Isaiah Lafayette & Julia Ann (Ballard) Heddins

Isaiah Lafayette Heddins was the fifth child born to James Heddins and Clarinda Lee (Brewster) Heddins. He was born on Christmas day, Friday, December 25, 1857 in the southeastern part of Van Zandt County, Texas. The area where he was born in now called Pleasant Ridge, between Edom and Walton. Isaiah was named after his grandfather, Josiah "Isaiah" Heddins. At the time of Isaiah's birth, the president of the United States of America was James Buchanan.

During the first part of his life, Isaiah and his family lived on a tract of 160 acres of land which had been granted to Isaiah's father by the State of Texas. Isaiah grew up working on the farm. Isaiah had five brothers and four sisters. In the fall of 1870, at the age of almost 13, Isaiah moved with his family a few miles west to Walton Community, located at the Van Zandt / Henderson County line. They lived and farmed on 160 acres of land in northern Henderson County which bordered Van Zandt County. They also owned 320 acres of land a couple of miles to the north, in Van Zandt County, which they probably farmed as well.

Isaiah moved away from home prior to 1880, for the 1880 Henderson County, Texas census shows him at age 22, living with the John W. Ballard family, working as a farm laborer. John Ballard had a younger sister named Julia Ann Ballard, whom Isaiah began courting.

Julia Ballard was the daughter of Joshua and Louisa (Boulton) Ballard. She was born on Thursday, February 9, 1860 at Martins Mill, Texas, in the southern part of Van Zandt County. About three years before she was born, the Ballard family had moved to Van Zandt County, Texas from St. Clair County, Alabama. Julia Ballard was a pretty young girl, with a somewhat dark complexion. On November 9, 1880, Isaiah and Julia obtained a marriage license from the Van Zandt County courthouse in Canton, Texas. Apparently, for some reason they postponed their wedding. Then nearly four months later, on March 5, 1881, they were issued another license, this time from the Henderson County courthouse in Athens, Texas. Isaiah and Julia were married on Sunday, March 6, 1881, probably in Van Zandt County. Isaiah was 24 years old and Julia was almost 21. They were married by Rev. Asa B. Dowell, the pastor of Martin's Mill Methodist Church.

Isaiah's father, James Heddins, died just six weeks prior to Isaiah and Julia's wedding, so Isaiah had inherited a portion of his land. The portion that Isaiah inherited was part of the original survey of land patented to William S. Gossett by the State of Texas, located just north of Walton, Texas. It was probably on this land that Isaiah and Julia farmed and began raising their family.

On December 22, 1881, Julia tragically gave birth to a lifeless baby boy. He was their first child, and Julia grieved much over him. His little body was buried near Isaiah's parents' graves in the little Heddins family grave yard in northern Henderson County. He had no name.

Just over a year later, in January of 1883, Julia gave birth to twin girls. The twins were named Mary "Effie" and Arron. Sadly, Arron died shortly after birth. Once again, Julia grieved over her loss, but at the same time was joyful because of baby Effie.

On August 8, 1883, Isaiah bought 100 acres of land from Mr. B. F. Pennington for $300.00. The land was part of the original survey of land patented to Ephraim Vansickle by the State of Texas, located on Mill Creek in the Willow Springs community, about five miles north of the city of Canton. Isaiah, Julia and their baby daughter, Effie, moved onto the land, and Isaiah began farming there.

The Van Zandt County tax records shows that by 1886, Isaiah owned 100 acres of land valued at $300.00, one carriage, buggie or wagon valued at $30.00, two horses or mules valued at $100.00, three cattle valued at $18.00 and 20 hogs. The total value of his property was $468.00 and he paid $4.91 in taxes that year.

In the fall of 1884, a son was born to Isaiah and Julia, and they named him Thomas Lafayette Heddins. Tom was probably named after Isaiah's older brother who had died as a young man several years prior, and he was also given the same middle name that Isaiah had.

