- JOHN HEATH, engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad,
running the engine of the day
- express between Janesville and Green Bay, entered the employ
of that company as fireman in December, 1862, and in July, 1863,
was promoted to engineer. He is a native of this State, having
been born in the town of Delafield, Waukesha County, on the 16th
day of January, 1842, and is a son of John and Margaret (GARRITY)
HEATH. His father was born in England, and when a young man emigrated
to Canada, where he was married, his wife being a native of that
country. In 1838 he removed with his family to Wisconsin, settling
at Oconomowoc, where he spent three years and then became a resident
of Delafield. He there engaged in the erection of two mills,
after which he removed to Sullivan, Jefferson County, where he
also built two mills, called the HEATH Mills, on Bark River.
His death occurred in July, 1875, and his wife departed this
life in 1868. They were the parents of seven children, all of
whom are living with the exception of one. Michael C., who married
Lena KELLOGG, is engaged in the lumber business in Nestoria,
Baraga Co., Mich., where he still resides; Margaret is now the
wife of George COX, a farmer residing near Lincoln, Neb.; John,
of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; William died at
the age of fourteen years; Albert married Eliza GIBSON, of Republic,
Wis., and is engaged in lumbering; Eliza is the wife of William
THOMPSON, a farmer in Waupaca County, Wis., and Nellie, the youngest,
is the wife of Warren AXTEL, a carpenter of Pine City, Minn.
- When about three years of age our subject removed with his
parents to the place now call
- HEATH Mills, in the town of Sullivan, Jefferson Co., Wis.,
and later went to Palmyra, receiving his education in the village
schools. He began railroading in the employ of the Milwaukee
& Prairie du Chien Railroad company in June, 1860, as a fireman,
continuing in that employ until Oct. 15, 1862, making two years
and four months' service. He was then engaged with the Illinois
Central for a short time, after which he was fireman on the Galena
& Chicago Union Railroad, accepting on the same day on which
he left that road a position on the Northwestern, and since Dec.
5, 1862, has been in the employ of that company. In July , 1863,
he was placed in charge of his first engine, and since that time
he has served as an engineer. When he entered the employ of the
company it had but 240 miles of road and thirty-five engines,
but now owns 6,000 miles of road and 800 engines.
- Mr. HEATH has been a resident of Janesville since March 11,
1866, at which time he was united
- in marriage with Miss Ellen M. BLISS, of Chicago, a daughter
of Asahel and Samantha (MERRILL) BLISS. Mrs. HEATH was born in
Chelsea, Orange Co., Vt. Their union has been blessed to them
with one son, Marcellus Adelbert, who was born in Janesville,
May 5, 1869. In 1862 Mrs. HEATH removed from her Eastern home
to Freeport, Ill. In her father's family were four children -
Frances, who became the wife of James C. NICHOLS, an engineer
on the Canada, Waterloo & Ontario Railroad, who for many
years was in the employ of the Western Union and Hannibal &
St. Joseph roads; Ellen M., wife of our subject; Franklin, an
old engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, for twenty-five
years running between Savannah and Rock Island, married Adelaide
SWEET and lives at Rock Island; Newton M., an engineer on the
Madison Division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad,
wedded Isabel W. RUNDLETT, and lives at Baraboo, Wis. The death
of Mr. Asahel BLISS occurred on the 7th day of August, 1857.
He was born in Lebanon, N.H., and his wife, who died April 2,
1852, was a native of the Green Mountain State.
- Mr. and Mrs. HEATH have been residents of Janesville for
many years, and are highly respected
- citizens. He takes great interest in civic societies; is
a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A.F. & A.M.; of Janesville
Chapter, No. 5, R.A.M.; various offices in the same. For two
years he was Worshipful Master of the Blue Lodge, was for four
years and is now H.P. of the Chapter, and is J. W. of the Commandery.
He belongs to the Gebel Council, No. 2, and is a member of the
Grand Council of the State, and is Grand Principal Conductor
of the Work. He has recently been appointed Foreign Correspondent
of the Grand Council of Michigan, near the Grand Council of Wisconsin.
For twenty-five years he has been a member of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, and now belongs to Janesville Division
No. 185, of which he has been twelve years treasurer. He has
been representative of that order to conventions held in Detroit,
Buffalo, New Orleans, New York, Chicago, and Richmond, Va., and
has done effective work for his fellow engineers. He is an ardent
supporter of the Republican party, and sustains the Congregational
Church, of which his wife is a member. As an engineer Mr. HEATH
ranks high, and his long term of service is a testimonial for
his ability and fidelity to the company's interests. He has never
had an accident, nor has he ever been off duty an entire month
during his service, with one exception. As fireman he has made
93,658 miles; up to June 30, 1889, as engineer, 905,017 miles.
Of the later, 698,247 were made in the passenger service.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 523-524.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|