Augustus Heiple

Taken from the Washington Reporter December 31, 1925:

Mr. Heiple was born at Frieden, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on January 28, 1852, and came to Washington in 1857 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Heiple.

When he was but a boy, he secured work as a telegraph operator with the TP&W railroad.  

In 1878, he became associated with A.H. Pallister in publishing the Tazewell County Independent, a newspaper launched in this city several years before.  After a partnership of a few months, Mr. Heiple took over Mr. Pallister's interest and changed the paper's name to the Washington News.  

He remained at the News helm until 1900, when he disposed of the plant to Charles A. Waltmire, primarily because he had received the appointment of postmaster from President McKinley.  Mr. Heiple served in that capacity under McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson.

During the World War, Mr. Heiple was a member of the draft and exemption board.  For the past seven years, he has held the responsible position of first deputy county treasurer of Tazewell County.  Mr. Heiple has been a lifelong republican, being a member of the county central committee for the past 30 years, chairman of that committee for many years, and chairman of the Republican congressional committee.

In the affairs of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Mr. Heiple has been very active, having been a member for many years, uniting under the pastorate of Dr. Cromer.  He has been a bass singer in St. Mark's choir for the past 44 years, and a member of the church council for a period of equal length.  Records verify that Mr. Heiple had not missed the partaking of Holy Communion for the past 43 years.  This, alone, was a worthwhile record.

Mr. Heiple has always been an active fraternity member, being a member of the Taylor Lodge, No. 98, A.F. & A.M., and of the Tazewell Chapter, No. 199, R.A.M., and of Washington Council, No. 77, R. & S.M., and Order of Eastern Star.

In 1884, Mr. Heiple was united in the bonds of holy wedlock to Miss Florence Kingsbury of this city.  To the union, two children were born - Harley and Carolyne.