On November 17, 1884, Isaiah and Julia sold the land near Walton that they had inherited from Isaiah's father. William Partin bought the land for $75.00. He also bought the adjoining portions of land that had been inherited by two of Isaiah's brothers, James Marion Heddins and Oscar Winnfield Heddins, and two of his sisters, Elmira Ann (Heddins) Hall and Martha Arbela (Heddins) Oliver.

In the Spring of 1887, John Ivan Heddins was born to Isaiah and Julia. He was born with crossed eyes which were never corrected.

In 1888, Isaiah's 100 acres of land was valued at $500.00, and he owned 12 cattle valued at $60.00 and 12 hogs valued at $12.00. The total value of property was $704.00 and he paid $6.51 in taxes that year.

In February of 1888, Julia gave birth to another son. James Joshua Heddins was named after both Isaiah's father and Julia's father. He went by the name Jim. Then in the Spring of 1891, another set of twins were born, and they were named Albert ("Alb") William Heddins and Allen R. Heddins. By this time, eight year-old Effie was old enough to help her mother out with the younger children, as well as with chores around the house. Children kept coming. In the fall of 1892, Charlie Lawrence Heddins was born. He was their tenth child, although three little ones before him were no longer living.

A terrible tragedy occurred in the summer of 1894. It was a typical hot June day and the children were out playing. Two and a half year-old Allen found a wood screw that had come out of a door hinge, and he, like most children would do, put it in his mouth. Suddenly he began choking on the screw, and before he could be help, Allen choked to death. Allen was the first Heddins to be buried at Myrtle Springs Cemetery in Myrtle Springs, Texas. It was a grievious and dark time for the Heddins family, a time when once again they really had to hold on to their faith in God, the source of their comfort.

Isaiah and Julia were Christians and attended the Baptist Church. In that same year, 1894, Good Hope Baptist Church (also known as Crooked Creek Baptist Church) was organized. Isaiah and Julia became charter members of the church, and faithfully attended the services. Julia had become a Christian at an early age, while living with her parents and siblings in Martin's Mill, Texas. Nothing is known about Isaiah's church life prior to the formation of Crooked Creek Church, although it is known that in Illinois the Heddins family were Methodist Episcopals. [See Volume I and Volume 2 of Good Hope Church's Minutes in which Isaiah's family members are mentioned throughout. If the links are broken, contact me.]

Nearly sixteen months after Allen's death, in the fall of 1895, Julia gave birth to another son and he was named Joseph Isaiah Heddins. He was called Joe. Then in January of 1897, Julia gave birth to yet another set of twins boys, although one of the babies was stillborn. Marion Odell Heddins was the surviving son. He was probably named after Isaiah's younger brother, James Marion Heddins.

On June 7, 1897, Isaiah purchased 40 acres of land from W. F. White for $108.34. This land was located about six miles north of Canton on the west side of Willow Creek, and it bordered James A. Barber's land. Isaiah's son, John, was later to marry James Barber's daughter, Mary Ellen. On November 20, 1899, Isaiah bought 101.6 acres of land from W. C. Blanks for $175.00. It was located about six miles north of Canton on the western waters of Mill Creek.

On August 2, 1901, Isaiah bought seven acres of land from his brother, James Marion Heddins. The seven acres bordered land belonging to Sterling Mims. At the same time, Isaiah also bought a 127-acre portion of D. G. ("Doc") Beard's land. Both pieces of property were in the original Ephraim Vansickle survey of land.

On December of 1901, Isaiah and Julia's oldest child was married. Effie married John "Marvin" Adams and they began their family there in Van Zandt County. Marvin was a son of James and Ella V. (Lewis) Adams.

In October of 1902, Julia gave birth for the last time. Another boy was born, and they named him Jefferson "Wesley" Heddins. He was Isaiah and Julia's thirteenth child. There were now eight children living in their household, since Effie had already married.

On October 21, 1902, Isaiah bought 80.4 acres of land from William B. and Valeria (Barber) Thomas for $710.00. This land bordered W. B. Thomas' and Mr. Dunbar's land.

