The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-01-08
A "PennsyIvania Dutchman the
Father Of EOrfy-One Children.

Yes it's so " said the man.
80, John, you must be Mistaken"
replied his third wife.
"Well, ! tell you it's SO; | ought to
knowm was the emphatic reply Of
John Heffner, who lives on Maple st., f.,
between Chestnut and Spruce, in this
city.
A reporter for the Eagle had called
upon Mr.. Heff'ner to learn the correct
history of his much talked about great
brood Of forty-one children.
Hefiner is sparingly built, smokes u
short pipe, and makes living in the
rag business. He is sixty-five years
old, and has pleasant smile and n
cheerful greeting for all friends. The
story of the mans married life, as re-
lated by himself, is probably the most
remarkable one on record. He was
born in Germany in 1915. When
twenty-five years old-in l940--he
married his first wife, who lived eight
years. She became the mother Of
seventeen children in that time, .hav-
ing twins in the first year of their
marriage. The next year another
pair of twins were born.
Each succeeding year for fonr years
thereafter, Mrs. Heffner became the
mother of trIplets. The seventh year
was signalized by the birth of only
one child. Mrs. Heffner died, and
was lad away in the village church,
yard i'm Germany. The widower had
now family of seventeen children,
the oldest only seven years of age.
Three months thereaftera young lady
took charge of the children, and in
course of time she became the second
Mrs Heffner. The third wife had
died in February, 1918. In February,
1919 this second wife presented Mr..
Heffner with boy.
On Christmas day of the same year
the nineteenth child was added to the
Heffner flock. The family now was
larger than any other in that part Of
the country. Five years passed by
and Mr. Heffner's household was
increased by the addition of ten
more children, a pair of twins being
born every year. There was now
lull, and for three years thereafter only
one child was born unto them. In 1915
he came to this country with his fam
lily, and the last three children were
born in America.
In 1856 his wife died, having been
married nine years. He was now the
father of thirty-two children, twelve
of whom had died, leaving twenty 10 he
taken In charge by a widow whom he
married in 1853. Mrs. Heflner num-
Der three had one child by previous
marriage. She became the mother of
nine more children in nine years by
single births. His last, or third wife,
is still living. None of the first set of
seventeen children survive. Two of
the fifteen of the second wife's children
still live and three of the third wife's.
In period Of twenty-eight years
from lSiO, when he first married, 10
1868, the date of the birth of his last
became the father of forty
one children. The five who are still
living are girls. with the step-child
that the last marriage added 10 the
list, forty-two children have called
John Heffner father" The old man
has long since forgotten the names Of
his numerous progeny, and can only
recall those born in later years.
All Yung was a ChInaman and
dwelt i'm the wicked city of Chicago.
All Yung's earnest desire Ia he es-en-
tally American induced him 10 at
tempt Ia learn the American game of
poker To this end long and labo-
riously lac tugged, but the progress he
made was slow. A nice sum Of money
many years industry at
wash tub, was squandered, but still
the mind of All Young was clouded
in mystery. Finally, conc uding that
as he couldn't master the depraved
game, he must certainly be fit sub
ject TO adorn paradise, the chagrined
and disgusted celestial placed himself
outside of an infinite quantity OF
poison. The general result Of poison
Is death. 1t happened thus with An
Yung. Gen. Schenck Is indirectly re-
sponsible for the Celestial's demise
he should have volunteered his tutel-
age. Chicagoans are now trying TO
poker joke at the public by claiming
that An Yung was the only Chinaman
who ever committed suicide In their
city.