Person Page - 216

     Israel H. Heaston Israel H. Heaston. With the management of the First National Bank of Huntington, Israel H. Heaston has been identified as president since November 1, 1902. Mr. Heaston, whose home has been in Huntington county for more than sixty-five years was in early life a farmer, belonging to a family which was in pioneer times identified with the agricultural industry of the county. He has for many years been connected with political and civic affairs, and a number of years ago held the office of county auditor.

The First National Bank of Huntington, the oldest national institution in the county, was organized September 26, 1863, and its charter was dated December 12, of the same year. This was in the first year of the operation of the National Banking Act. It started out with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and some of the pioneer business men of Huntington were among the incorporators. The first president was Samuel H. Purviance, who held his position until his death in 1873, and from 1873 until 1878 Joseph Purviance was president. The first cashier was William McGrew, who in 1878 became president. The capital stock in 1871 was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1883 a new charter was taken out. The First National has always been conservatively managed and has been a bulwark to the business community.

Israel H. Heaston was born near Hagertstown, in Wayne county, Indiana, September 23, 1843, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Goodlander) Heaston. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Pennsylvania. The paternal ancestors were of German stock, the original family seat having been on the Rhine River. It was the grandfather who founded the name in America, settling in Rockingham county, Virginia, though he died in old age in Ohio. He was a Major, under General Green in the Revolutionary war. The father of the Huntington banker, Jacob Heaston, was reared in Virginia, and was a young man when he moved with other members of the family to Butler county, Ohio. From there he moved to Montgomery county, near Dayton, then across the line into Indiana, locating not far from Hagerstown. He was a substantial farmer, and in 1847 came to Huntington county. His settlement was in the township of Lancaster, where he acquired two hundred acres of land, and continued as a prosperous farmer and stock raiser until his death. He was not only successful in business, but a man of great influence and highly esteemed for his integrity. For many years he took an active part in the German Baptist Church. In early years a supporter of the democratic party, the Civil war caused him to change his political opinion and he thereafter supported the republican interests. His was a long and useful career, ending with death at the age of eight-two. His wife reached almost the same age, and died on the old homestead in Lancaster township.

Israel H. Heaston had the wholesome environment of country life during his boyhood and youth, and in the township of Lancaster not only acquired a substantial education in the local, but on the home farm learned the lessons of honored toil. He was just at the beginning of manhood when the war of the Rebellion broke out, and he left his books to take up arms in the defense of the Union. On the first of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company E of the Seventy-Fifth Indiana Infantry, and with that command served in the army of the Cumberland through many of its campaigns. He was with General Sherman through the Tennessee and Georgia campaigns, fought at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, at Dalton, Resaca, and many other battles in the slow advance toward Atlanta. After the fall of Atlanta, he followed Sherman in the march to the sea. His record as a soldier was exceptionally creditable. He never missed a battle in which his regiment took part, was never absent from roll call and always ready to accept the duties and obligations of a soldier. In June, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis.

After the war Mr. Heaston continued on the home farm until 1873. In July of that year he moved to a farm of his own in Rock Creek township, and continued one of the prosperous farmer citizens until he was called into public service, which brought him to the county seat. A republican in politics, and in a strongly democratic county, he was in 1882 a candidate for the office of county auditor, and missed election by only seven votes. In 1886, again on the republican ticket, he was successful in his race for the office, and in August, 1887, moved to Huntington to better discharge the duties of his office. Since that time his home has been continuously in Huntington. Mr. Heaston may be credited with other important public services. He was for two terms a trustee of Lancaster township, and during the Spanish-American war acted as paymaster’s clerk for one year, being mustered out in June, 1899. Thus he had service in two wars. In 1890, Mr. Heaston was again a candidate for the office of auditor, but was unable to overcome the democratic opposition, though he ran far ahead of his ticket. He was three times elected alderman in the city council. In 1888 he was the only republican member of the body, and was elected twice thereafter. The republican party of Huntington county has for many years recognized a natural leader in Mr. Heaston. He rendered invaluable services during many campaigns and was instrumental in many of the successes of the party in this district of the state. He served as chairman of the republican central committee from 1892 to 1896.

