Histories and Mysteries: Family Stories and Genealogy : October 2018

Joshua Healey

Joshua Healey was born 18 November 1838 in Hinchinbrook, Beauharnois Co., Quebec, Canada. One source gives his birth as 18 November 1837 in "Bauhanraus" County, Canada. Other sources give his birth as 18 November 1838 in Henchingbrook, Quebec, Canada. Hinchinbrooke is located about 40 miles from Montreal. Beauharnois is also near Montreal. Yet another source says he was born in "Canada East." His parents were Sylvestor Forbes Healey and Rosa H. Hall.

He moved to Cass Co., Indiana with his parents sometime between 1852 and 1857. Joshua worked as a school teacher before the Civil War. A sketch of Joshua found at the library in Rensselaer, Indiana, says, "After living on the farm for several years, he qualified himself as a school teacher and coming to Jasper County, taught the Smith school, north of Renssealer."

About 1858, Joshua met his future wife, Julia Ann Howland, when Julia was visiting friends in Logansport, Indiana.

The 1860 census (taken August 1860) shows Joshua, age 22, living on the family farm with his parents near Logansport, Cass Co., Indiana. By April 1861, however, he was living in Jasper Co., Indiana, when he volunteered for military service during the Civil War.

Joshua's military papers describe him as 5 foot 9 inches tall, with black hair, gray eyes, and a dark complexion.

Joshua Healey during the Civil War

On 24 April 1861, Joshua enlisted as a Corporal in Company G, 9th Infantry Regiment Indiana; he was mustered out of Company G on 29 July 1861 in Indianapolis. According to a newspaper biography of Joshua, "Mr. Healey enlisted in the Ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers for the first three months service, serving as a private. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he reenlisted for three years and was made captain of Company G. In the spring of 1864 he was transferred to the 128th Indiana regiment and made major, and after serving in that office for one year, he was again transferred, this time to the 151st Indiana Regiment, of which he was made colonel, and where he served until the surrender of Lee's army. At the battle of Tullahoma, he was thrown from his horse, and injured to such an extent that he never recovered his health. Mr. Healey was with Sherman at the surrender of Atlanta and also on his famous march to the sea."

Joshua's pension papers outline his military service and indicate that at outbreak of Civil War, he joined Rensselear Company G of 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry of Union Army. After 3 months he was promoted to captain in the Ninth Indiana Regiment. Then he became a major in the 128th. And finally he became a colonel of the 151st Indiana Regiment. His records note "service conspicuous for bravery and heroism." He served 4 years in the war and had "numerous escapes from death; was wounded by cannonball; and was seriously injured by his horse falling on him." While serving as Colonel of the 151st Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers, he fought in the Georgia Campaign. He apparently became ill while serving in war, perhaps with a kidney or urinary disease.

Between November 1863 and January 1864, the military records report him as "absent; ordered to Indiana on recruiting service." And the January and February rolls list him as absent in Indiana and sick.

It was during this period while he was in Indiana on sick leave that Joshua married Julia Ann Howland. They were married 23 February 1864 in Delphi, Carroll Co., Indiana. The Howland Bible contains this entry, "Julia Ann Howland my Second daughter was married [unreadable] Healy February 23 AD 1864." They were married by Rev J. W. Green of the ME Church. Julia was 24 and Joshua was 25 years old.

Julia Ann Howland was born 9 February 1840 "in a long house near Perrysburg," Miami Co., Indiana. Her parents were Joseph Allen Howland and Mary Taylor. Julia's mother died in June 1845 and her father remarried in January 1846. About 1850, Julia went to live with her mother's sister, Phoebe (Taylor) Benedict, who lived in Michigan. She returned to Indiana around the time she turned 18 and worked as a school teacher before her marriage to Joshua.

Julia Ann Howland

By March 1864, Joshua is again shown as present on the military muster rolls.

