James Philip Heffner:
“A man of unsavory reputation”
When I was a little boy I remember my Dad and Grandfather telling me stories about my great-grandfather, James Heffner. I was named after him, I was told. “He left his family to search for gold and never came back,” so goes the legend. Later I would learn that he was shot somewhere out in Colorado. The mystery of what happened to James Heffner gave us Heffner kids a mythical hero to look up to. Whenever we did anything that was even the slightest bit risky, we were emulating and celebrating our great-grandfather’s exploits. I often wondered what life would have been like if he had struck it big. I think my Dad did too. But, alas, that never happened. We all lived boring lives in a little town in Michigan and none of us kids even left Michigan until we were old enough to do it on our own. I recall my first trip to Ohio with my friends. We went to buy firecrackers – we hit the first Ohio exit (Sylvania, Ohio) and turned around and came home. What an adventure!
James Philip Heffner was born in 1863 in Canada. Exactly where is debatable. But in the odd way that history seemed to repeat itself for this family, it is quite likely that he was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. (Remember that Peterborough name). The 1871 Canadian census lists an Annie Hefner born in Scotland in 1827 living in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Now this by itself means nothing, especially since this Annie Hefner is listed as a male widower (this could be an error). However, in the 1880 Lenox, Madison County, New York census Anna Hefner is listed, born in Scotland in 1827, a widow, and having four children all born in Canada. There is a chance that these two persons are one and the same. In any case, James was born in Canada. Several census listings place his birth as Canada. The only place of confusion comes on his son’s, Harold Albert Heffner’s, birth certificate, where his place of birth is listed as Hubbardsville, NY. If Anna Hefner, from Lenox, NY was his mother then his siblings would include: Fred W. Hefner born in Canada in 1862, William Hefner born in Canada in 1864, John Hefner born in Canada in 1866, and Sophia Hefner born in Canada in 1856. Their father, whose identity is unknown, was born in New York. Also living in Madison County, NY in 1880 was a Charles W. Hefner (29) who was married to Charlotte (27). Charles W. lived in Oneida and may have been another brother of James. He was also born in Canada. Also in the 1880 census, but in another part of Madison County (Hamilton), James Heffner was listed as a boarder in the home of John F. Smith (29) and Mary Smith (23). Interestingly enough, Mary Smith was born in Canada. It is possible that this was James’ sister. All of this would mean that James’ father was born in New York, moved to Canada and lived there between 1851 and 1866. He died before 1880 and perhaps before 1871. James’ mother more than likely was Anna Hefner, who was from Scotland. After his father died, James may have moved in with his sister Mary after she married John F. Smith. He worked as laborer, perhaps for John F. Smith, who was a painter. John Smith’s father was Franklin Smith, a cabinet maker.
While in Hamilton, James met and married Jessie Mabel Bates, the daughter of Albert and Lucetta (Bacon) Bates. They married sometime between 1880 and 1883, when their first child, Charles, was born. From what we know about James’ life in Colorado, married life was probably not his cup of tea. They had six children: Charles (1883), George (1884), James (1885), Harold (1888), Elizabeth (1889), and Irving (1891). At some point between October 1890 and October 1892, James left his family behind. We can only guess at the reasons. Perhaps he left to make a fortune for his family when he learned that silver was being found in Colorado in 1891. But more likely, he was a drunk who may have beat his wife and children and he either left out of meanness or was kicked out. The fact that he remarried out in Colorado lends credence to the hypothesis that he never intended to return for his family.
In any case, Jessie struggled to survive after he left. She washed clothes for other families and did what she could to provide for her children. Unfortunately, by October 31, 1892 Jessie was forced to place three of her children, George, James, and Harold, in an orphanage. The orphanage was the Madison County (NY) Home for Desititute Children in Peterboro (Smithfield), NY (the home is also known as the Peterboro Orphanage). Grandpa Heffner told my sister that the orphanage was a work farm. Records from the Home indicate the following information about the three brothers (printed verbatim, mistakes and all):
"Hearld Hepiner, received 10/31/1892, #14, male, age 9, white, birthplace Hamilton, parentage: half orphan; surrendering authority Madison Co. Hamilton; name and title of commiting magistrate: E. Douglass, Poor Master, Hamilton." Another entry says this: "Herald Hepner, received 8/17/1898, #112, male, age 11, white, birthplace: ____; parentage: father dead; surrendering authority: brought back by the people who took him; remarks: mental condition "knot first."
