William Heffron

GEDCOM Note

William and Elizabeth farrmed in the Three Lakes area of Warren Township (in the NE 1/4 of section 6) where all but the youngest of their children were born. They were on a fam adjacent to Elizabeth's parents, John and Jane Henry. William had purchased this land in 1870, sold it to his brother John R. Heffron in 1873, and repurchased it from John in 1880, about the time he was married.

About 1900 William and Elizabeth moved to the Hudson Prairie area, in section 26 of Hudson township, where they livedfor a few years and where the younger children were born. This area is known locally as the badlands because of the topography which makes it unsuitabel for raising crops. Williams evidently raised draft horses on his farm. About 1905 they moved to Hudson where William died in 1906.

In 1870 St. Croix County census, William is listed as a 22 year old raftsman, born in Ireland, and living with his mother, Bridgette, and two youner brothers, John and Thomas, In Erin Township. In the 180 census, William and wife Elizabeth lived in Warren Township with their son Thomas. William was 34, Elizabeth 17 years old. In the 1900 census, they lived in Warren Township, he was born in 1844, she in 1862. In the 1905 stte census they lived in Hudson, he was 61 she was 44. In all census records his occupation was listed as farmer.

According to a letter written by his nephew, Pat Gerrity, William served in the Sioux Indian wars in Dakota Territories in 1864-65 where he took supplies from Bismark to Fort Union (near the confluence of Missouri and Yelllowstone Rivers). At one point he was forced to swim the Missouri to escape the indians who destroyed the wagon load of supplies.

William Heffron died in Hudson in 1906. His obituary in The Hudson Observer November 9, 1906 is:

"The funeral of William Heffron who died this week was held at St. Patrick's Church yesterday, the Reverend Father Barney officiating. A large concourse of sorrowng friends followed the remains to the cemetery.

The late Mr. Heffron was a resident of the German settlement, where he has occupied a farm for many years. Prior to his residence there he lived in Warren, he being an old timer of this county.

He is survived by his wife and very large family, 34 or 14 in all. The deceased was a man of excellent standing amoung neighbors, and his passing will leave a big gap among them."