On 2 July 1865, Joshua was in Nashville, Tennessee, when he wrote to Brig. Gen. Whipple requesting 20 days leave of absence to go to Jasper Co., Indiana to attend to business. He stated that he had never been absent from his regiment on leave. It was while Joshua was home on leave that he and Julia first visited Rensselaer, Indiana. They went there to visit Mrs. Moss, the wife of Dr. Moss, who was with Joshua's regiment. This was probably Lydia A. Moss, wife of Dr. Gordon A. Moss.

On 19 September 1865, Colonel Joshua Healey was mustered out of military service at Nashville, Tennessee.

Shortly after Joshua returned home, he and Julia moved to Rensselaer, Jasper Co., Indiana. According to a newspaper biography of Joshua, "After returning home from the army at the close of the war, he began the study of law in the office of E.P. Hammond." This is probably Edwin Pollock Hammond. After the war, he engaged in the practice of law in Rensselaer and Goodland, Indiana.

A Jasper Co. history states that Joshua was a journalist and published a newspaper in Rensselaer, Indiana, during a very early period of Rensselaer history as a partner of Horace James. He started "The Iroquois Press" with Jacob Keiser. This was a 7-column folio, weekly, Republican newspaper. Joshua was "part-owner and proprietor of a newspaper published at Rensselaer from about 1865-1876. He was suffering from some kidney or urinary disease. In consequence he was incapacitated from performing manual labor most of the time." Other information indicates that Joshua suffered from diabetes.

Joshua and Julia's first two children, William Healey and Florence Healey, both died in infancy and are buried in Weston Cemetery, Rensselaer, Indiana. I have not yet discovered exact birth and death dates for them.

Florence Healey

Julia wrote in her memoirs, "Where the Oklahoma addition now is was a fine place for prairie chickens and many evenings after supper, Mr. Healey and myself would drive out there taking the bird dog in the buggy with us. When we reached the place Mr. Healey would get out and start the dog. He followed the dog and I drove along behind, in half an hour we would have chickens enough for breakfast for ourselves and some of our neighbors."

In the fall of 1868, Joshua became the sole owner of the "Iroquois Press" and consolidated it with the "Prairie Telegraph" to form the "Rensselaer Union," a 7-column, weekly, Republican paper, in partnership with Horace E. James.

On 27 October 1869, their daughter, Dora LaRue Healey, was born in Rensselaer.

The 1870 census (taken in June) shows the family of Joshua and Julia living in Rensselaer. Joshua was serving as Assistant Marshall of the census. The following information is given on the individuals living in Joshua Healey's household (Dwelling #79, family #79, by Joshua Healey, Asst. Marshall): Healy, Joshua, 32, male, white, printer, $1200 real estate, $1100 personal estate, born: Canada East; mother foreign born; Healy, Julia, 30, female, white, keeping house, born: IN; Healy, Dora, 2 months, female, white, born IN in Oct 1870; father foreign born; Weaters, Sara E., 14, female, domestic servant, born IN.

On 14 November 1873, their son, George Howland Healey, was born in Rennselaer. (Note: I have not yet done a post about George H. Healey.)

In 1874, Joshua's newspaper, the "Union," announced itself independent of political parties and was enlarged to a 6-column quarto. And on 9 November 1875, Joshua "retired from the newspaper and engaged in the practice of law."

In 1877, "for the benefit of Colonel Healey's health, removal was made to Carlisle Springs, Ark., where the family remained for several months" (per Julia's obituary). However, a letter from Joshua to his daughter, Dora, dated in January 1877, reads as if Joshua is in Arkansas, but the rest of the family is not. That letter reads:

" Carlisle, Ark., Jany 29, 1877
My Dear Little Daughter -
I was writing to your mamma this evening and thought I would write to you and tell you how much I love you and how I should like to see you and your little brother again. Colie and Bettie are going to school and they like their teacher so much. I hope my little girl is studying so that when papa comes back she can read to him and I want you to learn to write and then you can write to me when I am away and tell me all about what you are doing. Be a good little girl and obey your mamma and do not cry & papa will always love you. Kiss mamma for me Your Papa"

By 1878, the family was back together and had moved to Goodland, Newton Co., Indiana.

