My Genealogy Hound

JAMES HEDDON, editor of the Dowagiac Times, was born in the Genesee Valley, N. Y., August 28, 1845. He has been a resident of Dowagiac for more than thirty-three years, and during that time has followed various lines of business — telegraph operator, shoe-maker, dancing-teacher, bee-keeper, editor, and has also served as Mayor of the city. Although an agnostic and a strong admirer of Ingersoll, Haeckel and Herbert Spencer, he has held the position of Superintendent of the Universalist Sunday-school. Throughout America and the Old World he is well known as a successful bee-keeper, apicultural teacher and writer for bee journals, as well as an inventor of apiarian apparatus, more of his inventions being now in use than those of any other inventor in that line.

Throughout his entire life Mr. Heddon has been characterized by an intense love of learning, in boyhood his thirst for knowledge being very noticeable. In stature he is below the average height, while his form is slight. He is of an extremely nervous temperament, and mentally is exceptionally gifted. When speaking on his favorite subject in bee conventions he is uncommonly vigorous; his sentences are always to the point, and his figures and illustrations are often irresistible. He has the power of holding his audiences spellbound by his eloquence and earnestness. The same forcible style characteristic of his addresses pervades his writings, as those who have read them can testify.

To many men the door of a delightful life has been opened by a beautiful girl, and such has certainly been the experience of Mr. Heddon, who on the 13th of February, 1869, was united in marriage with Miss Eva Hastings. Not only has she provided him with one of the happiest homes, but she also led him into apiculture. For one year Mr. Heddon was under the instruction of her father, Charles Hastings, and it was during that time that he met the lady who afterward became his wife, and also became enthused on the subject of bee-culture. In former years Mr. Heddon made a specialty of honey production, but lately he has devoted more of his personal attention to publishing the Dowagiac Times and to electricity, he being one of the owners of the Dowagiac Electric Plant. He has accumulated a competency from the culture of bees, and his present capital he credits almost entirely to the production of honey. Through his invention of what is known as the “Heddon” hive he has gained an extended reputation.

Speaking of Mr. Heddon’s hive, the Rev. L. L. Langstoth, the most famous apiarist and apicultural inventor in the world, says: “When I saw bees handled in Heddon’s hives, and could handle them myself, all my favorable prepossessions were confirmed, and I thought, in justice to Mr. Heddon and the public, I ought to put this upon record by writing to some of my bee-keeping friends. I did so. I would not be afraid to risk my reputation for sound judgment in declaring the great value of the forward step which he has taken, even if I did not know that my opinion accorded so well with the experience of many who have had the opportunity to put the system to the test of years of practical use.” Mr. Heddon has always practiced the principles of breeding bees with great success; has crossed two valuable races, and by selection secured a strain with the excellencies of the original races without their undesirable qualities.

Since 1887 Mr. Heddon has owned and edited the Dowagiac Times, and has greatly improved the paper, which is now recognized as one of the prominent Democratic newspapers in southern Michigan. He is well adapted to newspaper work on account of his great diversity of knowledge. During his administration as Mayor of the city, the waterworks and electric light plants were put in, and many other improvements made. He has always been foremost in every enterprise that pertains to the growth and development of Dowagiac. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Dowagiac, whose push aided in making it one of the most progressive cities of Michigan. A great admirer of poetry, Mr. Heddon’s favorite authors are Tennyson and Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Although he started poor in this world’s goods and enjoyed limited educational advantages, his boundless energy, strict integrity and generosity have contributed to his success and secured for him a host of acquaintances and friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Heddon have three children, two sons and one daughter. The eldest, Will, was married to Miss Dollie Barney in November, 1892, and is the secretary and electrician of the Dowagiac Gas and Electric Company. He has also made several balloon ascensions. The daughter is nineteen years old and unmarried. Charles, the youngest, is pursuing the study of law.