IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of William Heffernan
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 19:41:02 -0600

Surnames: Heffernan, McCormac, Kelly, Birmingham

Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 vols. Chicago:
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913.

A valuable farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres in Linton township pays
tribute to the care and skill of William Heffernan, who is numbered among
Allamakee county's progressive agriculturists and most successful
representative of native sons. He was born in this township, February 22,
1855, and is a son of William and Mary (McCormac) Heffernan, the former born
in Waterford, Ireland, in 1832 and the latter in County Fermanagh in 1838.
In his youth the father learned the shoemaking trade and about 1850
emigrated to America, following this occupation for one year in New York
city. He then moved to Poughkeepsie, in the same state, where his marriage
occurred, after which he and his wife came west, settling in Galena,
Illinois. The father followed his trade in that community until he came to
Iowa in 1854, settling on what was known as the old Rice homestead, where
the subject of our review was born. The parents continued to reside there
for one year and then moved to another farm in Linton township, this
property comprising a portion of William Heffernan's present holdings. The
father spent the remainder of his life upon this property, engaging in
farming, and died here December 28, 1903. He had survived his wife since
December 21, 1899. Seven children were born to their union, of whom the
subject of this review is the fourth in order of birth.

William Heffernan acquired his education in the Egan school in district No.
1, Linton township, and when not engaged with his books assisted his father
with the operation of the homestead, becoming thus familiar with the best
and most practical agricultural methods. When he was twenty-two years of age
he left home and went to Nebraska, where he took up his homestead claim in
Custer county which he held for fourteen years. He did not, however, reside
continuously upon this property, going back and forth for one year and in
1879 walked from Broken Bow, Custer county, Nebraska, to Cherry Mound,
Allamakee county, Iowa, leading a span of colts, the trip consuming three
weeks. During the remainder of his time he lived on the homestead in Linton
township, Iowa, caring for his parents in their declining years. Eventually
he disposed of his property in Nebraska and bought the old Corcoran
homestead in Allamakee county, a property adjoining his father's farm. He
operated this and the family homestead until after the death of his parents,
when he became proprietor of the entire tract. He has since disposed of some
of the land, owing to his impaired health, and owns today one hundred and
fifty-one acres which are ably managed and which he has made one of the
valuable and attractive farms in this locality. Mr. Heffernan engages in
general farming and has extensive stock-raising and dairy interests, all of
the branches of his enterprise being carefully conducted and therefore
profitable.

On the 12th of January, 1909, Mr. Heffernan was united in marriage to Miss
Margaret Kelly, who was born in Linton township, February 15, 1857, a
daughter of John and Bridget (Birmingham) Kelly, the former a native of
County Galway and the latter of County Fermanagh, Ireland. Mrs. Heffernan's
mother is a descendant of one of the noted families of Ireland. The
Birminghams were of Norman origin and came to Ireland at the time of the
English invasion. The grandfather was a nobleman but lost his property on
account of religious persecution at that time when Ireland was steeped in
internal troubles. John and Bridget Kelly crossed the Atlantic at about the
same time that Mr. Heffernan's parents made the journey and they settled in
Ohio, where for a number of years the father worked in a hotel. After coming
to Linton township, this county, he purchased land and turned his attention
to farming, following this occupation until his retirement. He and his wife
now reside in Linton township. Both are highly respected in Allamakee
county, and all of their living children, four sons and three daughters, are
well-to-do. In their family were nine children, of whom two, however, died
in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are widely known for their generosity,
hospitality and kindness which qualities they practice in their old age as
they have done during their entire life. Mr and Mrs Heffernan have an
adopted child which they secured from a Catholic orphan's home in Chicago.
Mr and Mrs. Heffernan are members of the Cherry Mound Roman Catholic church,
and he gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, having served
in a capable and efficient way as a road supervisor. He is a stockholder in
the Waterville Creamery Company and in the Farmers Telephone Company of
Paint Creek township and is a business man of known reliability and worth.
Throughout the township where his entire life had been spent he is well and
favorably regarded and holds the unqualified confidence and esteem of the
entire community.


Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/

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