My Genealogy Hound

HERON, AUGUSTUS CONKLIN, farmer and stock raiser, Sec, 20, P. O. Carrollton. The subject of this biography was born in Erie County, Penn., May 14, 1819. Augustus was the oldest of a family of nine children; his father was Robert Evans Heron; he was a merchant in affluent circumstances; possessed of an ability that led to successful results, and amassed considerable property in mercantile pursuits; he died at Louisville, Ky., where he afterward removed. Augustus passed his early boyhood in Pennsylvania, where he received a liberal education; in 1832, possessed of that adventurous disposition characteristic of Young America, he departed from the parental roof and made his way to Missouri, where he sought employment on the broad waters of the Mississippi as a cabin boy, plying between the cities of Memphis, New Orleans, Natchez, and other points; he soon became a valuable assistant, and, in process of time, a second steward; displaying marked ability, he became steward on board the George Collier, Natchez, Belle Creole; Eclipse and Imperial; in this capacity he gave such general satisfaction that few gained more reputation as an honorable man and one more skilled in his profession than he; one incident in his career is worthy of note, as a steward his ability was unquestioned, yet it would necessarily be strange if some unpleasantness in connection with his position did not occur. On one occasion, an employee of the boat, who could not stand prosperity or good living, made a jesting remark in reference to the corn bread, a staple article on all packets many years ago. Mr. Heron was notified of the conversation, and made his way to the cabin, “Jim,” said he, to the surly boarder, “what is the matter with that cornbread?” A satisfactory answer not being forthcoming, he remarked, with that sarcasm peculiar to many who pass their lives on our Western waters: “Jim, that ain’t the kind of cornbread you and I were used to when we came in from our fishing excursions, and your aged mother, with all due care and regard for our comfort, gathered together her baking material, and transferring it to the smoothing board, set it to bake from the large open fireplace.” Jim made his exit amid the jeers of the passengers. While employed on the river Mr. Heron was married in the Crescent City, to Miss Martha A. Brant, by whom he had two children, Helen and an infant child. When that dread scourge of yellow fever became prevalent in New Orleans, Mrs. Heron became a victim to the yellow monster, whose bronzed breath carried death and desolation to many a saddened household. In 1861, he married his second wife, Mrs. Rachel Burkett, by whom he had two children, Alex. F. and Aug. C.; in 1864, the yellow fever again prevailed to an alarming extent, and Mr. Heron was soon again called upon to perform the last sad rites for his second wife, who was laid at rest in the city of New Orleans during the year made memorable by the advent of the bronzed visitor. For a number of years Mr. Heron conducted a successful business in a bakery establishment of his own, on Choupetoulas street; for nearly twenty-five years he remained a resident of this Southern city; in 1849, he made a visit to Greene County, Ill., when he purchased 160 acres of land in this township, and five years ago he became a permanent resident, where he now owns 188 acres of valuable land, and ranks among the more honorable farmers in Greene County.