Research project for

John Henry Hefley

1888-1980

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research was to identify more information about John Henry Hefley, born 13 Sep. 1888 in Downs, Osborne Co., KS to Arthur William Hefley and Susanna Kaup Hefley. He married Grace Irene Simpson on 20 Nov 1909 in Downs, KS. He died 7 Mar 1980 in Beloit, Mitchell Co., KS and is buried in Downs, KS in the Downs cemetery.

BACKGROUND

I had previously researched John Henry Hefley and documented him in the 1895 and 1925 Kansas State Census and the 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 Census. I have his marriage record showing he married Grace I. Simpson on November 20, 1909 in Downs, Kansas. He registered for the WWI and WWII drafts but never served in the military. Of interesting note, his sister was the draft registrar and signed his WWI draft card.

The Hefley farm was homesteaded by his father Arthur W. Hefley in the 1870s. After John married in 1909, he and his wife continued to live in the house on the farm. He is shown in each census as renting the house. In 1920 and 1930 his parents and younger sister are living in the town of Osborne and John and Grace continue to live on the farm till the mid 1940’s. In 1940 Johns mother had died and Arthur was again living in the farm house. I need to check deeds to see who the farm and property went to in 1941 when his father A.W. Hefley died. I wonder if it went to John since he had always lived and farmed the property or if it went to all four kids.

In the mid 1940’s John auctioned off all the property on the farm since none of his children wanted the farm. John and Grace moved to Downs.

FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

I chose to search the Osborne County Public Library digital library archived newspapers. I knew local newspapers are the “Facebook” of yesteryear. You can really learn a lot about a person’s life with what is written about them in small local newspapers. I still have hours of research to do as I have only documented the first three pages (30) for the search “John Hefley” and there are 441 results. I still have to search other name variations and other family so this will be a long-term search. I documented the information as it was listed, (not in date order.) I have started a second spreadsheet that I will enter the information in date order and list all associated names in the articles. Again, this will be a long-term project. I plan on entering all Hefley searches in this timeline chronologically.

CONCLUSION

The John Hefley family seemed to be connected to family, friends and neighbors. Many articles talked of John helping his neighbors and the family gathering for social occasions such as New Years, Thanksgiving and Birthdays. I plan to continue documenting his life as depicted in the newspapers. I have not yet found information about the birth of each of his children. His first child died as an infant. I would think this information would be included in the paper. If after I go through all 441 results, I don’t find it I can search the specific dates for the information.

 

SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE: Information I found in newspapers:

·         In 1914 Roy Kaup was staying at John Hefley home and a shell exploded. He had to go to Concordia to have his eye operated on.

·         In 1914 Mrs. John Hefley (Grace) returned from a two week visit in the eastern part of the state.

·         In 1924 Mr. Simpson helped John with his harvest. He then went out and cut oats for W.M Wiersma while “Arthur Wiersma plowed corn for John.”

·         For 1925, 1934 and 1935 John was paid for road and drag work. (Not sure what this means.)

·         In 1925 it said John was able to be out again. (Have to see if anything before that says why.)

·         In 1929 the Hill family came to visit. John also took home shingles to cover his house. John also wanted to hire a “man and team” to “finish out the header crew.”

·         In 1931 John butchered a hog for Frank Bowers and has been helping other neighbors.

·         In 1935 John lost his billfold in town and placed an ad looking for it.

·         In 1935 his wife Grace had an operation to have gall stones removed.

·         In 1937 the paper stated: “the air was dust laden, but we are optimistic and look for a rain again soon.”

·         In 1938 Johns brother G. W. Hefley of Colorado Springs came to visit and brought Miss Mae Hefley who is employed in Colorado Springs. Mae stayed at her parents’ home. (John and Grace.)

·         In 1938 the family went to Concordia to see Dr. Starr an eye specialist concerning their son’s Lee’s eyes. He has been having eye trouble.

·         In 1940 John lost a horse.

·         In 1941 Johns brother Knox, his sister Mae came to visit “Grandpa Hefley” (Arthur W. Hefley) and his other brother George had tried but was stranded by the snow storm. Arthur had been ill.

·         In 1946 the “Worst Flood” hit Downs and John’s basement was flooded along with many others.

·         In 1946 John grew “rabbit” food in his backyard garden. He took it to the newspaper office to show them and they described it as “a large carrot, apparently changing it's mind when about half grown, and branched out into ten smaller carrots. It (or rather they) weighed one pound and three ounces.”