Joshua Healey in late 1870s

On 2 January 1880, Joshua Healey died in Goodland, Newton Co., Indiana. The cause of death was diabetes. It was said that he "died after only a brief severe illness." He was 41 years old. He was buried in Weston Cemetery, Rensselaer, Indiana. The burial was recorded in Book 2, p 87. He was buried in Sec D, Bl 50, Lot 2, Sp 5. This lot was owned by Julia Healey.

After Joshua's death, Julia and her children moved back to Rensselaer.

At the time of Joshua's death, his wife Julia was pregnant. Their daughter, Maud Joshua Healey, was born on 9 April 1880, three months after her father's death.

On 28 April 1880, Julia applied for a widow's pension. On the 1880 census (taken in June 1880), the family was shown as follows: Julia, age 40, widowed, occupation: milliner, born Indiana, father born New York, mother born New Jersey. Living with her were: Dora L. Healey, age 10, daughter, born IN, mother born IN, father born Canada; George H. Healey, age 7, son, born IN, mother born IN, father born Canada; Rans Howland, age 44, (Julia's) brother, widowed, occupation Marble Cutter, born New Jersey, father born New York, mother born New Jersey; Rosa Jones, age 21, single, servant, born New Jersey, parents born Germany; Maude J. Healey, age 2/12 [2 months] daughter, born in IN, mother born IN, father born in Canada.

According to Julia's obituary, "The struggle in behalf of her children during a few years after her husband's death taxed her frail body, which had never been strong and during the succeeding years she was never in good health...."

Julia Healey's home in Rensselaer, Indiana taken about 1895. Left to right: George H Healey; baby is Henry S. Healey; George's wife, Stella; unknown; Julia Healey

By 1900, Julia was living with her son, George, and his family. The 1900 census shows the family living in Brookston, Indiana, and gives the following information: "Healey, George H., born Nov. 1872, age 27, married 7 yrs, born IN, father born Canada (Eng), mother born IN, occupation publisher, renting home, can read, write & speak English; ---Stella H., wife, born Jan 1875, age 25, married 7 yrs, had 3 children & 2 still living, born IN, father born IN, mother born Missouri, can read, write, speak English; ----George W., son, born Jan 1896, age 4, born IN, father & mother both born in IN; ----Vera V., daughter, born June 1898, age 1, born IN, parents both born in IN; ----Julia A., mother [George's], born Feb 1840, age 60, had 5 children with 3 still living, born IN, father born New York, mother born New Jersey, can read, write, speak English; ----Maud J., sister [George's], born Apr 1880, age 20, single, born IN, mother born IN, father born Canada, occupation publisher, can read, write & speak English"

By 1908, the family was back in Rensselaer.


Dora, George, Maud and Julia Healey (seated) ca 1899

Healey Family, Sept. 1908. Left to right: Maud; Ed Mills; George W.; Dora; Vera; Florence Lyon; Ivah; Stella; Adna; George H.; and Julia

Julia Ann (Howland) Healey

The 1910 census shows Julia living with the family of her son, George, on Weston Street in Rensselaer, Indiana. The household was: George H. Healey, head, 37, married once for 16 years, Editor of newspaper; Stella, wife, 35, married once for 16 years, 5 children with 4 living; George W., son, 14; Vera V., daughter, 11; Ivah M., daughter, 9; Adna J., son, 4; Julia A., mother, 70, widow, 5 children with 3 living.

Julia Ann (Howland) Healey died on 14 May 1913 at the home of her son, George, in Rensselaer, Indiana. She was 73 years old. The cause of death was given as "acute toxemia from carcinoma of colon." She was buried in Weston Cemetery in Rensselaer.

