Their household goods were unloaded in the midst of the virgin forest and there Mr. Heath built a log cabin in which he and his bride took up their residence. He cleared away the timber and as the years passed became the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres in Hamilton county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father was born June 16, 1803, and departed this life September 20, 1888, at the age of eighty-five years. The mother was born July 5, 1806, and passed away January 8, 1864, being about fifty-eight years of age. Mr. Heath was originally a whig and upon the organization of the republican party became one of its stanch supporters. Through his high character and unselfish interest in the welfare of others he made a lasting impression upon all who knew him. He and his wife were devout Christians and were active workers in the United Brethren church.
William Robert Heath was educated in the little log schoolhouse of the neighborhood in which he was reared and after he had advanced as far as possible in his studies in the district school his father purchased a scholarship in the United Brethren College at Hartsville, which he urged his son to make use of. The latter, however, was determined to learn a trade and instead of securing a college education he was at eighteen years of age apprenticed to a cabinet-maker. He applied himself assiduously to the trade for fourteen years, also becoming an undertaker and making all the coffins himself which he disposed of during that time. In 1866 he turned his attention to farming and rented the old homestead which he cultivated for twelve years. The west presented inducements which Mr. Heath could not well resist and accordingly in 1878 he came to Collins township, Story county, and for three years engaged in farming on rented land. Having prospered in his work, he bought the old Benjamin Shenkle homestead, to which he removed in 1881, making it his permanent place of residence. He has carried on general farming, sparing no pains to secure the best results from his work. Being very thorough in everything he undertakes, he has brought the farm to a high state of cultivation and has one of the model places of the township.
On the 9th of December, 1855, Mr. Heath was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Shenkle, a daughter of Benjamin Shenkle, of Story county, a record of whom is found in the sketch of his son, W. T. B. Shenkle, which appears elsewhere in this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heath six children have been born, four of whom are now living, namely : Etta, the wife of Loren Fowler, of Baxter, Iowa; Belle, at home ; John M., of Meridian, Oklahoma ; and Halleck F., also at home.
Mr. Heath cast his first vote for John C. Fremont for president of the United States and he has never departed from his allegiance to the republican party, having firm faith that its principles are better adapted than those of any other political organization to advance the prosperity of the entire country. He has never aspired to public office, preferring the quiet channels of private life to the turmoil of political affairs, and each day he has