A man of sound business judgment and unimpeachable integrity, possessing a host of friends, irrespective of politics, Mr. Heaston has long occupied a useful position in his community. In addition to his business as president of the First National Bank, his services in late years have been much in demand in the settlement of estates and in the transactions of other business requiring more than ordinary intelligence and forethought. He has been very successful; owns much property and real estate and other investments, and all his prosperity has been worthily won. It has been well said of him that he has discharged every trust reposed in him with commendable fidelity, and whether as a citizen or as a soldier or as a public servant, his career has been above reproach.

On March 8, 1866, Mr. Heaston married Miss Phoebe C. Reed, a daughter of Hosea Reed, of Wabash county. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Heaston, two of them dying in infancy. Myrtle O. and Clarissa W. grew to maturity. Mr. Heaston is a member of the James R. Slack Post No. 137, Grand Army of the Republic at Huntington, and for one year served as commander of the post.³ He was buried at Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Huntington Co., Indiana.^5,4 He was born on September 23, 1843 at Wayne Co., Indiana.^5,3,4 He married Phoebe Catherine Reed, daughter of Hosea H. Reed and Susan McVicker, on March 8, 1866 at Wabash Co., Indiana.^1,2,3,4 Israel H. Heaston died on March 20, 1928 at Huntington, Huntington Co., Indiana, at age 84.^5,4

     William Henry Walker was born on October 7, 1827 at Connersville Township, Fayette Co., Indiana.^7,5,6 He married Malinda Ann McCann on September 28, 1851 at Fayette Co., Indiana.² William Henry Walker married Eliza J. Unknown circa 1877.⁸ William Henry Walker died on June 15, 1916 at Butler, Pendleton Co., Kentucky, at age 88.⁶

     Melissa Walker was buried at Springersville Cemetery, Connersville Township, Fayette Co., Indiana.⁴ She was born on November 27, 1840 at Fayette Co., Indiana.³ As of December 9, 1858,her married name was Monger.⁶ She married Thomas Salathial Monger on December 9, 1858 at Fayette Co., Indiana.⁶ Melissa Walker died in 1920 at Fayette Co., Indiana.⁴

     William F. Smith was buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Oakwood Township, Vermilion Co., Illinois.³ He was born on July 8, 1827 at Fountain Co., Indiana.^4,5,3 He married Malinda Butt/Butts on December 2, 1848 at Fountain Co., Indiana.^2,6 William F. Smith married Mary E. Burk on March 30, 1857 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^1,2 William F. Smith died on August 14, 1888 at Illinois at age 61.³

     Daniel C. Smith was buried at Cold Spring Cemetery, Veedersburg, Fountain Co., Indiana.⁷ He was born on August 14, 1829 at Fountain Co., Indiana.^1,2,7 He married Mary B. Osbourne in 1851.^3,8 Daniel C. Smith died on September 2, 1893 at Fountain Co., Indiana, at age 64.⁷

     Berryman Smith was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.⁶ He was born on December 8, 1831 at Fountain Co., Indiana.⁷ He married Margaret Ann Crowell on September 18, 1856 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^4,5 Berryman Smith died on November 10, 1886 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 54.⁷

     Elizabeth R. Smith was buried at Lebanon Baptist Cemetery, Mount Summit, Henry Co., Indiana.⁶ She was born on November 8, 1836 at Fountain Co., Indiana.^1,7,6 As of March 29, 1868,her married name was Veach.⁴ She married Jesse Veach on March 29, 1868 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^3,4 Elizabeth R. Smith died on April 23, 1913 at Clark Co., Illinois, at age 76.⁶

     Christianna A. Smith was buried at Allhands Cemetery, Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois.² She was born in 1840 at Fountain Co., Indiana.^1,2 She married James T. Campbell on April 17, 1864 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^6,3 As of April 17, 1864,her married name was Campbell. Christianna A. Smith died in July, 1880 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.²

     Mary E. Burk was buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Oakwood Township, Vermilion Co., Illinois.³ She was born in 1834 at Indiana.^4,3 She married William F. Smith, son of Rhodes Smith and Christianna Conner, on March 30, 1857 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^1,2 As of March 30, 1857,her married name was Smith.² Mary E. Burk died in 1911.³

