Heller, J. H. bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 872, Putman Township
J. H. Heller was born in Ohio Dec. 1, 1815. His father, John Heller, was a native of the Keystone State, while his mother, Balenda Heller, nee Vanauker, was born in New Jersey. Mr. H. came to this county in 1835 and settled upon section 19 of Putman township. He owns 461 acres of land, and his children attend to his farms while he resides in town, clerking. Mr. H. does not exact any rent from them other than to pay the taxes and keep the improvements up. He gained his education principally in the State of Ohio in the log school-house, seated upon slab benches. When he came to the township he thinks its population was not over 100. He has held about all of the local offices, serving in some for many years. in Jan., 1839, he was married to Hannah Baughman. Only 3 of the 6 children she has borne are living; Elizabeth, Daniel and Cyrus.
submitted by Carla Finley