"James Hepner, received 10/31/1892, #13, male, age 12, white, birthplace Hamilton, parentage: _______ (other brothers are listed as half orphan); surrendering authority: Madison Co., Hamilton; name and title of committing magistrate: E. Douglass, Poor Master, Hamilton; remarks: out on trial with M.H. Howard, Georgetown, March 6, 1895." A second notation in the Peterboro Orphanage Records states: "James Hepner, received 6/13/1896, #45, male, white, birthplace: ______; parentage: mother living; surrendering authority: Town of Nelson, Madison County; remarks: This boy left his place without permission." A third entry from the Peterboro Orphanage Records states: " James Heffner, received 10/10/1896, #51, male, age ___, white, birthplace Hamilton, parentage: half orphan; surrendering authority: Madison Co. returned by Chaes. Hunt." Note: James later moved to Fenton, MI and married Blanche. Blanche Heffner was a favorite great-aunt of mine and I spent many summers visiting with her in Flint, MI.
"George Hepner, received 10/31/1892, #12, male, age 13, white, birthplace Hamilton, parentage: half orphan; surrendering authority: Madison Co., Hamilton; name and title of committing magistrate: E. Douglass, Poor Master, Hamilton; remarks: out on trial with Burdett E. Allin, Sheds Corners, March 7, 1895." Note: The Social Security Death Index lists George Heffner (4-10-1885) as living in Zip Code 13027 (Baldwinsville, Onandaga County, NY) at the time of his death (May 1970).
(Source: 1885-1899 Volume Peterboro Orphanage Records - Donna D. Burdick, Smithfield Town Historian).
This sad account tells us that Grandpa's family was very poor after his father left and that the orphanage let the children out to families who used them as free labor. By 1900 Charles, the eldest, worked as a delivery clerk and grocer and George worked as a farm laborer to help out. They lived with their mother, who was employed as a “washwoman”, according to the 1900 Hamilton, NY census. However, James (14), Harold (12), Elizabeth (10), and Irving (8) were listed as “at school”. More than likely, this means they were all placed in the orphanage even at this time. Irving, according to family history, died at a young age of “bad water” – probably typhus. At some point after 1900 Harold probably ran away from one of these “families” and “bummed around the country, riding the rails.” Some time later (probably 1904), he joined the Marine Corps (at age 16), under the name of Fred Flanagan. He did some boxing in the Marines but deserted or was kicked out of the Marines when they discovered his true age. He then worked in Flint, MI at a Buick auto plant and finally settled in Orangeville, MI. He worked at a Tech School for his last years of employment.
Meanwhile, out in Colorado, James Philip Heffner was having a high time. He probably began his career as a silver prospector in Arapahoe County, Colorado. This is a small, sliver of a county that sort of juts out eastward from Denver. The cities (Littleton, Sheridan, and others) that sprung up were a result of the expansion of Denver, the Pike’s Peak gold rush, the 1891 silver rush, and Fort Logan, which was an Army base nearby. Arapahoe County was a wild place at the time James Philip Heffner arrived. It was frontier and had all the negative and positive things that a frontier community typically had. More than likely, James gravitated toward the seamy side of the area. On November 1, 1893 (almost a year to the day that his children were placed in the Peterboro orphanage) James Heffner married Mahala A. Bromley in Arapahoe County, Colorado. I could find no record of her family but Bromleys did live in Colorado at this time. According to a later record, during their first year of marriage, Mahala would no longer put up with James’ drinking and refused to live with him. James must have made it to Boulder, Colorado by 1894. He continued drinking, hung around the red-light district of Boulder, and beat up a woman, Ellen Deardorff. He was found innocent because the woman had a reputation for being insane and his “friends” vouched for his innocence. James Philip Heffner must have had the same impact on his friends as he did on his family because by the time of his death, later in 1894, he was known to have no friends or family. Perhaps the fact that he also had no money was one of the reasons. He died in this way, according to the Boulder Genealogical Society and Columbia Cemetery records:
Deathplace: Boulder, CO
Cause of Death: shot & killed by Mrs Cyrus Deardorff
Burial Date: 18 Apr 1894
References: BDC 16 Apr 1894:1,4; 18 Apr 1894:4
Biography: Potter's Field (Section E lots 44-53) - "Mrs. Cyrus Deardorff is thought to be insane. However, she says a group of boys were bothering her at home, so she shot out and the bullet struck James. He was drunk when he and another man went to the house of Mrs. Deardorff on Railroad St and demanded entrance. She warned them to go away or she would shoot. They did not, she did, and two hours later he died. She was released on justifiable homicide. Jim had married about a year ago but due to his drunkedness, his wife refused to live with him. 'A man of unsavory reputation.' He beat up Mrs. Deardorff last summer. She had him arrested for assault but he was released because a number of people swore in his favor. The jury's verdict was not guilty for Mrs. Deardorff. 'There was a little form or ceremony attendant upon the burial of James which occurred today. The man had neither friends nor money. A telegram failed to bring anyone to accord deceased a funeral or burial plot.' He was buried in Potter's Field, Boulder cemetery."
