Bio: Heath, Andrew (History - 1833)

Contact: Janet Schwarze.

Surnames: HEATH SEAVER ROLLINS KENNEDY DAVIS LOVELL

----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 296-297

ANDREW HEATH, a farmer of Fremont Township, Clark County, Wisconsin, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, December 9, 1833, the eldest son of a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters. His father was a Vermont farmer of the hardy and sturdy class, and settled in St. Lawrence County, in wilderness times. Andrew's mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Seaver, was one of eleven children, two sons and nine daughters. Both families were of English extraction, and trace their ancestry through a number of generations. Jehiel Heath, the father, was a man of sturdy traits of character. Of the sons, Henry and Martin answered the call of their country at the breaking out of the Rebellion and entered the service, Henry enlisting in Company J, Eighth New York Cavalry, and Martin in Company G, One Hundred and Sixth New York Infantry. Henry was wounded and died from the effects of his injuries September 12, 1862, while Martin served out the time of his enlistment and now lives in Wood County, this State. Horace, the other living son, and the remaining one of the living sisters (Mrs. Sarah Rollins) live near the home of the subject of this sketch in the township of Fremont. Their parents came West in 1867, settling in the township of Grant, but later took up a homestead in what was then the township of Lynn, a portion of which has since been erected into the township of Fremont. Jehiel Heath died in 1876, a long sufferer from chronic diarrhea but his wife is still living and in the enjoyment of fair health. Their eldest daughter lived to womanhood, married Philander Chase, reared four children and died in 1862, five years before he parents came West.

October 1, 1863, Mr. Andrew Heath married Miss Paulina Kennedy, who was born in Essex County, New York, in 1839, and she was one of a family of five sons and six daughters: the early progenitors of her father came from Ireland. Her grandfather was a Protestant and an early pioneer of Essex County. Mrs. Heath's eldest brother, in 1863, during the late civil war, enlisted, was shot through the lungs by a rebel bullet, returned home and lived twelve years, though never robust in health. Mrs. Heath and her sister Ellen were teachers in New York State, in their younger days, at a time when boarding around was the custom for teachers. Mrs. Heath taught nine terms in Essex County, and continued in the profession for eight years after coming to Clark County. Here she was the first to teach public school in the town of Fremont, using a room in her own house the first winter, as the schoolhouse was not built until the spring following. She was a member of the Baptist Church at Jay, Essex County, New York, and also of the choir there. Her mother's family came from a long line of English ancestry by the name of Parish, and they first settled at Plattsburg, New York. At the time of the battle of Plattsburg her mother was four years of age, and to the day of her death bore a distinct remembrance of many incidents on that memorable day. On her father's side her ancestry were long-lived. Her father lived to the age of eighty years, and two of his brothers passed the ninetieth mile-post. All through Mr. Heath's life in Clark County he has taken an active interest in local and county affairs, as Town Clerk, Supervisor, etc. He has three daughters, namely: Effie, born June 26, 1865, and now the wife of Henry Davis Lessie, the second daughter, was born September 11, 1868 and Allie, the youngest, December 2, 1873. The last two were married on the twenty-seventh anniversary of the marriage of their parents, October 1, 1890 the former to Sherwin Davis and the latter to Adelbert Lovell. Effie and Lessie both commenced teaching school at about the age of sixteen years and are following the profession at the present time.