Tombstone Tuesday–Roman E. Heffner

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

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

This is the tombstone of Roman Edward Heffner, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Roman E.
Heffner
1899-1937

Roman Edward Heffner was born 26 August 1899 in the family home in Chattanooga, the son of Fredrick and Anna (Merkle) Heffner. He was baptized at that same house on 10 September 1899, with Christ Kessler and his wife Margaret (Heffner) Kessler as sponsors. They were his aunt and uncle, Margaret being his father Fredrick’s sister. Roman was confirmed at Zion on 30 May 1915 by Rev. W.F. H. Heuer.

Roman registered for the WWI draft on 12 September 1918 in Mercer County, Ohio. At that time he lived at Rt. 5, Rockford and worked as a grocery clerk for S.S. Egger, also at Rt. 5, Rockford. The Rt. 5 address was likely in Chatt, so he probably still lived at home and worked nearby. His physical description indicates he was tall with gray eyes and dark hair. [1] I did not see any indication that he served in WWI.

In 1920 Roman lived in Chatt with his widowed mother Anna and his younger brother Vernon. His mother was 52; Roman, 20; and Vernon 14. Roman worked in a store, likely a grocery in Chatt. [2]

In 1930 Roman, at age 30, still resided in Chatt with his mother and continued to work as a merchant in a grocery store. [3] From 1933-1937 Roman and his cousin Walter Heffner owned and operated a general store in Chatt .

Roman was known as “Pat.” I have noticed that the Heffners liked nicknames. Roman went by the name of “Pat” and Walter was known as “Dick.” Vernon was called “Cy” and Oscar was nicknamed “Brownie.”

Roman’s mother Anna died in June of 1935 and a couple of months later he married Cecile Hoblet, the daughter of William H. and Ada (Jewell) Hoblet. Cecile was born 12 July 1908 in Willshire, Ohio. [4]

Roman died 20 April 1937, at the age of 37 years, 7 months, and 25 days. Zion Chatt’s records indicate that he took his own life by means of a shotgun wound to the chest, due to ill health. Other accounts say he was distraught because he needed kidney surgery but did not want to go through the procedure. He was survived by his wife, four brothers, and two sisters. He was buried next to his brother Albert on the 22nd.

His widow Cecile married Lester Wright on 22 May 1951 in Mercer County. Lester was 46 and Cecile was 42. [4]

 

[1] “U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 January 2015), card for Roman Edward Heffner, no. A 1141, Mercer County, Ohio; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509, imaged from FHL microfilm 1832519.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.3A, dwelling 44, house 44, Anna Heffner; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 January 2015), from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 20, p.10B, dwelling 254, family 254, Mrs. Anna Heffner; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 January 2015), from FHL microfilm 22341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.

[4] “Ohio, County, Marriages, 1789-1997,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 January 2015), Lester Wright and Cecile Heffner, 22 May 1951; citing Mercer County, Ohio, Marriages Vol. 20:282, #21819 , from FHL microfilm 2251798.

2 comments

    • Doug Roebuck on February 25, 2024 at 8:57 pm
    • Reply

    Roman’s nickname was “Pate.” Vernon’s nickname was “Cy” Oscar’s nickname was “Brownie”

    1. I remember hearing those nicknames in the area. They don’t seem to be derived from the original given names. I think sometimes a person got a nickname from something they did, something that happened to them, or how they looked. Great to hear from you!

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