The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-18
JOHN HERRON'S LIFE.
A Native of EDGland-His tccumuIa-
tionS in Indianapolis.

John Heron was the son of George and
Nancy Heron and was born at Carlton,
near Skipton, in Craven, Eng, March %,
1917 The following September his parents
came to America, landing at Philadelphia.
after six weeks voyage in a sailing vessel.
His parents first located in Penn, Chester
county, Pennsylvania, where his father was
business manager of a cotton mill for eight
years. After that his parents moved to a
farm near oxford, Pa, and remained there
till 1899, when they moved West. Stopping
in Cincinnati awhile TO study the sur
rounding country, his father finally settled
on a farm in Franklin county. near Mount
Carmel. Here MIR. Heron lived for many
years, remaining single until he was fifty
two years of age. Dec. %, 1869, he was mar
ried to Miss Electa ID. Turrell. There were
no children result of the union. He
and his wife still remained on the Franklin
county farm. Shortly after his marriage
he began investing money in Indianapolis
real estate and Nov. }, 1884, he moved to
this city, having in the meantime invested
most of his money here. He first lived at
No. 7sl North Illinois street, but a short
time after coming to this city he moved 10
the home which he recently occupied at No.
$50 College avenue. When he came to this
who was demented. She was later placed in a
sanitarium when she became too violent
for him to care for her. A4one time, while
in a flt of frenzy, she attempted to kin
herself and when Mr.. Heron attempted to
prevent IL she turned him and would
probably have killed him if assistance had
not arrived She afterwards killed herself
1891, and in October, 1892, Mrs. Heron died.
leaving Mr.. Heron without near relatives
all the members of his fathers family hav-
Those who knew Mr.. Heron were much
surprised when ii was first rumored that he
had left a large portion of his property to
the city or to charity--it was not known
then who the beneficiares would be. He
was not looked upon as a man who would
work all his life TO accumulate property and
then dispose of il in that way. While not
exactly a stingy man miserly, he had
his peculiar ways which would not indicate
such a disposal of his property. He owned
large number of pieces of small property
in the northeastern part of the city, and il
is said of him that he was his own carpenter
and repairer. He was prompt and correct
in everything he did. When a tenant would
complain that property was in need OF re-
pairs, he would not allow twenty-four hours
to pass without investigating the repoJ [
and if he thought it necessary the next
day he would take his tool box and with a
little lumber in spring wagon go TO the
house and do the necessary work himself;
His business methods were precise and
always correct. His tenants say that If the
rent amounted to a monthly sum which did
not divide in even cents he would collect
the overplus one month and the next month
would deduct il, thus evening the amount.
His neighbors speak well of him and say he
was friendly and sociable, but was not
given to expenditures for the fancy things
of life, believing in living frugally and un-
ostentatiously.
He was the constant guardian of his un-
fortunate sister and until she became so
violent that it was necessary to confine her.
she lived with him. Since the death of his
sister and that of his wife, year later, he
has been in feeble health and several times
il was thought that his illness would prove
fatal Last Thanksgiving day. accompanied
by his wife's niece Miss Anna Turrell, he
went to California. hoping to regain his
health and it was while there that he was
burned so badly that death resulted.
Willard s. Turrell. brother of Miss Anna
Turrell was seen at the Heron home last
night and declined to say anything regard
ing the will. To all questions he simply re-
ferred the reporter to attorney Stanton.
who. he said, would answer all questions.
Miss Turrell could not be seen.