BIO: Henry HEATON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ HENRY HEATON. The entire life of this gentleman has been spent in Boggs township, Centre county, and his name is inseparably connected with the agricultural and commercial interests of this region. His thorough American spirit and his great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and complete system, and the habit of giving careful attention to details, without which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. Mr. Heaton was born September 1, 1830, one mile northwest of his present home in Boggs township, a son of Michael and Mary (Walker) Heaton. The father was also a native of Boggs township, born March 10, 1800, in Bald Eagle Valley, while the mother's birth occurred in Mifflin county, Penn., July 7, 1808. Their marriage was celebrated in the latter county, but they began their domestic life in Boggs township, where they continued to make their home until called from this life, the father dying March 7, 1877, and the mother in February, 1892. By occupation he was a farmer and contractor in lumber, and he efficiently served as supervisor of Boggs township. Both were faithful members of the Baptist Church, with which they united March 24, 1850, and in politics he was first a Democrat, but after the war joined the ranks of the Republican party. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Enoch and Eve (Fetzer) Heaton, were natives of England and Germany respectively. At the age of seven years the former accompanied his parents to the New World, becoming a resident of Bucks county, Penn., where he remained until 1798, when he came to Spring township, Centre county, but later removed to Boggs township. There he passed his remaining days. By occupation he was a hunter and laborer. The maternal grandparents were also of foreign birth. They were Jacob and Margaret (McElwaine) Walker, the former born in Germany, and the latter in Scotland. At an early day they removed from Bucks county to Centre county, Penn., where the grandfather engaged in agricultural pursuits. Henry Heaton is the second in order of birth in the family of thirteen children - six sons and seven daughters - of whom are mentioned: Jane C., widow of M. G. Williams, and a resident of Liberty township, Centre county; Henry; Andrew, deceased; Mary, who wedded James W. Harrison, of England, but both are now deceased; Michael, a farmer of Boggs township; John, deceased; James, a farmer of Milesburg, Penn.; Mrs. Sarah M. Poorman, of Centre county; David W., a farmer of Huston township, in the same county; Hannah, wife of F. Robb, an agriculturist of Liberty township; Isabella, wife of William Robb, a merchant of Curtin township, Centre county; and Matilda, who died when quite young. Until he was twenty-four years of age Mr. Heaton, the subject proper of this sketch, remained upon the home farm, assisting in its cultivation, and acquiring a limited education in the schools of the neighborhood. For three years he then worked in the lumber woods, and for the following year was employed upon a farm, during which time he saved enough money to pay his tuition at Bellefonte Academy for one year. On leaving school he then traveled for a short time. On May 24, 1861, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Shroyer, who was born in Spring township, Centre county, March 10, 1833, a daughter 388 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of Adam and Catherine (Rarrick) Shroyer, the former a native of Penn's Valley, Penn., and the latter of New Berlin, Union Co., Penn., where their marriage was celebrated. From New Berlin they removed to Milesburg, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying April 9, 1851, and the mother on February 22, 1880. He followed the occupation of farming throughout life. In their family were the following children: Mary, wife of Jacob Schope, of Milesburg; Sarah E., wife of our subject; Emanuel, who died in 1894; William and James, who both died in the army; George, deceased; Adam A., a railroad man, of Milesburg; and Ellen, wife of John Schwartz, a farmer of Boggs township. Six children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Heaton, namely: Mary C., who died when small; Alice M., wife of O. J. Stover, a hotel man of Eagleville, Centre county; Lucy B., wife of George N. Neff, an agriculturist of Centre county; J. Frank and George S., who are still on the home farm; and Lida J., wife of John R. Eckley, of Jacksonville, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Sarah E. Heaton never was a stout or robust woman, but has always been possessed of good courage, and in her younger days must have had no small amount of muscular strength, as the following incident in her life will serve to prove. When she and her husband first settled on their farm, deer and other wild animals were plentiful in the mountains, and one day a large dog chased a fine deer down to near the old stable. Mrs. Heaton seeing the animals approaching, ran down in the direction they were coming, by which time the dog had caught the deer, and she then leaped over the fence, succeeded in getting hold of the deer and keeping its head under the fence stake for some considerable time until her aunt reluctantly brought her a knife, with which she (Mrs. Heaton) cut the animal's throat. The two ladies then succeeded in dragging the deer into the field, and Mr. Heaton returning home shortly after, he dressed the venison. This was truly a heroic act on the part of Mrs. Heaton, one that elicited much comment at that time, and is to this day the subject of no little mirth. Upon his marriage, Mr. Heaton located upon his present farm in Boggs township, which was then in its primitive condition, but he at once began its improvement and cultivation, which he continued until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, 148th P. V. I., under Capt. Martin Dolen and Gen. James A. Beaver. He was brave and fearless on the field of battle, and with his regiment participated in the following engagements: Potomac, Chancellorsville, Acquia Creek, Manassas Gap, Spottsylvania, Deep Bottom, Rapidan, Fredericksburg, fourteen days battle of the Wilderness, Gettysburg, South Gravely Run and Peach Orchard. On March 31, 1865, just nine days before the surrender of Gen. Lee, he was wounded by a minie ball in the left arm, which the surgeons said would have to be amputated; but the head physician would not allow this as he was ill at the time with typhoid fever. From the 5th of April until the 31st of September he was confined in Douglas Hospital at Washington, D. C. On October 1, 1865, Mr. Heaton returned home and began teaching while his arm was still in a sling, following that profession for two terms. Owing to ill health he resigned, and for four years worked at the carpenter's trade, but on the expiration of that period he resumed farming, which he has since continued with most gratifying results. He also conducts a general store at his place on the Marsh creek road, in Boggs township, and is a most reliable and wide-awake business man. Mr. Heaton uniformly votes the Democratic ticket, and is a stanch advocate of free silver. Being an influential, public-spirited citizen, he takes a prominent part in public affairs, and has most acceptably served as overseer of the poor and supervisor of his township. Socially, he is connected with the Grange, the I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R., while both himself and wife have been consistent members of the Baptist Church for over forty years. At the present time (winter of 1897-8), he is engaged in erecting a Baptist church building, which is approaching completion, and will cost altogether about $1,200. On March 24, 1850, he was immersed by Rev. D. W. Hunter, which faithful minister labored for six years at Milesburg, where he began his first charge. The first candidates he led into the Baptismal waters was Mr. Heaton's sister, Jane C. Williams, and his (Mr. Heaton's) paternal grandmother, who was in her seventieth year at the time; that was in December, 1849, then on March 24, following year, Mr. Heaton's father and himself were immersed. In 1889 Rev. D. W. Hunter again came to Milesburg and baptized two of Mr. Heaton's daughters (now Mrs. Neff and Mrs. Eckley, respectively), from which time on Mr. Hunter advised them to build a house of worship, and Mr. Heaton then generously commenced the good work (as above related), which has been slowly but steadily progressing as his means would permit, and when completed it is his intention to grant the deed of the church building to the Centre Association. The hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Heaton is ever open for the reception of their many COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 389 friends, and the family hold a high position in the social circles of the community, where they are so widely and favorably known.