·         In 1959 “We extend our sympathy to the relatives of Mrs John Hefley who suffered a stroke and died at her home in Downs. We will remember Mae's mother as a kind and gracious lady, at whose home friends were always warmly welcomed. Her main hobby was crocheting and she had done lots of quilting and sewing for members of her family. she was a good 'Mom' to a precious brother of mine and we all will miss her.

FUTURE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

·         Locate Public Sale in the local newspaper 1943-1945 Oct. 3

·         Locate Deed records of the Hefley farm to see ownership after 1941 when A.W. died.

·         Research the names of the Downs News/Downs Times. Find when names changed and why.

·         Research what is meant by road and drag work. Paid to many each year.

·         Research if the Hill family is related to Grace’s Mother whose maiden name was Hill.

·         Ask Dad if they knew about Lee’s “eye problems.”

·         Search Church records

Grace Irene Simpson Hefley - My Great Grandmother #2

Grace Irene Simpson Hefley - My Great Grandmother

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks #2

I never met my Great Grandmother Grace. She died before I was born. But, through research I know she was born 8 February 1890 in Downs, Osborne County, Kansas. Oral history said her family lived in a sod dug out when they first arrived in Osborne County. 

Grace had three brothers, Charles Henry and William Edward both older and born in Keokuk County Iowa and one younger brother Ernest "Ernie" Leroy also born in Downs. 

Her parents  William Henry and Mary Jane Hill Simpson were farmers, so I would assume she grew up helping her mother in the house and doing farm chores. The 1940 census states she attended school through the eight grade.

She married John Henry Hefley 20 November 1909 in Downs, Kansas. She miscarried her first child in 1910. She went on to have three children: Mildred Mae born 1912; Howard Henry born 1914 and Lee Earl born 1917 (my Grandfather.)

From photos that I have seen of her, she was a large women. Oral history said that she had thyroid problems which caused her weight gain. 

She died 20 October 1959 in Downs, Kansas and is buried in the Downs Cemetery. 

John Henry Hefley - My Great Grandfather #1

John Henry Hefley - My Great Grandfather

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #1

I know a lot about John's father and his son (My Grandfather) but, I don't really know a lot about him. I do know he was born 13 September 1888 in Downs, Osborne County, Kansas. His obituary states he was born at the farm home. He had two older brothers Knox and George and one younger sister Hazel May. John's parents were Arthur W. Hefley and Susannah Kaup Hefley.

He attended school to the 8th grade according to the 1940 census and I would guess he spent much of his youth helping run the farm. When John was eleven years old his father Arthur W. Hefley was elected to the 1899 House of Representatives for Kansas. I would image that John and his older brothers would keep the farm running while their father was away in D.C.

On 20 November 1909 he married Grace Irene Simpson who was also born in Downs, Kansas. They are listed in the 1910 census living in Arthur and Susan's Hefley homestead house with his younger sister and John's parents. 

 

 John's 1917 World War II Draft Registration Card lists him as tall height, Stout build, light brown eyes and dark hair.

John and Grace raised three children on the Hefley homestead. Mildred Mae, Howard Henry and Lee Earl (my grandfather.) John made his living raising livestock and farming. I can only imagine how hard this must have been during the dust bowls of the 1930 and the depression to support a family.

In the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census John is listed as renting the farm. So looks like his father Arthur keep ownership of it till his death in 1941. I do not know if the farm was given to John or if all four kids received part of it. But, I do know John and Grace lived on the Hefley homestead till he retired around 1943/1945. None of his children wanted the Hefley homestead, so in 1945 John had an auction and sold off the farm contents. I remember my Grandfather, Lee, telling me that John had called him while he was away in the service to see if he wanted the farm and he had told him he was not interested. 

In 1945 an auction was held to sell all the contents of the Hefley homestead. Everything is listed out. Oh how I would love to still have the "Roll top desk. Office chair. Bookcase and desk, walnut."

John and Grace moved to a house in town and lived there till their deaths. John died 7 March 1980 at the age of 91. 

I knew my Great Grandfather, John but, I don't really remember a lot about him. I was 12 when he passed away. I wish I could go back in time and ask him about his life growing up on the Hefley farm and raising his family there.

Two of his obituary's are listed below. 

