Ida R. Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Ida R. Heffner, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Ida R. Heffner
Apr. 14, 1880
Sept. 5, 1880
Ida was the first child born to George Heinrich and Lucinda (Karch) Heffner, born in Jefferson Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 14 April 1880. [1] She died of brain fever in Celina on 4 or 5 September 1880, at the age of 5 months. [2]
Ida’s name was written as J.R.C. Heffner on both her probate birth and death records. Her year of birth looks like it was changed to or from 1880 to 1881 on the probate record, but the year has to be 1880 since she died in September 1880. Her death record indicates she died on the 4th but her cemetery marker indicates she died on the 5th. Her death record also indicates she was born in Celina.
Her parents, George Heffner and Lucinda Karch Heffner, were married at Zion Chatt on 14 September 1879. Their marriage is recorded at Zion as well as in the Mercer County probate records. [3]
There is no birth, baptism, or death record for Ida in Zion Chatt’s records and George and Lucinda are not mentioned in Zion’s records after their 1879 marriage.
I have not located George and Lucinda in the 1880 census but in the 1900 census Lucinda indicated that she had given birth to four children, but that only three were living. Their other three children were Edward S., Ralph Rufus, and Frank Clarence. [4]
Ida’s father George Heinrich Heffner was the son of Conrad and Margaretha (Miller) Heffner, born in Mercer County, Ohio, 21 Jul 1857, and died in Mercer County 3 July 1928. [5]
Ida’s mother Lucinda (Karch) Heffner was the daughter of George and Walburga (Riddle/Riedel) Karch, born 12 December 1860 in Marysville, Ohio, and died 17 April 1945 in Mercer County. [6]
George and Lucinda are both buried in the North Grove mausoleum, Celina.
[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Jul 2015), J.R.C. Heffner, 14 Apr 1881; from Jefferson Township, Mercer County, Ohio Births, Vol. 1, p.328-9; from FHL microfilm 914953. Note: Her birth year is incorrect in this index. It should be 1880.
[2] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Jul 2015), J.R. C. Heffner, 4 Sep 1880; Celina, Jefferson Township, citing Mercer County, Ohio, Death records, Vol. 1-2, p.162-3; from FHL microfilm 914954.
[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Jul 2015), George H. Hoeffner and Lucinda Karch, 14 Sep 1879; citing Mercer, Ohio, Marriages, Vol. 4, p.141; from FHL microfilm 914956.
[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED84, p.4A, dwelling 78, family 79, George H. Heffner; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Jul 2015); from FHL microfilm 12413045, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.
[5] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Jul 2015), George Henry Heffner, 3 Jul 1928; from FHL microfilm 1991346. Note: George’s birth year is transcribed incorrectly in this index. What was transcribed as a 9 is actually a 7; the top of the 5 appears to make the 7 a 9.
[6] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 18 Jul 2015), Lucinda Heffner, 17 Apr 1945; citing reference certificate; from FHL microfilm 2372782.
