JACOB B. HELLER

HELLER

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 17:26:34

JACOB B. HELLER (postoffice East Nodaway) is one of the early settlers of Adams county and a representative farmer of this vicinity. Coming to Iowa in 1871, he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, then all wild land. He has since added to his original purchase and now owns 120 acres. He was one of the first settlers here to plant an orchard and fruit, and at this writing his orchard, which contains 100 bearing trees, is one of the best of its size in the county. His residence, a frame house, is situated on a nice building site; his other buildings—barn, sheds, cribs, etc., together with his broad pastures and well cultivated fields all show thrift and enterprise. Among his stock we note two fine stallions, a Morgan and Clydesdale.

Jacob B. Heller was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1837, son of Jacob Heller, also a native of that place. Grandfather Jacob Heller, Sr., a son of German parents, was one of the first settlers in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Some members of the Heller family participated in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was before her marriage Margaret Daniel, and she, too, was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of German parents. Jacob B. was
six months old when his parents moved to Crawford county, Ohio, making the journey by team. When they reached their destination they camped under a large oak tree in the midst of the dense forest while the father and two neighbors built a log cabin. His father lived in Crawford county the rest of his days and died there at the age of eighty- five years. He was a farmer all his life; in politics, a Democrat; and in religion, a member of the Dutch Reform Church. The mother in later years joined the English Lutheran Church. She is yet living on the old farm in Crawford county. They had thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, Jacob B. being the ninth born. He grew up at the old homestead, receiving a common school education.

When the war came on Mr. Heller enlisted August 15, 1861, in Company C, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry Volunteers, and served about three years. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the last named place he was wounded in the left hand, and was confined in the field hospital at Nashville. Later he was examined and transferred to the invalid corps, doing duty at Nashville most of the time. He was an eye-witness to the last battle at Nashville. After receiving an honorable discharge, he was employed by the Government as a member of a bridge company, building bridges near Nashville, and was thus employed for ten months.

After the war closed Mr. Heller returned to Crawford county and spent a short time. He then went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he lived until 1871, the year of his coming to Adams county.

He was married in Ogle county, November 28, 1868, to Miss Lydia Heller, a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Rev. Charles Knepper performing the ceremony which made them companions for life. Mrs. Heller is a daughter of John and Lydia (Shott) Heller, natives of Pennsylvania. They moved to Ogle county when 6he was only six years old. Her mother still resides there and has reached her seventy-ninth year, the father having died at Byron, Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Heller have four children, Martha Ellen, Emma Jane, John Franklin and Mary Laura. They lost three in infancy. Mr. Heller is a Republican politically, and has served as constable. He is a member of the Meyerhoff Post, G. A. R.