St Clair Cemetery, Mt Lebanon, Allegheny Co, PA

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Wednesday, November 09, 2011

How is There a Heckler in the Group?

Last spring, I finally found the death date and final resting spot of William Wiley HUNNEWELL, the brother of my 2g grandmother.  With excitement growing by leaps and bounds, I asked a really cool friend of mine who lives in Pittsburgh to go and find the grave.  My sweet tea buddy, JR, sent the picture to me, and now, I am left with more questions.

There's a HECKLER among us.  What?

Let's jump back to what I do know through many slow hours of documentation, and with the assistance of another HUNNEWELL blood cousin of mine, Larry.

William Wiley HUNNEWELL was born Sept 19, 1848, in Pittsburgh.  He was a son of Benjamin F HUNNEWELL (abt 1806-1849) and Sallie Ellen (Helen?) BYLES.  Benjamin died when a cholera outbreak happened in the area, and the lovely widow was left to raise her seven children.  We find her having farmed out the older children in the 1850 census, leaving just her and only two of the younger children with her.  They were Mary Jane and William Wiley.

William joined the Union forces and served in the  Co. E, 102nd PA Infantry.  He was wounded in March 1865 when Lee attacked Fort Steadman.

After the war, he goes to Wisconsin for a bit.  He marries Alice G in 1884 and has one son, William B HUNNEWELL.  William B is living in Philadelphia in the 1920 census with a wife and two daughters.

As noted in a previous entry, William Wiley was a member of the GAR Post #3 in Pittsburgh. Read more about it here .

William Wiley marries Emma (1873-1931).  He then dies in October 1931 and is buried at Homewood Cemetery in Allegheny Co.

 From the Pitt Post Gazette  Oct 5, 1931

HUNNEWELL- At West Penn Hospital, on Saturday, October 3, 1931, at 11 am, William W, husband of the late Emma Hunnewell of 301 York Way. He was a member of the Post No. 3 GAR. Remains at the home of the Ferguson Wood Co., Forbes St at McKee Place, Oakland.  Services will be held on Tuesday, October 6, at 2:30 pm. Post No. 3, GAR and all other members of GAR and friends invited.

The obituary tells us that his wife, Emma, departed earlier, while the gravestone tells us the year.  What is odd is the other name on the stone--  H H HECKLER.  Who the heck is that?



My best guess is that Harry H HECKLER is the brother of Emma.

There was a Emma HECKLER born about 1872 that had a younger brother, Harry living in Skluylkill Co, PA in the 1880 census.  However, there is still a Harry HECKLER living in Pottsville in the 1930 Federal Census with a wife, Cora MILLER, so that pretty much eliminates this line of thought.

What is odd about it is that the Harry H HECKLER found living in Allegheny Co, PA, in the 1910 Federal Census is married to a Laura M. So where is she?

I have yet to determine exactly who the H H HECKLER is on the tombstone.  Obviously, it was important enough for the name to be on the stone.  As there is no death date, I don't know if the body is there as well.  I am curious as to who this HECKLER is among us.........

Ahhh, genealogy.  Just thinking of the puzzles and the Hecklers makes me smile.

Sources:
1850 Federal Census, Pittsburgh 9th Ward, Allegheny, PA pg 549
1850 Mortality Index
http://cwdpa102ndregimentvolinf.com/histpa102ndneibaum1.htm
1920 Federal Census, Allegheny, PA
1880 Federal Census, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA, pg 387
1910 Federal Census, Pittsburgh Ward 13,  Allegheny, PA
Veterans Burial Card from Ancestry.com
Grave photo courtesy of JR Jamieson, May 2011

Update:  I was asked if I had thought about the possibility of Mr Heckler being the first husband of Emma.  The thought crossed my mind, but I think there would have been a death date on the stone if that was the case.  I also had found evidence of Mr Heckler's wife being named Louise.  Good idea, though.  Keep 'em coming.



©2011 A S Eldredge

2 comments:

lyn said...

Have you eliminated the possibility Mr. Heckler might be the first husband of Emma?

A S Eldredge said...

Response: I was asked if I had thought about the possibility of Mr Heckler being the first husband of Emma. The thought crossed my mind, but I think there would have been a death date on the stone if that was the case. I also had found evidence of Mr Heckler's wife being named Louise. Good idea, though. Keep 'em coming.