     Margaret Smith was born circa 1850 at Illinois.¹

     Christiana Smith was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois.⁶ She was born on February 11, 1854 at Illinois.^3,7 As of April 5, 1876,her married name was Jameson.² She married William Jameson on April 5, 1876 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.² As of circa 1879,her married name was Thomas.⁷ Christiana Smith married James Thomas circa 1879.⁷ Christiana Smith died on November 8, 1916 at Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois, at age 62.³

     Elizabeth R. Smith was buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois.⁵ She was born on August 5, 1859 at Oakwood Township, Vermilion Co., Illinois.³ As of March 11, 1880,her married name was Chapin.² She married Harris Chapin on March 11, 1880 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^2,3 Elizabeth R. Smith died on November 18, 1924 at Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois, at age 65.^5,3

     Margaret Ann Crowell Mrs. Margaret A. Smith died at 11:30 Saturday night at her home 1307 West Park street, Urbana, after a brief illness due to hemorrhage of the brain. She had been in poor health for more than a year. Mrs. Smith was born in Ripley county, Ohio, May 10, 1844 and had resided in Illinois for 65 years and in Urbana for the past 40 years. The following children survive: Thamer, George and John W. Smith and Mrs. Nettie Donohue, all residents of Urbana. Interment will be made in the family lot in Woodlawn cemetery.³ She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.³ She was born on May 10, 1840 at Riley Co., Ohio.³ She married Berryman Smith, son of Rhodes Smith and Christianna Conner, on September 18, 1856 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^1,4 As of September 18, 1856,her married name was Smith. Margaret Ann Crowell died on October 29, 1921 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 81.^2,3

     Lafayette Smith was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.⁶ He was born on September 18, 1864 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.⁶ He married Susan Idell "Sue" Benedict on November 16, 1893 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.^7,5 Lafayette Smith died on April 3, 1912 at Illinois at age 47.⁶

     John W. Smith was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.⁶ He was born on January 5, 1866 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^2,1,6,7 He married Lottie Laura Robertson on March 27, 1889 at Champaign Co., Illinois.⁴ John W. Smith died on July 3, 1935 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 69.^6,7

     Emma Aludelia Drummond was born on October 19, 1870 at Craig Co., Virginia.^1,2,4 She married Stephen Andrew Hancock, son of Barnett Hancock, on January 6, 1889 at Craig Co., Virginia.^5,3 As of January 6, 1889,her married name was Hancock.⁵ Emma Aludelia Drummond married John W. Fisher on February 13, 1902 at Craig Co., Virginia.⁵ As of February 13, 1902,her married name was Fisher.⁵ Emma Aludelia Drummond died on December 2, 1936 at Alleghany, Craig Co., Virginia, at age 66.⁴

     George W. Smith was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.⁷ He was born in January, 1867 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^2,4 He died in 1952.

     Nettie May/Mae Smith was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1803 N. Coler Avenue, Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois.^8,6 She was born on August 29, 1869 at Oakwood, Vermilion Co., Illinois.^2,4,6 As of October 22, 1887,her married name was Donahue.⁹ She married George W. Donahue on October 22, 1887 at Champaign Co., Illinois.⁹ Nettie May/Mae Smith died on March 17, 1947 at Urbana, Champaign Co., Illinois, at age 77.⁶

     James T. Campbell was buried at Allhands Cemetery, Danville, Vermilion Co., Illinois.⁴ He was born in 1838 at Illinois.⁴ He married Christianna A. Smith, daughter of Rhodes Smith and Christianna Conner, on April 17, 1864 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.^2,5 James T. Campbell died on July 26, 1906 at Vermilion Co., Illinois.⁴

     Martin D. Conner was born circa 1832 at Greensburg, Decatur Co., Indiana.^2,1,5 He married Mary E. Kernes on October 6, 1859 at Coles Co., Illinois.^6,7