OBITUARY - 1980 - Paper Unknown

"John Henry Hefly (sic) was born Sept. 13, 1888 north of Downs. On Nov. 20th 1909 he was united in marriage to Grace Simpson. To this union four children were born. His wife and two children preceded him in death. He resided on his father's homestead for a period of 60 years, farming and raising livestock. In 1943, he retired and moved to Downs. He attended the Rose Valley Church. He died at the age of 91 at the Mitchell County Memorial Hospital on Friday, March 7th, 1980. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Mae Folger of Downs; one son, Lee Hefly (sic), also of Downs; 5 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Services were at the Domoney Funeral Home, Downs, Kansas. Officiating clergyman was Rev. Jim Hancock. Pallbearers were Keith Quillen, Irvin Burmeister, Howard Hofer, Tony Heinen, John Muck and Milton Voss."

1980 - Paper Unknown
John H. Hefley

DOWNS - The funeral for John Henry Hefley, 91, a lifelong resident of the Downs community, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Domoney Funeral Home, Downs, the Rev. James Hancock officiating. Burial will be in the Downs City Cemetery.
Mr. Hefley died Friday at the Mitchell County Community Hospital, Beloit, after a short illness. He was born Sept. 13, 1888, at the farm home north of Downs where he farmed and raised livestock until 1943 when he retired and moved to Downs. He attended the Rose Valley United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a son, Lee, and a daugher, Mrs. Mae Folger, both of Downs; five granchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
The family suggest memorials to the Downs Mid-America Nursing Center.

The French Knife in WWI

While visiting my Dad, he showed me a knife he inherited. He said the story told to him was that it came from Grace Simpson's side of the family and that someone from WWI got it in France.

Which made me decide to start working on the Simpsons again so I could put a name with the knife.

I knew Grace's parents were William Henry Simpson and Mary Jane Hill. Her father died in 1914 so he would not have been in WWI.

She had two older brothers, Charles Henry and William Edward.

I don't have much information on Charles Henry so I need to do more research on him. He would have been 32 years old in 1914, so he was the right age to go to war.

I do have William Edward's WWI draft card but it is dated September 12, 1918, so since the war ended on November 11, 1918 I don't think he served.

It may or may not have been a Simpson who owned the knife. It could have been a cousin of Grace's.

So I will work backwards and then move forward with other lines to see if any of her cousins were in WWI.

I may never find out who the knife really belonged to, but I hope to collect family names that served in WWI who may have owned the knife.

I've got New Jersey Ancestors!

I would have never imagined I would have New Jersey ancestors. But, you never know where your research will take you.

I had previously written about my Great Great Grandmother Mary Jane Hill Simpson. Her parents were Henry Roby & Elizabeth Masters Hill. I realized I needed to search for Elizabeth Masters in the 1850 census and she should be living with her parents since she married about 1851.

I was able to find her and her parents in the 1850 Census in Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio. (1)

1. Masters, Samuel, age 42, male, carpenter, Value of real estate owned $450, born in New Jersey, can read and write.
2. Masters, Elizabeth, age 40, female, born in New Jersey, cannot read and write.
3. Masters, Elizabeth, age 18, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
4. Masters, Mary, age 16 female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
5. Masters, Eunice, age 14, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
6. Masters, John, age 12, male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
7. Masters, Ann, age 10, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
8. Masters, William L., age 8, male, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
9. Masters, Emily, age 6, female, born in Ohio, attended school within the year.
Top of next page
10. Masters, Barbery, age 4, female, born in Ohio.

If you notice, her parents Samuel and Elizabeth were born in New Jersey. I was a little surprised I would had New Jersey ancestors. Nothing against New Jersey but I consider myself a Southern girl and New Jersey just seems so foreign to me.

From some searching I believe Samuel's parents were John and Eunice Elston Masters who were also born in New Jersey and Eunice's parent may have been Samuel and Charity Quimby Masters also from New Jersey.

So I have a long line of New Jersey ancestors which I need to do more research on. Can't wait to see where it leads me next. 



(1) 1850 U.S. census, Clermont, Ohio, population schedule, Goshen, p. 157, dwelling 1496, family 1496, Masters, Samuel; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 Jan 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432.

Mary Jane Hill Simpson 1862-1918

I have been working on finding the parents of my Great Great Grandmother Mary Jane Hill Simpson. I spent today typing up all the info I had on Mary Jane and my conclusions. Trying to be very thorough and included all my sources. Let me know what you think or if you are connected to any of these ancestors.

Mary Jane Hill Simpson

My first record for Mary Jane Simpson was from her daughter’s death certificate. Her daughter Grace Simpson Hefley died 20 Oct 1959 in Downs, Osborne Co., Kansas. [i] Grace’s death certificate states her parents were William Simpson and Jane Hill.

