Hevern, Frank 1865-1928 and Jennie Fitzpatrick family

HEVERN, FITZPATRICK, COFFEY, LINAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/11/2022 at 08:50:34

Hevern, Frank 1865-1928 and Jennie Fitzpatrick family

This story was taken from pages 96-99 of the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book written for the centennial of the church in about 1982(?). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

FRANK HEVERN was born October 1, 1865 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was married to JENNIE FITZPATRICK on February 12, 1901 at St. Mary’s. She was born January 6, 1873 in Littleport, Iowa. They farmed northwest of Rock Valley.

Frank died September 14, 1928 and Jennie died August 16, 1961. Both are buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

They were the parents of six children; Edward, Leo, Loretta, James, Frances and Boniface.

1. EDWARD ALPHONSUS HEVERN was born November 27, 1901. He attended high school in Madison, South Dakota where he stayed with his grandparents. After graduation he worked in a gas station in Sioux Falls. He married Mildred Robertson in Canton, South Dakota and moved to California where he ran a gas station. He then went into the army where he served two years. He retired and still lives in California.

2. LEO CLEMENT HEVERN was born December 24, 1902. He worked in a gas station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before moving to California in 1941. He married Elsie Englebritson and had one child, Shirley, who now lives at Emmetsburg. He later married Alma Bauder. They had three children, Marilyn, Patricia and Sandra. They are all in California and all are married. Until he retired, Leo Clement worked as a welder for the Keizer Ship Yards. He died on November 24, 1981.

3. LORETTA HEVERN was born August 26, 1904. She attended Madison Normal School for four years and also Nettleton College in Sioux Falls. Before her marriage, she worked as a secretary for Paramount Pictures in Sioux Falls. In 1942 she was married to Jim Gale and they had two children, Jim and Bill. Jim works in the post office in Sioux Falls and Bill works with computers for a firm in Austin, Minnesota. After the death of her husband, Loretta worked as a secretary for McKennan Hospital. She later married Leonard Olson. She passed away on August 16, 1978 and is buried in Sioux Falls.

4. JAMES GERALD HEVERN was born June 12, 1906 on the home place northwest of Rock Valley. After grade school he attended high school and graduated from Columbus College which at that time was a combination high school and college. After his father’s death, he came home to farm with his mother. He retired in 1971 and moved into town. His interests are mainly in the sports field, especially baseball.

5. FRANCES LIGOURI HEVERN was born January 31, 1908. He attended high school at Columbus College. After graduation, he farmed for a short while. In 1940, he moved to California where he worked for his brother in a gas station. He married Mary Jane Tracy of Larchwood in June, 1941 in Oakland, CA. He then went into the Navy and served until the war was over. His wife passed away in August of 1955 and is buried in California. For thirty years he was employed by A.T. & T. until his retirement in 1973. They had four children; Edward, Joseph, Jennifer and Julie. They all live in California.

6. BONIFACE (WILLIE) HEVERN was born May 14, 1909. Before World War II broke out, he spent a year in training at Ft. Leonard Wood and after that was allowed to come home. Later, he was called back after Pearl Harbor. Most of his service was in the Phillipines where he served until the war was over.
On February 21, 1950, he married Margaret Van Vooren, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Vooren, Sr. After their marriage, they farmed on the home place with Gerald, his brother, and Jennie, his mother. He quit farming and in 1956 started working for the railroad. He continued with them until his retirement.
Margaret did many things before her marriage. She kept house for two brothers in Lester and just prior to her marriage, helped out in the Bill Reilly home. She also assisted in the delivery of babies. She has been a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Guild and at one time was president of that organization. She also has been financial secretary of the Catholic Daughters of America.
Margaret and Willie have seven children, David, Sheila, Lyle, Leo, Terry, Jane and Larry.
David William was born November 5, 1950. After attending Rock Valley High School, he started working for a bricklaying company. The company then sent him to an instruction school in Des Moines. He married Kathy Roberts in Sioux City, Iowa on May 18, 1973 and is now a bricklayer in Colorado.
Sheila Mary was born February 1, 1952 and attended Rock Valley Public School. She was married in 1969 in Marcus at St. Mary’s Church to Duane Driesen. After her marriage, she became a nurses aide and has been employed in the nursing wing of the Sioux Center Hospital. Their children are David Duane, born September 24, 1969 and Cindy Sue, born May 4, 1972.
Lyle Gerald, a twin, was born February 17, 1953. After graduating from Rock Valley High School, he attended Browns Radio Institute in Minneapolis where he studied radio announcing. He graduated from there and is employed by KILR in Estherville, Iowa. He started as a disc jockey and now is in news and advertising. On September 2, 1978, he married Roxanne Hanson at Estherville. She is employed at United Federal Service there. They have one child, Adam Wade who was born May 28, 1980.
Leo, the other twin, lives at home. Although handicapped, he enjoys his home and spending a week each summer at Camp Sunnyside.
Sunnyside, located north of Des Moines, is a recreational facility for handicapped children and adults where the campers enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, arts and crafts, riflery and archery. In 1977, Leo was given the Merrill Bird Honor Camper Award of that year. A victim of cerebral palsy, Leo’s warmth, spirit, understanding and determination are an inspiration to campers and staff alike. He has attended Hope Haven in Rock Valley. Tippy, his dog, adds much pleasure to his life.
Terry Michael was born September 23, 1956. He graduated from Rock Valley High School and worked for a time for the Farmers Lumber Company. He is a carpenter and works for a construction firm in Colorado.
Jane Elizabeth was born May 13, 1958. She attended Rock Valley High School and worked at K-Products for two years. She was married July 29, 1976 in Maurice, Iowa to Harlan Schelling. They operated a large dairy farm three miles east of Sioux Center. They are the parents of Marlys Jean, born September 2, 1978, and Kimberly Ann, born March 15, 1982.
Larry James was born January 14, 1960. He graduated from Rock Valley High School. Following graduation, he went out to Colorado to see if he wanted to locate there but decided Rock Valley looked best to him and returned home. He is employed by Kooimas. He likes all sports especially fishing, hunting and golf.