She wrote her own obituary a few months before her death, and therefore, facts for which her obituary is cited as the source can be considered self-reported. The obituary was printed in Rensselaer Republican, May 14, 1913 and reads as follows:

"JULIA HOWLAND HEALEY Born Feb. 9, 1840 - Died May 14, 1913. Julia H. Healey, mother of George H. Healey, editor of The Republican died this afternoon at 1:10 o'clock after a lingering illness. -- The following obituary was written some months ago by Mrs. Healey and pinned to it was the short paper about Abraham Lincoln whom she greatly loved from the time he was first a presidential candidate. This short article about him was written shortly before his last birthday and Mrs. Healey had expected to deliver it at the annual Lincoln memorial given by the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. Her health was such that she could not attend that memorial and it was evidently her wish that this brief tribute be printed. It furnishes some idea of the high ideals that composed her life and also gives important testimony of the developing interest of women in the affairs of state and nation at the outbreak of the civil war. Mrs Healey was devoted to church, literary, temperance and patriotic societies, being for many years a member of the Ladies Literary Club, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the Woman's Relief Corps, and for the past fourteen years of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. Her wide reading from scholarly authors and historians gave her a fund of knowledge and a fluency of expression that proved entertaining in any company. A visit made a few years ago to the national capital, where she saw Arlington cemetery, the home and tomb of George Washington at Mt Vernon and other points of interest proved of never-failing delight to her. Although she suffered much during her long sickness, her mind remained active and she read the daily papers and current magazines and enjoyed discussions about federal and state policies. A few months ago she wrote a biographical sketch of her life and this is printed just as she had prepared it in a clear, legible hand. It shows how active was her mind and how perfect her memory. It is here printed in full.
-- Julia Howland Healey was born in Miami county, Indiana, February 9, 1840, in a log house not far from Perrysburg, which was the postoffice of her father's family. Indians were plentiful at that time and often came to her father's house, they having a reservation east of Peru, and where some of the tribe still live, refusing to sign away their lands. When the rest of the tribe signed away their lands and went further west, they camped for the first night just out of the town of Perrysburg. Mrs. Healey's father took his family to the camp in the afternoon before their last night, he being well acquainted with many of the Indians. Mrs. Healey was the first child born to her family after their coming to Indiana, two older children, a brother and sister, being born in the east, one in New York and the other in New Jersey. Mrs. Healey's father, Joseph Allen Howland, was born in Orange, New York. He was of Holland-French extraction, his father being a full blooded Hollander and his mother a full-blooded French woman by name, Jane Purcellee. Mrs. Healey's mother's maiden name was Mary Taylor. She was born on a farm near Paterson, New Jersey. After her father's and mother's marriage they lived at Newark, New Jersey until they came to Indiana. Mrs. Healey's father did not long remain on the farm, but preferred to go back to teaching school, that being his business in the east. He moved to Logansport about 1843, where he lived most of his after life. Mrs. Healey's mother died when she was about five years old, and a few years later she went to live with her mother's sister in Michigan who had just moved to that state from New York, it being her mother's dying request that she be raised by this aunt, Mrs. Phebe Taylor Benedict. Soon after Mrs. Healey was 18 years old she visited her father's family at Logansport, near which city she met Joshua Healey, to whom she was married February 23, 1864. Mr Healey was at this time captain of Co. G 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, having enlisted at Rensselaer soon after the close of a school he had taught at, Smith School house, northeast of Rensselaer. To this union five children were born. William and Florence were born after the close of the war. Both died in infancy and are buried on the same lot with their parents. Dora Healey Lyon, of Delphi; George Howland Healey, of Rensselaer, and Maud Healey Mills, of Hamilton, Montana, survive their mother. In the year 1862 Mrs. Healey joined the Christian church at Mill Creek, Cass county, near which she was teaching school. She lived a firm believer in this church, never changing her church relation and was glad indeed when a church of her choice was organized in Rensselaer, of which she and her two older living children were charter members and later her younger daughter joined the church. Her husband died January 2, 1880. -- Of Lincoln she wrote...[omitted] -- At the close of the civil war Mrs. Healey and her husband, Col. Joshua Healey, located in Rensselaer, and with the exception of about three years, had lived here continuously since that time. In 1877, for the benefit of Colonel Healey's health, removal was made to Carlisle Springs, Ark., where the family remained for several months. In 1878 they returned to Indiana and located at Goodland, where he died January 2, 1880. Mrs. Healey at once removed to Rensselaer, where her husband was buried. Three months after his death a baby daughter, now Mrs. Edward F. Mills, of Hamilton, Mont., was born. The struggle on behalf of her children during the few years after her husband's death taxed her frail body, which had never been strong, and during the succeeding years she was never in good health. Her health began to fail more rapidly almost three years ago and she took a more decided turn for the worse a year ago. For a long time she insisted on living in her own home on College avenue, but this was reluctantly given up October 12th, last, when she took up her home with her son, George H. Healey, with whom she has since lived and at whose home she died. Besides the three children mentioned in the obituary there are eight grandchildren, also one sister, Mrs. Mary Fawcett, of Delphi, who was at her bedside when the final summons came, and whom she recognized with a smile and a tender kiss, the last act of consciousness."
"Funeral of Mrs. Julia A. Healey will be Friday. - The funeral of Mrs. Julia A. Healey will be held Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the home of her son, George H. Healey, on Cullen Street. It will be conducted by Rev. W.G. Winn of the Christian Church. Burial will be in Weston Cemetery"

