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ROBERT HEATH. Among the pioneers of 1854, in this county, and a gentleman who has succeeded in life through his own energy, perseverance and industry, and is yet living to tell of the trials encountered during the early settlement of the country, is the above mentioned gentleman, residing on section 3, Canton Township. He was born in Guilford County, N. C., March 18, 1816. His parents were Robert and Permelia (Perdue) Heath, who were also natives of the same State, their ancestors being among the first settlers there. In 1831 the family removed to Indiana, settling in Delaware County.Our subject subsequently removed to Decatur County, in that State, where, in 1839, he was united in marriage with Frances Stark, a native of Kentucky. She died in 1847, leaving four children — Joseph, a resident of Polk Township; Merritt S., living in Canton Township; William R., a resident of Wilson County, Kan.; and Lovina, who married John R. Blackburn and is residing in Wilson County, Kan.
The second marriage of Mr. Heath took place in 1848, at which time Sarah E. Taylor, a native of Kentucky, became his wife. Of this latter union three children have been born — John, Matteson and Abner P. They are all married and living in Canton Township. Six years after his last marriage, in 1854, our subject concluded to emigrate to the Far West. Following up this determination, he loaded his household goods in a wagon, and with his family started overland for this State, arriving in this county after a tedious journey of nineteen days. He located on section 3, Canton Township, where a few months previously he had purchased 120 acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land. There was a small house on the place, and about forty acres of the land had been cultivated. He has since continued to reside on that place, and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. About 1859 he erected a good brick residence, which was the first brick house in that part of the county. By energy and economy, coupled with hard labor and good judgment in the prosecution of his vocation, he has been enabled to add to his real estate in the county, and at the present time is the owner of 335 acres.
Politically Mr. Heath was a Republican, but on the formation of the National Greenback party he joined its ranks. In religious belief he is a Baptist.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 332-333.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 18th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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