Oh WOW!!! How did I ever survive before I got my new iPhone that takes wonderful pictures that I can save and import into research documents? These pictures of Benjamin Heffner and his wife Eliza States were taken from the huge Victorian framed wall photos that I found years ago in my grandmother's attic. Gram was named for her grandmother Eliza States. The wall photos must have belonged to Gram's mother, Ella Mae Heffner Long, daughter of Ben and Eliza.
I wrote about Eliza States Simpson Heffner several years ago. She was the daughter of Abraham States (1807 -1875) and Catherine Mumper States (1808 - 1888). In her report, "Outline of a Study of the Self", a family history she prepared in 1917 while a student at East Stroudsburg State Normal School, Eliza Long McEwen provides many physical traits when describing her grandmother. She is described to have been stout, of medium height with black hair and blue eyes. She wore glasses and was right handed.
Likewise, Gram McEwen described her grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Heffner in her "Study of Self" as being tall, of medium weight with dark brown hair and gray eyes. He did not wear glasses and was right handed. Ben Heffner was the oldest child of John and Rachel Heffner. Gram McEwen, states "Grandfather Heffner was married twice. Grandfather taught school for several years when he was a young man. Then he was a farmer."
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| Benjamin F. Heffner & Eliza States Heffner |
My great, great grandparents, Ben and Eliza Heffner were each married twice. In her family history report, Gram McEwen provided much information about the Heffner family. Benjamin Franklin Heffner first married Eliza Lichenthaler who died Dec 26, 1865. Together they had nine children: Samuel D. Heffner, John A. Heffner, Jocephus Heffner, Allison Heffner, James A. Heffner, William Heffner, Frank Heffner, Marshall Heffner, and Jennie Heffner. Eliza States first married John Simpson who died December 4, 1860, and with him had four children; Abraham, George, Katherine, and Jennie. When Eliza States Simpson married Benjamin Heffner on Aug. 14, 1866 she was 34 years old. Ben and Eliza had three more children together. They were Anne, born 1867, Ella Mae, born 1869 and Mary, born in 1871. You can visit the Find A Grave memorial pages for Ben and Eliza to see where all the members of this extended family have been brought together again. See family pictures here.
The family was of German descent. For generations they were farmers, and progressive ones. Benjamin Heffner cultivated with much success nearly two hundred acres of land. Among other improvements he built a fine large brick house at a cost of $3,000 and a new barn. He died in 1894 after a long and useful life. In the church of his choice, the German Reformed, he held the office of deacon, and later that of elder. He was a Republican. His widow died in February, 1896.
The Benjamin Heffner Monument in the McConnellstown Cemetery in Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania is engraved with the names of both of Ben's wives.
Eliza Lichenthaler Heffner
5/25/1820-12/20/1865
appears on the left face of the monument.
Benjamin Heffner
12/6/1820 - 2/2/1894
appears on the center face
Anna Eliza States Heffner
5/28/1832 - 2/12/1896
is engraved on the right face
Sources:
- The Heffner Reunion, Huntingdon, PA, Aug. 30, 1924, "A Brief Genealogy of the Family of John, Son of Valentine Heffner", Mrs. H.H. Long, family historian.
- Eliza Long McEwen, "An Outline of a Study of the Self, a Family History",1917. Orginal copy owned by Cynthia H. Smith.
- Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 03 March 2019), memorial page for Benjamin Franklin Heffner (6 Dec 1820–2 Feb 1894), Find A Grave Memorial no. 69731813, citing McConnellstown Cemetery, McConnellstown, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Rachel Tefft (contributor 47361822) .
- Find A Grave, memorial page for Anna Eliza States Heffner (28 May 1832–12 Feb 1896), Find A Grave Memorial no. 89875008, citing McConnellstown Cemetery, McConnellstown, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Cynthia Smith (contributor 47171224).
- Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, page 186.
- Jordan, John W.,editor, History of the Juniata Valley, v. 3, 1913, p. 1168
Please see the Index to my "Who's Your Grammie" Blog
GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART
Your comments and suggestions below are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to see. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.
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