Note: About 1902, Julia wrote the following memoir:

"I was not one of the early Settlers of Jasper Co. So did not Share the trials and hardships of the first settlers. I made my first visit to Rens. in July 65 [1865], and in Sep of that year came here to make our home. In July husband and I came from Logansport to Remington by train and from Remington here in a hack owned by Duvall Bros, who also run a hack from here to Bradford. We at that time came to visit Mrs Moss, at the request of Dr Moss who was with his Reg, the 151st vol infantry of which he was Surgeon, and my husband was Col. and who was absent on leave.

My first impression of the people of Rens. was their manifest intelligence ["and" crossed out] Being an inland town 14 miles from a RR it was plain to an observer that its citizens were not of the kind to Sit down and wait for Something to turn up. We had no sooner alighted from the train at Remington than Mr Healey was approached by a committee from this place and Solicited for aid for a R.R. It was about 14 [?] year [sic] after this time when by almost incessant effort that they succeeded in getting a narrow gauge from here to Delphi.

14 [?] years of effort, but no [sic] give up. This spirit of progress has been characteristic of the this [sic] place ever since as is seen in our magnificent courthouse our fine business [?] houses, our telephone system, our electric light plant, our cement walks and the street improvements now going on. I know very little of the condition of the county at that time outside of Rens. ["The only" crossed out] except as I went either to Bradford now Monon or to Remington. In Feb 69, I went from here to Bradford in a sleigh, and from there by rail to Lafayette then on the Wabash

to my old home where I visited for two weeks. When I got to Bradford on my return, I ["was" crossed out] found the hack which usually waited there for the four-o'clock train from the South, was compelled to start back to Rensselaer immediately after dinner as the roads were in such bad condition that the trip could not be made before dark, and it was not safe to go after dark. I was therefore obliged to go to a hotel with the prospect of staying there ["after" crossed out] all night, and until after dinner the next day, but much to my joy Mr and Mrs Samuel Duvall

learning I was in town, invited me to their home where I had a truly delightful time. In the morn, Mr Duvall found that there [sic] had a two teamer with farm wagons come from the Catholic farm here, bringing four Catholic Sisters who were going to Lafayette on the night train. These teams would start for here about seven o'clock and Mr Duvall kindly made arrangements for me to return with them. I was glad of the chance as the hack was only another farm wagon, as the hack proper could not be used on the roads. So we

started at Seven in the morning and reached here at two in the Pm, very tired and very cold, so cold that I could not take money from my purse to pay my fare. This was my one experience with the bad roads, after that I planned my visits for warm weather.
At this time there was about 400 inhabitants here, and the town covered very little ground. Where Oklahoma addition now is was a fine place for prairie chickens and many evening after supper, Mr Healey and myself would drive out there taking the bird dog