I then located William and Mary J. Simpson in the 1900 census in Cornith Township, Osborne Co., Kansas.[ii] The household included their four children Henry, Edward, Grace and Earnest Simpson. Mary J.’s age is listed as 37 years old and born in 1862, the space for a birth month to be written only contains a small smudge. It also shows her as being born in Ohio and her parents born in Ohio.

Next William and Mary are found in the 1910 census in Ross Township, Downs, Osborne Co., Kansas.[iii] The household includes their youngest son Ernest Simpson, William’s mother, Margaret Simpson and Christie Niles a 16 year old listed as a servant. Mary is 47 years old and born in Ohio and parents born in Ohio. This would put her birth year about 1863.

Mary Jane Simpson died 15 August 1918 per her death certificate. [iv] She died in Ross Township, Osborne Co., Kansas and was a widow. Her birth is listed as 3 August 1862 and born in Warren Co., Ohio. Her son W.E. Simpson [William Edward] was the informant. Her father is listed as Knotley Hill birthplace unknown and her mother is listed as Emma Masters.

I searched censuses in Ohio for Knotley Hill, but I was unable to place Mary Jane Hill with any family headed by Knotley/Notley Hill. I searched census in Warren and Clermont County Ohio for Hill family’s and was still unable to place Mary Jane with any family. I then remembered that Grace’s two older brothers were born in Iowa per the 1900 census. I was able to find a birth record for William Edward Simpson and he was born in Prairie Township, Keokuk Co., Iowa.[v] This gave me a place to look Mary Jane Hill. 

I found a marriage index for William Henry Simpson and Mary Jane Hill. [vi] I have written for the original but the database shows Mary was born in 1862 and was 19 years old. They were married 29 November 1881 in Keokuk Co., Iowa.

I searched the 1880 census in Keokuk Co., Ohio but still could not locate Mary Jane Hill. I had found her future husband William H. Simpson living with his widowed mother Margaret and William’s younger sister Hannah (and a boarder named Robert Crossman) in the 1880 census in Van Buren, Keokuk Co., Iowa.[vii]  My breakthrough came when I looked at this 1880 Census again and noticed that the family listed before them was a Hill family. It was the Henry R. Hill family and I had looked at this family before in earlier census and knew he had a brother named Notley and their parents were Notley and Rachel Hill. But the 1870 census[viii] listed a daughter for Henry Hill as Jenny. I now believe the 1880 census which lists Henry’s daughter as May J. and the 1870 Census which lists Henry’s daughter as Jenny are indeed the same person as Mary Jane Hill. I can only guess that they said Janie and the census taker heard Jenny and wrote that instead.

Summary for Mary Jane Hill Simpson

Mary Jane Hill was born August 3, 1862 in Warren Co., Ohio to Henry R. and Elizabeth Masters Hill. Henry and Elizabeth had 8 children: Margaret Ellen, Nancy M., Joseph Charles, Eunice, Rachael B., Mary Jane, Sarah Anna, and Emma Hill all were born in Ohio.

In 1870 the family lived in Perry Township, Brown Co., Ohio and Henry was listed as a huckster with real estate valued at $1400 and a personal value of $250. A huckster in 1870 was someone who sold small items door to door or peddled a cart around and yelled out his wares for sell, such as fruits or vegetables.  Elizabeth Hill must have died between April 1870 and 1872 as Henry remarried Amanda Lavina Young in 1872. 

By 1880 the family had moved to Van Buren, Keokuk Co., Iowa and Henry was listed as a farmer. The Simpson family seems to have moved from Clermont Co., Ohio at this same time. I believe the Hill and Simpsons families lived near the borders of Warren and Clermont County Ohio and may have migrated together along with other families. I need to research this further.

In 1880 Mary Jane Hill is 17 and lives next to William Simpson. On November 29, 1881 they married in Keokuk Co., Iowa.  William was 22 and Mary was 19. Their first two sons were born in Keokuk Co., Iowa in 1882 and 1884. Sometime between 1884 and 1890 they moved to Osborne Co., Kansas.

In 1900 the family consisted of William and Mary Simpson ages 40 and 37 and their 4 children: Charles Henry, William Edward, Grace Irene, and Earnest Leroy Simpson. Only Grace and Earnest were born in Kansas. William is a farmer living in Cornith Township, Osborne Co., Kansas.

In 1910 Ernest at age 14 is the only child left at home with William and Mary Simpson. However, Williams widowed mother Margaret Simpson is living with them along with servant Christy Niles who is 16 years old.

