The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1948-04-15
The House That
Jack Built

Jack Built
1t still stands in the 100 block on
South Belmont Street, Beilaire, that
$4,000 three-story, drab brick house
of Victorian architecture, the key
stone of the noble arch over its
great doorway the sculptured head
of a mule-the House that Jack
Built. Jack was the mule.
Back of the mansion is the story
of coal dust and CRIME and sweat.
And also it is the tale of laborious
thrift, penury and ultimate affluence.
Jacob Heatherington built the pal
ace in 1870 as a monument to Jack
the mule that had for 28 years
helped him drag out the loaded cars
of coal and often had pulled the cart
from which it was peddled. The man
and mule grew much attached
through the fellowship of mutual
drudgery. Jack deserved much and
some day, when | get rich," declar-
ed Heatherington, "he's going to get
| it,"
Man and Mule in Big House
So when the great house was
finished, Jack, sleek and fat and
rtired from business, was led up
the steps and through the great
doorway. A great assembly of
neighbors and coal miners watched
the ceremony, open-mouthed in
wonder. Then the big oak door
swung shut and what went on IN
side the mansion was a matter be-
tween the two cronies-man and
mule.
The mule followed Heatherington
all through the big house and the
man showed him everything there,
talking to him meantime in the most
loving and grateful manner. Every
thing there, the miner said, he owed
| to Jack. And the mule understood
just as only a mule can understand
man. They have so many char,
acteristics in common.
Jack lived with Heatherington foI
many years in the grand house and
in great comfort and much dignity
Then came Jacks last illness and
despite most tender nursing, MS
death at the age of just DO years
and 10 days. The mule had grown
venerable, his coat, once stained witt
coal dust and sweat, had whitenec
until it was like snow.
Mule Buried Near House
Jack was buried out under ar
apple tree near the big house anc
visitors to the place always were
taken to his grave and told the
story.
And Heatherington did not forget
the mule nor did his grief softer
with time. On summer evenings ir
after years, when many passing
seasons had taken their toll of both
the man and his aged wife, the
couple would sit on the steps under
the sculptured head of Jack and
| gaze at the grassy mound under the
apple tree. That was when Heather
ington would again recount the
little happenings that came about
when he and Jack had worked to-
| gether.
Jacob Heatherington was born in
England in 1914 and came with his
father, John, and three brothers,
John Jr., Ralph and Edward and an
other boy named John More, to
America when a child. The family
were English coal miners.
Little Jake Heatherington was put
to work 2,400 feet down in a coal
| mine when he was seven and worked
IS and 18 hours a day. He never
had a day of schooling in his life
and could neither read nor write.
Starts in Coal Business
In 1927 when he was %, he rent
ed coal bank from John Fink and
bought eight acres of land on time.
At first he wheeled out his coal on
wheelbarrow but business soon
grew and he took in a partner -
Jack. The firm became known as
Jake Heatherington and his mule.
Jack was little fellow. only about
three and half feet tall Heather
ington was also small but was active
and completely built. Even after
the Civil War, when he fell in a
coal boat and broke his hip, he got
around surprisingly we'll.
For years he mined his own coal
and drove Jack around selling and
delivering it. From a few bushels
day the business increased to a
thousand and then to more thous-
ands. Jake Heatherington's coal fed
the furnaces of many steamers and
his wealth grew in many ways. The
eight acres had increased to more
than 800 and he owned 30 dwellings,
much stock in a glass-works and
several steamboats,. He never could
read the names on the sides of the
boats but when he saw them pass
along the river so rods from the
door of the big house he knew
every one by sight.
Owes All To Mule