in the buggy with us. When we reached the place Mr Healey would get out and start the dog. He followed the dog and I drove along behind, in half an hour we would have chickens enough for breakfast for ourselves and some of our neighbors. The dry goods business of 65 was conducted by three firms, Larne [?] Bros, father and uncle of the Larne [?] Bros of today. The only clerk in their store that I remember was Mr. Wishard, father of W W Wishard who today is clerking for the present Larne [?] Bros. A Leopold and Heidleburger were one of

the other firms. Mr Heidleburger retired from the firm in a few years, but Mr Leopold continued in the business until about a year ago. The other firm was Thompson and Wood. These men retired from the business in a few years; both are living and frequently visit our city. Mr Thompson is the father of Mrs Wiley Duvall and brother of Mrs Sarah Hamphill. Mr Wood is a brother of Mrs J.M. Wasson. There was two drug stores one owned by Mr Thompson father of the Thompson first mentioned; the one by Dr. Hardings. These men retired from business here and both are now dead.

The only exclusive grocery business that I remember is that of CC Starr, who has remained in the business ever since. I remember but one hardware store, conducted by I.M. and C.D. Stackhouse. C.D. retired from the firm in a few years and lived on his farm north of town now owned by Rev. Parody [?]. Mr Stackhouse after leaving this farm, moved to Tenn where he died. I.M. Stackhouse retained the hardware business for some years later, then sold and moved to our State Capitol. The undertaking business was conducted by Willis J Wright, who was succeeded

by his son Park Wright, who in turn was succeeded by his son Jennings Wright. Three generations in this business. ["without interruption" crossed out]. There was one millinery store owned by Mrs. Sarah Hemphill, who accumulated considerable wealth in the business. There was one bank, the firm name being A. McCoy and A Thompson. Mr McCoy is still in the bank on the same site we first knew him 37 years ago. Mr Thompson retired not many years ago being in poor health, and soon after passed over the silent river.

There [sic] two law firms E.P. Hammond and T.J. Spitler [?]. The one now lives in Lafayette the other has gon [sic] to join friends on the other side. Dwiggins and Thompson was the other firm. These men are familiar to you all. They were located over McCoy and Thompson's bank where we find their successors, Geoltz [?] Spitler and Currie. There were three physicians Martin, Moss, and Loughridge all have [sic] the way of all the earth. Each of these men had a son who studied medicine, two of them practicing in our town

but all have passed away. There were four churches The Methodist, Pres and Missionary Baptist, and Church of God. The Pres and Bap have new buildings where the old ones, The Methodist has a new church but in a new locality. The Church of God now in use is the same as in 65. It was then a new building, and its members had for their pastor D T Halstead who is now their pastor, but has not been for several until now. Few families that lived here 37 years ago are left with both husband and wife living.

I find Ezra Clark and wife, Norman and Mrs Warner, A Leopold and wife, Alfred and Mrs McCoy, and Wm Rhodes and wife, and I believe Michael Cage and wife, but of this I am not positive. These live in our city. Judge Hammond and wife in Lafayette, and Mr and Mrs Isaac [?] Stackhouse of Indianapolis. The one you have had the pleasure of hearing this morning, the other we had hoped to hear. I was sorry indeed to learn of Mr Stackhouse's feeble condition. Could he have been here, he would have told you many interesting things in a very interesting way. In looking for the young men of that time I could think of but one that is living in our midst today, and that is our most dignified Judge. One other is living in Michigan City, familiarly called Pat Tally. Others there may be but I could hear of none." [transcribed by S. Beach from a photocopy of the original manuscript provided by Donald Healey]

Julia claimed that her family descended from the John Howland who came over in the Mayflower and that there was always a John Howland in the family clear down the line. She also claimed relationship with the Ethan Allen family (note that we have found no proof of these claims as yet).

Histories and Mysteries: Family Stories and Genealogy

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Transcription: The Howland Family Bible

Table of Contents: Howland Surname

Joshua Healey and Julia Ann Howland