Tombstone Tuesday–Albert C. & Ethel (Olson) Heffner

Albert & Ethel Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Albert C. and Ethel Heffner, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HEFFNER
Albert C.
Jan. 9, 1888
Mar. 4, 1945
Ethel
1892-1979

Albert Conrad Heffner was born in Chattanooga on 9 January 1888, the second child born to Fredrick and Anna (Merkle) Heffner. He was baptized at Zion Chatt on 22 January 1888 with Conrad Heffner and Magdalena Kessler as his sponsors.

Albert was confirmed with his older brother George “Rudolph” at Zion on 31 March 1901 by Rev. R.V. Schmitt.

Albert registered for the World War I draft on 5 June 1917. At that time he lived at 553 E. Livingston Street, Celina, Ohio, where he was employed as a piano dealer. He was single and described himself as medium height and weight with blue eyes and blonde hair. [1]

Albert enlisted in the Regular Army at Columbus, Ohio, on 27 October 1917. He served in several Balloon Companies during World War I: the 1^st Balloon Squadron, Fort Omaha, Nebraska, until 15 March 1918; in the 64^th Balloon Company until 12 July 1918; in the 66^th Balloon Company AS until 13 January 1919; and in 52^nd Balloon Company until his honorable Discharge on 28 January 1919. He also held the rank of corporal and later sergeant. [2]

Albert Heffner military marker, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

After the war Albert returned home to Celina. In 1920 he was unmarried and living with his sister Emma and her husband Jake Bauer. They all lived on East Livingston Street and Albert and his brother-in-law Jake were salesmen in a music store. [3]

Albert Heffner married Ethel Olson soon after, but I was unable to locate their marriage record. In 1930 the couple lived on Price Street in Rockford, Illinois. Albert was 42 and Ethel was 43 in this record. It also indicates they had been married ten years, so they probably married about 1920. Albert was a general salesman and Ethel was not employed. This record indicates that Ethel was born in Wisconsin. [4]

Albert and Ethel still resided in Rockford, Illinois, in 1940, living at 1526 16^th Avenue, the same house they were living in in 1935. Albert C. was 52 years old and Ethel O. was 48. Ethel’s father, John Olson, age 76, was living with them at that time. John Olson was born in Sweden and this record indicates that Ethel was born in Illinois and Albert in Ohio. Albert was the manager of an electric appliance store and Ethel was a bookkeeper. [5]

Albert registered for the “old man’s registration” in April 1942, for World War II. At that time the Heffners lived on 16^th Avenue in Rockford, Illinois, where he worked at a Maytag Shop. He was 54 years old and stated that he was born in Chattanooga, Ohio, on 9 January 1888. [6]

According to Zion Chatt’s records Albert Heffner died of a heart attack on 4 March 1945, at the age of 57 years, 1 month, and 26 days. He was buried on the 8^th. Survivors included his wife Ethel; brothers Rudolph, Oscar, and Vernon; and his sister Marguerite. His Illinois death record indicates he died on 4 March 1945 in Winnebago, Illinois, at the age of 57 years. It also indicates that he was married to Ethel “Olsen.” [7]

The application for his military marker indicates he enlisted 27 October 1917 and was honorably discharged 28 January 1919. He held the rank of sergeant in the 51^st Co. Balloon Co. Air Service in Arcadia, California, and his serial no. was 922312. Albert died 4 March 1945. The marker is inscribed with a Christian emblem. This record was signed by his widow, Ethel O. Heffner, 521 Indiana Terrace, Rockford, Illinois, on 18 June 1945.  [8]

Application for Headstone or Marker, Albert C. Heffner.

Death notice:

Albert C. Heffner
Chattanooga, Mar. 7
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at Zion Lutheran church at Chattanooga for the late Albert C. Heffner, 57, former Mercer-co man, who died Sunday in Illinois. Burial will be in the church cemetery. [9]

Ethel Olson was born 16 April 1892, possibly in Wisconsin, or Illinois. She died 26 September 1979 in Deland, Volusia, Florida, and was buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery on the 29^th. [10]

The couple did not have any children.

[1] “U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015), card for Albert Carl Heffner, no. 1340, Mercer County, Ohio citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509, imaged from FHL film roll 183519.

[2] Official Roster Ohio Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, World War, 1917-1918 (Columbus, Ohio : FJ Heer Printing Co., 1926), 7271; Ancestry.com (www.ancestry : accessed 4 January 2015).

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED 137, p.8A, dwelling 187, family 188, Jake Baner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, ED 32, p.23A, dwelling, family, Albert C. Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015); from FHL microfilm 2340307, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 572.

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, ED 101-62 , p.61B, household no. 221, Albert C. Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2014); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 914.

[6] U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Fourth Registration), for the State of Illinois; National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri; Microfilm Series M2097, roll 118; Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015).

[7] “Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947,” index, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 2 January 2015), Albert Conrad Heffner, 4 March 1945; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; from FHL microfilm 1984183.

[8] U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015), from Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941, microfilm publication M1916, ARC ID: 596118, NARA Record Group 92.

[9] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 7 March 1945, p.4.

[10] Ethel Heffner, Illinois Issue State no. 331-05-3079, Social Security Death Index 1935-2014, Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015).