Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 546

ANDREW HEBERLING, a resident of Muscatine County since 1856, now residing on section 10, Goshen Township, is a native of Virginia, born Sept. 13, 1817, and was the eighth child born to John and Mary ( Crumley ) Heberling, who were both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, who came to this country about the time of the Revolutionary War, and located in Pennsylvania. His maternal grandfather was of Welsh and Scotch parentage, and settled in Berkley County, Va., in an early day. To John and Mary Heberling were born seven sons and three daughters : Henry, Eliza John, Hiram H., William D., George H., James C., Andrew, Rebecca, and Mary. The parents of these children died at the advanced ages of eighty-eight and eighty-five years.

Andrew Heberling was reared to farm life, and received his education in the pioneer school-houses of Ohio, to where his parents emigrated at an early day. At the age of twenty he left his father's house to make his own way in the world. His first employment was as a farm hand for Richard Spurrier, where he remained three months. He then went to Georgetown, Ohio, and commenced clerking in the store of Isaac and Thomas Lewis.

In September, 1841, he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Lamb, and of their union four children were born : Mary L., Leonard L., Charles C., and Emerson. Mrs. Heberling died in the summer of 1849. About this time the country became greatly excited in consequence of the discovery of gold in California, and Mr. Heberling determined to try his fortune in the new Eldorado. Going to New York, he embarked on a vessel, and made the voyage by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco, though he changed vessels before reaching the end of his voyage. For about two years he engaged in mining, and was quite successful.

In the spring of 1852, he returned to Ohio, and was soon afterward married to Miss Prudence A. Lamb, a sister of his first wife. Five children were born unto them: Henry B., John E., Amanda M., Martha W., and Eliza A.

In the spring of 1853 Mr. Heberling assisted in organizing a company of Free State men to go to Kansas to aid those who were struggling to keep back the encroachments of the slave-power, and bring the Territory into the Union as a Free State. The company took with them all necessary machinery for a grist and saw-mill, and securing a location on the Big Blue River, founded the nucleus of a prosperous Free State settlement. In this new Territory Mr. Heberling remained until the summer of 1855, when he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1856, started with his family for Iowa. Landing at Muscatine, he made his way to Goshen Township, where he made his location, and has since continued to reside.

On the 9th of November, 1865, Mr. Heberling was again united in marriage ; Miss Elinor W. Combs becoming his wife. They have one child, George Combs, born March 10, 1868, and now residing at Deadwood, Dak.

The farm of Mr. Heberling, consisting of eighty acres of fine arable land, is within half a mile of the depot at Atalissa. Here he lives and enjoys the respect of his neighbors to an unusual degree. In politics he is a stalwart Republican. Religiously, he is quite liberal in his views. Mrs. Heberling is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. For six years Mr. Heberling served as a member of the Board of Supervisors, and has held various offices of honor and trust in his township. He was the first Township Clerk of Goshen.


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