John Heberling

CRUMLEY, COBEL, WYLAND, OSBURN, COLEMAN, ELLISON

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 11:05:32

~ JOHN HEBERLING ~

It may not be generally known that the subject of this notice, a resident of Miles, assisted in manufacturing the first "spike" threshing-machine ever brought into existence. In fact, he is one of the pioneer manufacturers of America in that branch. While a young man Mr. Heberling traveled extensively, introducing his machines, and disposing of the patent right to other manufacturers. Upon one of these trips he first met his wife in Pennsylvania. He prospered for some time, and would have undoubtedly occupied his rightful place among American manufacturers but for the unfortunate circumstance that he was involved in partnership with another party endeavoring to extend his business, and thus lost a large amount of money, being, in fact, practically ruined. In 1853 he sought to retrieve his fortune west of the Mississippi, and in time was comfortably established on a well-regulated and well-equiped farm in Van Buren Township, where, although living unpretentiously, he managed to surround himself and family with all the comforts of life. This homestead, now the property of his son (the latter a resident of Chicago), is mainly looked after by Mr. Heberling, and is well provided with buildings and machinery, and, taken altogether, is a most beautiful country resort. Mr. Heberling is spoken of by his neighbors as a man upright and honorable in all his dealings, and is a popular citizen.

Mr. Heberling visited the Far West in 1848, having in view the establishment of a permanent home this side the Father of Waters, and he took up a claim near the present site of La Motte. Then, returning to Ohio, where he had lived since boyhood, he sojourned there six years longer, returning to Iowa in 1853. He was without much means at this time, and engaged in operating a threshing-machine, by which he met with a serious accident, having his left hand badly multilated. On account of this, inflammation set in his left eye, which resulted in the loss of it. It will thus be seen that he has had the ordinary difficulties of human life to contend with, and perhaps more than some men. These, however, have developed in him a character strong and self-reliant, and proved to him what a man may accomplish through the force of circumstances.

Our subject is the son of John and Mary (Crumley) Heberling, the former of whom is a native of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Heberling, settled at Wilkesbarre, that place, during the time of the Revolutionary War. He was of German birth and ancestry, and emigrated to America about the year 1778. Mrs. Mary Heberling, the mother of our subject, was a native of Virginia and the daughter of James Crumley, who was born in England and married a lady who was a native of Scotland. They settled in the vicinity of Mill Creek, Berkeley County, Va., where his father followed his trade of a blacksmith until about the age of forty-five years, when he abandoned the forge and turned his attention to farming. Finally, leaving the Old Dominion, he emigrated with his family to Eastern Ohio about 1823, took up land and established a homestead, where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. She survived her husband only six months, and was but a few years younger than he.

To John and Mary Heberling, the parents of our subject there were born ten children, all of whom lived to mature years, and eight of whom still survive. The eldest, Henry, died in Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Iowa, at the age of eighty-two years. The second-born, a daughter, Eliza, is now eighty-two years old, and a resident of Muscatine, Iowa; John, of our sketch, was the third child; the others were named respectively: Hiram, William, George, James, Andrew, Rebecca (who is now seventy years old, and a resident of Dubuque, Iowa), and Mary, who died in Harrison County, Ohio, at the age of forty years.

John Heberling, Jr., was born in Berkeley County, Va., Dec. 29, 1809, the parental domicile being about half way between Martinsburg and Winchester, in the Winchester Valley. He attended the common schools during his boyhood, and remained a resident of the Old Dominion until a lad of fourteen years, at which time his parents removed to Ohio. He developed into manhood in Harrison County, and assisted in the labors of building up a new homestead in the wilderness. His father conducted a blacksmith shop, and John assisted him in the manufacture of ploughs and harrows. Upon reaching his majority, so expert had he become, that he commanded journeyman's wages in both wood and iron work.

About this time, starting out for himself, young Heberling, in partnership with his brother Henry, began the manufacture of threshing-machines, building the first "spike" machine ever constructed in the United States, and which resembled the cylinder and concave machines which we see at the present time. There were also associated with them two others, Messrs. Richardson and Corey. The partners secured the exclusive right of manufacture, but there had occurred a slight error in connection with this at the patent office which was not rectified until after the death of the principal patentee, Mr. Richardson, from cholera, about 1831.

In the meantime the firm had done business to the extent of thousands of dollars, but the original patentee dying left no representative that could correct the mistake made in the patent office, and it became extremely difficult for them to make their collections. They continued, however, to manufacture the machines, which Mr. Heberling sold throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. In the latter State he was wedded, in September, 1837, to Miss Susannah Cobel, and after a time sold the right of manufacturing these machines to his father-in-law, who conducted the establishment for a time, and then Mr. Heberling became his partner. Mr. Cobel was also prominently connected with the Franklin Smelting Furnace Company, in which business he met with heavy losses. Shortly afterward Mr. Heberling turned his face to the farther West.

After his marriage Mr. Heberling disposed of his interests in Harrison County, Ohio, and went back to Pennsylvania to the home of his bride. The latter was the daughter of John and Susannah (Wyland) Cobel, and was born near Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., June 4, 1818. She was mostly reared there, but completed her education at Cadiz, Ohio. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and spent their last years in that State. The pioneer experience of Mr. and Mrs. Heberling in Iowa was similar to that of many of the people around them, during which time they struggled and labored many years, and are now able to rest from the more arduous duties of life. In the year 1887 our subject disposed of his farm property to his son Hiram, and at his pleasant home in Miles is passing his latter days amid the comforts which he has so justly earned.

During the ups and downs of life, and notwithstanding his many trials and causes for discouragement, Mr. Heberling has maintained his dignity by that high sense of integrity and honor which have been among the leading elements of his character. As his physicians, Drs. Sugg & Wood, of Sabula, remarked, "with one eye, one hand, and one leg, you still keep going in your eightieth year," and they might have added, "he is still able to accomplish more than many a younger man." To him and his estimable wife there have been born ten children, the eldest of whom, George C., is an attorney, and a claim investigator for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Company. During the late war he did good service as a soldier in the Union Army. Hiram S. is a conductor on a passenger rain of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, running from Marion to Chicago. He also served in the army during the Rebellion. Milton is engaged in real estate, insurance and commission business at St. Paul, Minn. Henry is also a railroad man, having his headquarters at Marion. Julius is a station agent and telegraph operator at Springville, Linn Co., Iowa; Mary J. is the wife of David J. Osburn, a ranchman of Western Nebraska; Margaret, Mrs. Hiram Coleman, is a resident of Northern Nebraska; Charlotte obtained an excellent education, and occupies herself as a teacher in the graded schools at Miles; and Alice is the wife of Prof. W. S. Ellison, a well-known educator of, Whiteside County, Ill.

Our subject cast his first Presidential vote in November, 1830, and ten years later voted for William H. Harrison, being then a resident of Pennsylvania. Still later, in 1856, he supported John C. Fremont at the time of the organization of the Republican party, to which he has since given his unqualified allegiance. In religious matters he is liberal, essentially a man of free thought, and endeavors to govern his life by the precepts of the Golden Rule. He has ever been the friend of education, believing that this is the best heritage which a father can leave to his children or a nation to its young men.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)