MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA

REGISTER OF
OLD SETTLERS
BOOK ONE


Source: REGISTER OF OLD SETTLERS , BOOK One, page 79
submitted by Ronna Thuman, November 14, 2007

JOHN HELLER

The Old Settlers of Muscatine county will meet to-morrow—Wednesday, the 19th—at 9 o’clock a. m., at the City Hall, to take proper action on the death of John Heller.-- Died 17th --P. JACKSON, Secretary.

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The LATE JOHN HELELR—The funeral services of John Heller, to-day, were conducted by Rev. G. N. Power, assisted by Rev. Barnard, and were attended by a large concourse of friends, among whom the deceased was held in the highest esteem and affection. The pall-bearers were John Lemp, J. P. Lewis, Wm. Dill, Geo. Wiley, Peter Jackson and Benj. Neidig. A friend and neighbor has furnished us the following brief sketch of the deceased:

Mr. Heller was born in Charlestown, W. Va., May 17, 1815. When about twenty years of age, he, with his widowed mother, two brothers and two sisters, moved to Highland Co., Ohio. In 1839 he was married to Martha R. Timberlick. In 1841, they took up their home in the West, first settling at Iowa City, where they remained one year, then moved to Muscatine county, afterwards to the city of Muscatine, where he permanently located. In 1854 the death-angel visited his home and took from his fond embrace his loving companion, leaving him the responsible position of raising his young family alone, which he chose to do, remarking, when advised by his friends to marry, that it was an easy matter to get a wife, but very difficult to find a mother. Three daughters and two sons, Mrs. Hole, Marcus, Mrs. McCullough, Charles and Lydia, were the fruits of their marriage, all of whom were permitted to minister unto him in his last sickness, which was a great comfort to him. Three brothers survive him—Henry, the eldest of the family, in Agency, Iowa, William, in West Liberty, Iowa, and Benjamin, in Highland county, Ohio. He was a man of good social qualities, gentlemanly in manner and a kind neighbor.

He was perfectly conscious of his near approach to death and was thoughtful and prayerful. His disease was affection of the heart, and although he had great difficulty at times in breathing, yet when the death-angel came, so quiet was his approach and so gentle his touch, that before loved ones were scarcely aware of his presence the spirit was borne away without a struggle.


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