Dallas County, TX - Biographies - James C. Heffington ************************************************************************ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ John Henry Brown's History of Dallas County, 1892, pp. 487-488 JAMES C. HEFFINGTON took up his abode in Texas in November, 1849, set-tling in Dallas county, and engaging in agricultural pursuits. In 1852 he joined the State troops and went to the Rio Grande country. Six months later we find him en route to California, where he was engaged in mining and various other kinds of employ-ment until 1856. That year he returned to Texas and resumed farming operations, which occupied his attention until 1861. April 13, of that year, he went into camp with Cap-tain Hamner's company, Ford's regiment, and was in service in Texas and along the coast until the war closed. From exposure incurred while in the service he contracted chronic diarrhea, and for two years after his return home he was not engaged in any per-manent employment. Mr. Heffington was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, January 3, 1827. He was reared on a farm and received only a limited education. In 1867 he married and settled down to farming, in which occupation he has since been engaged. and in which he has been very successful. About 1882, he, with others, took stock in a grange store, located at Richardson. The Grange and then the Alliance began losing influence, and it was necessary for some of the stockholders to shoulder the responsibilities or let all be lost; so Mr. Heffington and two others took the store and have since been successfully conducting it, it being the largest and best store in the town. Mr. Heffington's father, Stephen Heffington, was a native of Virginia. He went to Kentucky when a small boy, and was there reared on a farm. His wife, nee Fanny Gilliland, daughter of John and Charity Gilliland, died in Kentucky. Her parents moved from South Carolina to Kentucky, where they passed the rest of their days and died. After his wife's death Mr. Heffington came with his three sons to Dallas 3onnty, Texas, and settled on a farm. His death occurred in 1858. Of their nine children the subject of our sketch was the sixth born and is the only one now living. James C. Heffington's first marriage hats already been referred to. The lady he wed was Mrs. Mary Doughty, widow of Daniel Doughtv, The latter was in the Confederate service, was a member of Morgan's command and was with him when they were captured in Ohio. He was kept in a Northern prison for many months, was finally sent to Richmond for exchange, and when he reached there was sick and was sent to a hospital. He was never afterward heard from. Mrs. Heffington was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, January 7, 1830, daughter of John and Elizabeth Huffhines of that State. Her parents came to Texas in 1853, and were among the prominent early settlers. Mention of them will be found on another page of this work. Mrs. Heffington departed this life in Texas, April 5, 1875. Their union was blessed with one child, Mollie B., born in 1868. She married Edward Turner and now resides at Oak Cliff, her husband occupying a position in the clerk's office at that place. October 7, 1875, Mr. Heffington married Miss Susan A. Drake, daughter of George and Mary (Carson) Drake. Her parents came to Texas in 1857, and passed the remainder of their lives here, her father dying in 1869 and her mother in 1887. Following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heffington: James C., born April 30, 1881; John H., September 15, 1882; George E., March 19, 1885; Leonidas S., November 22, 1886; and Mary P., August 27, 1888. All are living except one. Mr. Heffington and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and lie is a member of the A. F. & A, M.