     William Smith Conner was born circa 1834 at Greensburg, Decatur Co., Indiana.^2,1,4 He died on October 29, 1857 at Coles Co., Illinois.⁴ He It has become my painful duty to record the death of my son William Smith Conner, who died on the 29th of Oct., in the 23rd year of his age, rejoicing in the hope of a glorious immortality, leaving his christian wife and little daughter, to mourn his absence, and as widow an orphan, to meet the storms of a sin stricken world. I feel that another cord has been broke, that bound me to the earth and that the society of heaven is worth striving for. A majority of my friends are already there. O, how I anxiously desire the time when I may say I have finished the work he gave me to do; but I wish to finish my work. I had strongly hoped in him to have left a son that would fill my place in the church of Christ, for he was truly a devoted to the cause of God, and sympathized with suffering humanity, but he is gone, gone from the friends he loved, gone from the trials and termptations of earth, gone to sing the chorus of glory, and in the language of his wife, gone to his Saviour's bosom to recieve a reward for the good he had done here. In hope of rest in Heaven. James Conner on November 7, 1857 at Charleston, Coles Co., Illinois.⁴

     Rev. James Washington Conner was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana.¹ He was born on December 18, 1837 at near Rushville, Rush Co., Indiana.^1,4 He married Olive S. Stone on August 29, 1860 at Shelby Co., Indiana.^1,4 Rev. James Washington Conner Elder James W. CONNER, pastor of the Christian Church, Crawfordsville, was b. in Rush County, Indiana, Dec. 18, 1837 8 mi. No. of Rushville. His father, Elder James Conner, was b. in Tenn, and was a preacher in the Christian Church about 50 years. He is now living with his son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Conner attended high school in Greensburg and Morristown and then went to the North Western Univ, at Indianapolis, now known as Butler University. Mr. C. has preached in Milton, Humboldt, W. Lebanon, Veedersburg, Kokomo, Rushville and also traveled in Illinois about 5 years evangelizing. He settled in Crawfordsville Jan 1, 1878. Mr. C. has been very successful as a minister, has many friends and has left his different appointments against the wishes of his congregations; is an able expounder of the truths of the Bible, and is one of the purest and best of men, exerting a happy and blessed influence upon society. He studies well his themes, in the preparation of his sermons, and speaks extemporaneously. He does not confine his study and reading to theology, but reads all branches of literature and science. He was marr. Aug 29, 1860 to Miss Olive STONE of Shelby Co. she is a granddau. of Judge COLE of that County. They have 4 children: Leona, Erastus S, Mary Libbie and Ira L. 3 of these are members of the Christian Church. The first two grad. in the city schools of Crawfordsville in 1881. Mr. C. is an adherent to the principles of the republican party, casting his first vote in 1860 for the immortal Lincoln. in 1881.⁴ He died on April 9, 1911 at Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana, at age 73.¹

     Infant Conner died circa 1839 at Rush Co., Indiana.¹ He was born circa 1839 at Rush Co., Indiana.¹

     Infant Conner was born circa 1845 at Rush Co., Indiana.¹

     Rev. Samuel M. Conner was buried; Samuel was cremated at Finley's Mortuary, Portland, Oregon.⁷ He was born on October 12, 1843 at Hartsville, Bartholomew Co., Indiana.⁴ He married Sarah E. Miller on October 19, 1862 at Douglas Co., Illinois.⁷ Rev. Samuel M. Conner died on November 30, 1923 at Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon, at age 80.^4,2

     Infant Conner was born circa 1841 at Rush Co., Indiana.¹

     Sarah Frances "Fanny" Hancock was buried at Hines-Allen Cemetery, Jonesville, Lee Co., Virginia.⁵ She was born on February 25, 1850 at Botetourt Co., Virginia.^2,4 As of December 17, 1867,her married name was Hines.⁴ She married Michael Soule/Soles Hines on December 17, 1867 at Botetourt Co., Virginia.⁴ Sarah Frances "Fanny" Hancock died on October 28, 1926 at Marion, Smyth Co., Virginia, at age 76.⁵

     Olive S. Stone was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana.³ She was born on February 19, 1838 at Hanover, Shelby Co., Indiana. She married Rev. James Washington Conner, son of Elder James Conner and Ruhama Darter, on August 29, 1860 at Shelby Co., Indiana.^4,5 As of August 29, 1860,her married name was Conner. Olive S. Stone died on March 29, 1922 at New Lisbon, Henry Co., Indiana, at age 84.

     Leona Conner was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana.⁵ She was born in June, 1862 at Illinois.^3,1 As of September 5, 1883,her married name was Moore.⁶ She married William Speer Moore on September 5, 1883 at Marion Co., Indiana.⁶ Leona Conner died on April 8, 1892 at age 29.⁵