William died August 27, 1914 and Mary Jane died August 15, 1918 in Downs, Osborne Co., Kansas. Both are buried at the Downs Cemetery.

Oral history says that the Simpsons lived in a dugout when they moved to Osborne Co., Kansas. Dugouts were common on the prairies of Kansas.

---

[i] Kansas Kansas State Board of Health Division of Vital Statistics, death certificate 59 016144 (1959), Grace Irene Hefley; Kansas State Board of Health Division of Vital Statistics. 

[ii] 1900 U.S. census, Osborne Co., Kansas, population schedule, Cornith Township, enumeration district (ED) 102, sheet 2A, p. 138, dwelling 34, family 34, William Simpson Family; digital images, Familysearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623. 

[iii] 1910 U.S. census, Osborne Co., Kansas, population schedule, Ross Township, enumeration district (ED) 129, sheet 15A, p. 4657, dwelling 381, family 381, William Simpson Family; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624. 

[iv] Kansas State Board of Health-Division of vital statistics, Death Certificates, death certificate 71-795 (1918), Simpson, Mary Jane. 

[v] "Iowa, Births and Christenings, 1830-1950," database, Familysearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 Jul 2012), William Edward Simpson 1884 birth entry. 

[vi] "Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992," database, Familysearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 Jul 2012), William Henry Simpson and Mary Jane Hill marriage 1881. 

[vii] 1880 U.S. census, Keokuk Co., Iowa, population schedule, Van Buren, enumeration district (ED) 153, p. 2, dwelling 15, family 16, Simpson and Hill families; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9. 

[viii] 1870 U.S. census, Brown Co., Ohio, population schedule, Perry Township, p. 72, dwelling 544, family 482, Henry R. Hill Family; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593. 

Lee Earl Hefley in WWII

Lee Earl Hefley, Paratrooper WWII

Lee Earl Hefley enlisted in WWII on 13 June 1944 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas at the age of 27. He was married with one son 21 months old and his wife Irene was three months pregnant. Lee enlisted because he "wanted to help save his country." Lee was colorblind but passed anyway. He joined the paratroopers because they made $50 more a month. Lee came home on a surprise leave in December of 1944 and his new daughter was born that night.

Lee went to basic training and was assigned to Co. A, 156 Battalion, 92d, Training Regiment, Infantry Replacement Training Center at Camp Hood, Texas.

On January 24, 1945 Lee was in paratrooper training at Fort Benning, Georgia in the 2d Prcht Tng Regt.

"As the story goes," Lee's paratrooper group was putting on an exhibition for the president’s wife. The pilot let them off on the wrong side of the mountain. Lee's parachute caught in a tree and the jar made him go blind. He was in the hospital in Georgia where a young Doctor operated on his eyes and he got his sight back. His wife Irene never knew anything about this until he came home. For years he had to wear dark green glasses.

(I haven't been able to verify any information on this, I wrote for Lee's military record and it was destroyed in the fire.)

After that Lee transferred to training for Remote Control Turret Mechanic at Lowry Field, Denver, Colorado. His training was from 16 May 45 - 12 Sept 45. A description of the duties of a Remote Control Turret Mechanic can be found at The Military Yearbook.

The family says Lee worked for the rescue crew in the Everglades of Florida. They would go into the swamps and pick up planes and people after a crash. On one run into the swamp, Lee got to the plane and it was a relative. It may have been one of Henry Simpsons sons. Henry was a brother to Lee's Mother Grace Irene Simpson Hefley.

I have a letter written to Lee from his sister dated 15 December 1945 and addressed to Cpl Lee E Hefley 37745943, Sqd C box 198, Tyndell Field, Panama City, Florida. So he must have served time there.

Lee Hefley separated from the military on 4 June 1946 from Sep Cen CP Shelby Mississippi. He was in the 308th AAFBU. (Army Air Forces Base Unit)
He received ATO med: good cond med; World War II Vic med. He served 1 year 11 months and 22 days with no foreign service. His highest grade was Corporal.

I searched for infomation on the medals that Lee received and did not find much. I did find pictures on this genealogy site at the bottom of the page. It also shows the lapel pin Lee was issued. I don't know what happened to these medals as I have not seen them. I hope someone in the family still has them.

I am very proud of my grandfather Lee Hefley and his service to his county. His son (my father) joined the military and made a career out of it. Proud to be a military BRAT.

Fold3 Memorial Page for Lee Earl Hefley