RESEARCH NOTES: added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family report on ancestry.com (by family members)
Frank Hevern was born 1 Oct 1865 Charlestown, Suffolk Co. Massachusetts, and died 14 Sep 1928 at Rock Valley IA. His parents were William John Hevern born County Mayo, Ireland and died 1869 Des Moines IA, his wife was Margaret Mary Coffey born 22 Jan 1843 LaSalle Co. IL and died 5 Jan 1927 Rock Valley IA. See her obit at the end of this narrative.
Francis ‘Frank’ married Jennie Fitzpatrick 12 Feb 1901 Rock Valley IA. She was born 6 Jan 1873 Littleport Clayton Co. IA and died 14 Aug 1961 Sioux Falls SD buried St. Mary’s Rock Valley.
The 1925 Iowa census for Sioux Tsp, Sioux County IA lists Jennie Hevern born about 1872 married to Frnak Hevern, her father was James Fitzpatrick and mother Mary Linan.
From a search for parents of Jennie in the 1880 census of Clayton County Iowa, the only family that came up as a possible living in Lodomillo, Clayton Co. IA was James Fitzpatrick 40, born 1840 Ireland, his wife was Mary Fitzpatrick age 28 born about 1852 Ireland, Children were Bridget 8, Jane (Jennie) 7, Kate 5, Maggie 2 and mother of James B. Fitzpatrick 75.
Children as described in above narrative.

OBITUARY OF FRANK HEVERN
Rock Valley Bee, Rock Valley, Iowa -- September 1928
FRANK HEVERN CALLED
On last Friday evening at 8 o’clock after a severe illness of two months, Frank Hevern answered the final summons. Early in July he was stricken with influenza and other complications which finally developed a paralytic stroke from which he never recovered. All the medical skill and loving hands could do had been done but proved of no avail.
The subject of this sketch was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 1, 1865, and had attained the age of 62 years, 11 months and 15 days. His father died when he was four years old. Later he, with his mother moved to Illinois, where they resided for several years, then coming to Iowa.
On February 12, 1901 he was united in marriage with Jennie Fitzpatrick at Rock Valley, Iowa. He is survived by his wife and six children, Alphonse, Clement and Loretta, of Sioux Falls, Gerald, Ligouri, and Boniface at home, all of whom are left to mourn his untimely death. He also leaves two brothers Ed Hevern, Rock Valley, and Jos. Langan, Aurora, S. D., and five sisters, Gertrude Langan., Mrs. L. Murphy, Mrs. Joe (Margaret or Daisy) Barry, of Rock Valley, Mrs. T. J. Gunter, Clara City, Minn., and Miss Della Langan, Deadwood, S. D.
Frank Hevern was a kind and devoted husband and father. The entire community sympathizes with the bereaved ones, which was well proven by the beautiful spiritual and floral offerings. Funeral services were held from St. Mary’s Church in Rock Valley on Monday morning with Father O’Rielly officiating. He was laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
A large concourse of friends and neighbors followed the remains to their final resting place. Those in attendance from a distance were (many are listed and the article ends with) Mrs. Clement Hevern and daughter Shirley, of Sioux Falls.

OBITUARY OF JENNIE HEVERN
Source: Rock Valley Bee (8-24-1961)
Born: January 6, 1873
Died: August 16, 1961
Mrs. Hevern Services Held Friday
Funeral services for Mrs. Jennie Hevern, 88, who died early Wednesday morning in Sioux Falls, were held Friday morning in St. Mary's Church with Father Reinhart officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Mrs. Hevern was born January 6, 1873 to Mr. and Mrs. James Fitzpatrick at Little Port, Iowa. Mrs. Hevern married Frank Hevern, who preceded her in death September 14, 1928.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs Loretta Gale, and five sons; Gerald and William both of Rock Valley, Leo Clement (Clem) of Oakland, California, Edward Alphonse (Fons) of San Leandro, California, and Frances Ligouri (Doan) of Tiberon, California. Also, seventeen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren

OBITUARY OF Maragaret ‘Mary’ Coffery Hevern Langan (mother of Frank Hevern)
From the Alton Democrat, January 14, 1927, p. 1
(Rock Valley, Iowa – Special)
Mrs. Patrick Langan passed away Wednesday night at the hour of 11, after eight months of illness of hardening of the arteries and after fourteen weeks confinement to her bed.
Mrs. Langan was born at Xenia, Ill., Jan. 22, 1842, where she spent her girlhood days. She was united in marriage to Mr. Hevern and after his death she was united in marriage to Patrick Langan. The family lived in Sioux county for many years, residing at Boyden and moving to Rock Valley in 1905.
Eight children mourn her passing: Ed and Frank Hevern and Mrs. Joe Berry of Rock Valley; Mrs. L. Murphy of Rock Valley; Mrs. Clara Gunther, Canby, Minn.; Delia, Gertie and Joseph Langan of Clara City, Minn. She passed away at her home in Rock Valley Jan. 5th, 1927 and her husband passed away Sept. 30, 1925.
Funeral services were held at St. Mary’s church Saturday morning and burial took place in St. Mary’s cemetery.
(The obituary includes a photo.)
* * * * * * * * * *
From the Rock Valley Bee, January 14, 1927:
MRS. M. LANGAN GOES TO HER REWARD
At the close of a beautiful life of service, on Thursday, January 6th, surrounded by her children, Margaret Langan, one of the pioneers of Sioux county, passed from this life. She had been ailing since June, gradually growing weaker until the final summons came, at the age of eighty-three years, eleven months and nineteen days. Old age and other complications were the cause of her death.
Her husband preceded her in death on Sept. 30th, 1926. They celebrated their golden wedding in August, 1922.
Mrs. Langan was the mother of eleven children, threeof whom died in infancy. Those living are as follows: Frank and Ed Hevern, Mrs. Joe Barry, Mrs. L. Murphy and Miss Gertrude Langan, all of this vicinity, and Mrs. J. T. Gunter of Clara City, Minn., Miss Delia Langan of Deadwood, S.D., Joseph A. Langan of Aurora, S.D.
Mrs. Langan was a woman who was loved and respected by all who knew her. She had a kind heart and a loving disposition. She was a patient sufferer, looking hopefully to the Eternal life that has no end.
The funeral was held Saturday, January 8th, from St. Mary’s church in Rock Valley, Rev. Father O’Rielly officiating, with Rev. Father Rhoder of Alvord assisting the choir. Six of her grand sons bore her to her last resting place, namely: Leo and Earl Murphy, Joe and Gerald Hevern and Joseph and Will Barry.
The funeral was largely attended. Those from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Daugherty, Chas. Daugherty, James, Henry and Mary Donahue, and John and Nellie Murphy, all of Sheldon, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Sass, Mr. and Mrs. Van Der Boss of Boyden; Mr. Dan Conway and son James, Mrs. Sadie Phelan, Misses Maye and Ethyle Barry of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Mr. T. Fitzgerald, John Suhreptz and Mildred Gunter, from Alvord, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Murphy of Sioux City, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Gunter, Clara City, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Langan, of Aurora, S.D.; and Miss Della Langan of Deadwood, S. Dak.
(Followed by a sentimental poem)
* * * * * * * * * *
The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Langan, Mary, b. 1843, d. 1927, St. Marys Cem Rock Valley IA.
The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Langan, Mary, b. 1843, d. 1927, St. Marys Cem Rock Valley IA.
Published notices in probate call her Margaret Langan.
FindaGrave.com has her as Margaret “Mary” Coffey (Hevern) Langan, born 22 Jan 1843 in LaSalle County, Illinois; died 5 January 1927 in Rock Valley, buried in Saint Marys Cemetery there. The entry gives data from the 1850 U.S. census of Eagle, La Salle County, Illinois, showing Timothy (39) and Mary (40) Coffee, both born in Ireland, and 6 children, including twins Margaret and Thomas (7). It also gives data from the 1870 U.S. census for La Salle County, showing Margaret Heffron (27) and her children Francis (5), Edward (3), and Margret (6 mo.) living with her brothers Thomas J. and Timothy. The contributor notes that the surname Heffron or Heffaran was changed to Hevern sometime between 1869 and 1872, and that Patrick Langan married Margaret Coffey Hevern in La Salle County on 20 Jan 1872. Her parents are given as Timothy Robert Coffee (or Coffey) (1811-1855) and Mary Gorman Coffee (1810-1858). Spouses, William John Heffaran (1843-1869) and Patrick Langan (1839-1925). Eight children are listed: Francis Hevern (1865-1928), Edward Timothy Hevern (1866-1959), Margaret Hevern Barry (1869-1958), Mary E. Langan Murphy (1874-1960), Clara E. Langan Gunter (1876-1960), Della Langan Donahue (1877-1931), Gertrude Langan (1881-unknown), and Joseph A. Langan (1886-1970). The entry also includes a photograph of her.

This picture of Frank and Jennie Hevern is from the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Church Book page 96. There is also a picture of the children when younger on page 97. (Was able to upload one picture per narrative.)

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