HEATH-Alfred R. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The name of this gentleman is a familiar one to the people of Fountain County, for he is a long time and popular citizen of Troy Township. He and his family are pleasantly situated in their comfortable home on Sec 7, where they are surrounded by many of the luxuries of life. In the social circles of the community, their position is an enviable one, and they are welcome guests in the best homes of the township. Mr. Heath is a business man who, through his unaided industry and perserverance, has attained prosperity and gained a place among the successful citizens of the county. Our subject was born in Fountain County, Ind Feb 7, 1826 and is a son of Jeremiah and Nelly Johnson heath. His paternal ancestors emigrated from England to America some 35 years prior to the Revolutionary War in which some members of the family took an active part, defending with valor the principles of the colonists. For sevearl generations the family was represented among thep rominent men of North Carolina, whnce at an early day a removal was made to Putnam County, Indiana. The father of our subject was a men of enterprise and accumulated considerable property. In addition to 440 acres of well improved land which he owned in Fountain County he was also the owner of a fine tract, comprisiong 700 acres at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. His death occurred in 1847 and his wife passed away two years later. In his religious convictions he was a devoted member of the christian Church in which he officiated as Deacon for many years. The boyhood of our subject was somewhat uneventufully passed in the county of his birth. He gained a practical education in the common schools and has supplemented the knowledge there acquired by close observation of men and things, so that he is now a man of broad information on all subjects of importance. He married Mary, the daughter of John and Sarah Maxwell, and a native of Ohio born in 1826 From the Buckeye State she removed to Indiana where she was married. Four children have blessed this union: Della, who was born in FOuntain County in 1848; Harpin L, whose birth occurred in 1850; Orietta wife of D. T. Morgan, a graduate of the law school at Indianapolis in the class of '76 and valedictorian of his class; and Evan, who was born in 1859. The elder son, Harpin L, married Mary Summerbell, an accomplished lady and talented musician who died in 1887 and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. Afterward Harpin Heath was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Nannie White who died leaving one son, Archibald.