William Heffernan
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.
-source: Past & Present in Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
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