d. 24 Dec 1989, England, Arkansas | | | | 1.1b.1.6.1 Dolly HUFF (1930 - ) | | | | b. 15 Apr 1930, Little Rock, Arkansas | | | | & William James (Bill) MCCLANAHAN (1927 - ) | | | | b. 8 Jun 1927, England, Arkansas, in the family house | | | | m. 21 Jun 1953, Newport, Arkansas | | | | 1.1b.1.6.2 Janice HUFF | | | 1.1b.1.7 Ottie Odessa HUFF (1895 - 1974) | | | b. 7 Mar 1895, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 19 May 1974, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.1.8 Della Pauline HUFF (1897 - 1983) | | | b. 5 Apr 1897, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 14 Nov 1983, Arlington, Texas | | | & Robert Lee JONES (1894 - 2000) | | | b. 23 Apr 1894, Italy, Texas | | | d. 30 May 2000, Euless, Texas | | | m. 1 Sep 1921 | | | | 1.1b.1.8.1 Robert JONES (ca1933 - ) | | | | b. ca 1933, Commerce, Texas | | | | & Rena (UNKNOWN) | | | | 1.1b.1.8.2 Paula JONES (ca1937 - ) | | | | b. ca 1937, Commerce, Texas | | | | & John JUNGERMAN | | 1.1b.2 Napoleon (Polie?) HUFF (1861 - 1873) | | b. 13 Jan 1861 | | d. 1873, McCrory, Arkansas | | 1.1b.3 Sarah Anna HUFF (1863 - 1901) | | b. 4 Nov 1863 | | d. 1 Nov 1901, Blum, TX | | & Richard? HARTIN | | | 1.1b.3.1 Minnie HARTIN (1883 - 1897) | | | b. 25 Jul 1883, McCrory, AR | | | d. 11 Mar 1897, McCrory, AR | | | 1.1b.3.2 James E. HARTIN (1891 - 1905) | | | b. 29 Apr 1891 | | | d. 30 May 1905 | | | 1.1b.3.3 Mary S. HARTIN (1895 - 1905) | | | b. 15 May 1895, McCrory, AR | | | d. 3 Oct 1905, McCrory, AR | | 1.1b.4 Samuel HUFF (1865 - ) | | b. 1865 | | d. Arkansas | | 1.1b.5a Virginia September (Jenny) HUFF* (1867 - 1950) | | b. 1 Sep 1867, McCrory, AR | | d. 15 Mar 1950, Amarillo, TX | | & David Crockett CARVER (1859 - 1897) | | b. 30 Jan 1859, McCrory, AR | | d. 21 Jan 1897, McCrory, AR | | m. 9 Jan 1884 | | | 1.1b.5a.1 Jesse Ray CARVER (1885 - 1889) | | | b. 12 Jan 1885, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 25 Sep 1889, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.5a.2 Earl Huff CARVER (1887 - 1974) | | | b. 20 Jun 1887, Texas | | | d. 7 Jun 1974, Lubbock, Texas | | | & Odessa | | | | 1.1b.5a.2.1 Maynard CARVER | | | | 1.1b.5a.2.2 Wynona CARVER (1914 - 1982) | | | | b. 2 Apr 1914 | | | | d. Mar 1982 | | | | & Eugene GARNER | | | | 1.1b.5a.2.3a Juanita CARVER* | | | | & KERR | | | | 1.1b.5a.2.3b Juanita CARVER* | | | | & GALIA | | | 1.1b.5a.3 Jesse Della CARVER (1890 - 1983) | | | b. 13 Jan 1890, Arkansas | | | d. 31 Mar 1983, Amarillo, TX | | | & (Pulaski) Farris YOCHAM (1889 - 1967) | | | b. 26 Jul 1889, Pulaski Co., AR | | | d. 26 Dec 1967, Amarillo, TX | | | m. Jul 1905 | | | | 1.1b.5a.3.1 Lila V. YOCHAM (1916 - 1995) | | | | b. 1 Feb 1916, Alanreed, TX | | | | d. 26 May 1995, Died in Austin - was diabetic | | | | & Lynn BENNETT (1916 - ) | | | | b. 4 Apr 1916, Winters, TX | | | | m. 25 May 1939, Amarillo, Texas | | | 1.1b.5a.4 Precious Shirley CARVER (1893 - 1894) | | | b. 25 Apr 1893, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 27 Jul 1894, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.5a.5 Wess Pente CARVER (1896 - 1896) | | | b. 2 Mar 1896, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 25 May 1896, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.5a.6 David Crockett CARVER (1897 - 1970) | | | b. 30 Sep 1897 | | | d. 14 Mar 1970 | | | | 1.1b.5a.6.1 Evelyn CARVER | | | | 1.1b.5a.6.2 Doug CARVER | | | | 1.1b.5a.6.3 Bobbie CARVER | | 1.1b.5b Virginia September (Jenny) HUFF* (1867 - 1950) | | b. 1 Sep 1867, McCrory, AR | | d. 15 Mar 1950, Amarillo, TX | | & Joe SPRADLIN | | m. ca 1900 | | 1.1b.6 Dan H. HUFF (1870 - ) | | b. 1870, McCrory, AR | | d. Arlington, TX | | & Lillie M. BRANDON | | | 1.1b.6.1 Ora HUFF (1896 - 1896) | | | b. 5 Oct 1896, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 11 Oct 1896, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.6.2 Zelmer HUFF (1897 - 1898) | | | b. 5 Dec 1897, McCrory, Arkansas | | | d. 1 Sep 1898, McCrory, Arkansas | | | 1.1b.6.3 Vera HUFF (1900 - 1989) | | | b. 2 Nov 1900, Texas | | | d. 7 Feb 1989, Arlington, TX | | 1.1b.7 David Henry HUFF (1870 - 1952) | | b. 2 Sep 1870 | | d. 16 Jan 1952, Arlington, TX | | 1.1b.8 Della Minerva HUFF (1874 - 1930) | | b. 9 May 1874, McCrory, Arkansas | | d. 17 May 1930, near Beebe, Arkansas | | & Walter BEEDE