According to Silvia Pettem in her book, Behind the Badge, Boulder, Colorado had a flood in 1894 and it forced the prostitutes to move their base of operations. This may have occurred before or after James’ death. In any case, Railroad Street was notorious for it’s many prostitutes living and working there. This may have confused James but he had some history with Mrs. Deardorff, so he must have known who she was. My guess is that he was a boastful man who could not accept his “victory” in being acquitted for beating her gracefully but probably still held a grudge and wanted to exact some more revenge on her. He messed with the wrong woman that night.
For some reason, although she killed my great-grandfather, I have more pity on Mrs. Deardorff than on James. By the way, James was buried the day before Mrs. Deardorff’s 41st birthday. Here’s what we know of the Deardorff family:
Cyrus Deardorff was born on February 2, 1832 in Tuscawaras County, Ohio. He died on December 7, 1915. The Columbia Cemetery in Boulder, CO says this about Cyrus and Ellen Deardorff: "Cyrus was 'a miner of some substance in the Ward district. When he married the widow Ellen, who had trouble in court due to her eccentricities, he felt duty bound to help carry her. He sold a claim for $6000 the year he finally married her. His other funds were dispatched in litigation in her defense. Her acts were due to insanity. He was a good man.' His wife died a few years ago in Ward."
Ellen Deardorff was born Ellen Perkins on April 19, 1853 in Missouri. She died February 2, 1914 at the County Farm in Boulder, CO. She was a widow when Cyrus married her. Her married name being Ellen Schrader.
Back to New York: The 1880 Hamilton, Madison County, NY Census lists Jessie Bates as a servant in the William J. Russell (DOB 7-11-1844) home. While living here may be when she met James – perhaps he did some work on the Russell home. We already discussed the 1900 census record of her, which listed her as a widow with George and Charles at home but the other four children “at school.” By 1910, the census lists her as living alone.
Things began to look up for Jessie. The 1920 Madison County, NY census lists Jessie Heffner (56) as living with James E. Horan (32), Bessie (Elizabeth Heffner) Horan (29), James. J. Horan (10), and Elizabeth M. Horan (8). James Horan was born in Ireland. So far as I know, James Horan was a good man. He worked for the railroad. The family moved and took Jessie with them to Michigan by 1930. The 1930 census lists Jessie Heffner living with her daughter (Bessie - Elizabeth) and son-in-law, James E. Horan, in Detroit, MI. James E. Horan was born May 7, 1887 and died in Dec 1978 in Cazenovia, NY.
Jessie’s son, James Heffner, lived in Fenton, MI, not too far away. So in her latter years, she was surrounded by family. I believe she is buried in Detroit, MI but I am not sure. I never met Great-Grandma Heffner but I believe I would love her. Unfortunately, in my early years I had a little too much of Great-Grandpa James in me and repeated many of his foolishnesses. Thankfully, the Lord has seen fit that in my later years I have much more of Great-Grandma Jessie in me. May God rest her soul.