Isaiah went from place to place by horseback for many years, but in 1905 he purchased a Maxwell touring car, which he was proud of. Mr. Guilliams was the first in the county to own an automobile, and Isaiah was the second. The tax records indicate that the combined value of Isaiah's automobile and wagon was $100. Isaiah prized his car, and was very protective of it, not allowing his children to drive it. On at least one occasion, however, according to Lettrial Heddins, Isaiah's youngest sons who were still living at home sneakily pushed the car away from the house and coasted it down the hill toward what is now Texas Highway 19. When the car was far enough away from their house, they cranked up the engine and took it for a ride. Upon returning they stopped the engine before they got too close to the house, and pushed the car back to it's parking spot. It's not known whether or not Isaiah every found out about that!

In October of 1905, Isaiah and Julia's oldest boy, Tom, was married to Emma Kittory Herron. Emma was a daughter of Daniel and Sally (Sorrels) Herron. Tom and Emma began their family there in Van Zandt County. Tom was a barber by trade and had his barber shop in Canton for many years.

On December 29, 1906, Isaiah bought 115 acres of land from D. F. Riley for $1000.00. This land also bordered Willow Creek.

By 1908, Isaiah and Julia Heddins owned 571 acres of land, although the tax records for that year show that he owned 560 acres, valued at $2800.00. The records also show that in 1908 they owned 2 carriages, buggies, automobiles or wagons valued at $80.00, 6 horses or mules valued at $465.00, 14 cattle valued at $70.00, 12 hogs valued at $20.00, and misc. items valued at $25.00. The total value of his property was $3460.00 and he paid $30.50 in taxes that year.

In October of 1908, Isaiah and Julia's second son, John I. Heddins Mary "Ellen" Barber, a daughter of James A. and Lucinda (Rushing) Barber. They began their family, living and farming in the Crooked Creek and Willow Springs communities of Van Zandt County.

On December 21, 1909, Isaiah bought 50 acres of land from W. S. Foster for $675.00. This land was located about seven miles north of Canton on the waters of Buffalo Creek.

On October 12, 1910, Isaiah, along with four other men, D. G. ("Doc") Beard, J. T. Dunbar, R. H. McLellen and J. J. Bateman, bought one acre of land from Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Daniels for $30.00. These men were all members of Crooked Creek Baptist Church, and they had joined together to purchase a plot of land on which to build their new church building. The church had been organized some sixteen years earlier in 1894. After Texas Highway 19 was built in the 1930's, the church was relocated near the highway and renamed Good Hope Baptist Church.

In 1911, Isaiah and Julia's third son, Jim Heddins, married Ninnie Ethridge. They began their family in Van Zandt County, first in the Crooked Creek Community, and soon they moved to the Old Bethel community, and some time later to the Tundra community, both south of Canton.

On January 20, 1914, Isaiah bought 1/4 acre of land from J. E. and Susie Vinson for $15.00. This quarter of an acre of land bordered Isaiah's land known as the Riley place.

In October of 1915, Albert Heddins married Eula Parker, and they began their family there in Van Zandt County, farming for a living.

Isaiah Heddins was a wealthy rancher and owned over 600 acres of land. All of the land that Isaiah owned was part of the original Ephraim Vansickle survey in Van Zandt County. Isaiah and Julia were hard working people. Isaiah and his sons did most of the work out in the fields, plowing, planting and harvesting their crops. They grew a lot of cotton, which after having been picked by hand, was taken by wagon to the cotton gin in the Index community, not far away. Isaiah ginned many a cotton bails over the years. Besides cotton, they also crew several different vegetables on their farm, such as corn, potatoes, cabbage and peas. Isaiah and his family also raised farm animals, such as cattle, hogs and chickens.

While the boys worked out in the fields, Julia worked at home, keeping house and preparing meals. At each meal time, she would ring the old dinner bell, announcing to the family that it was time for them to come eat. The Heddins family, like most families in those days, ate together at a long, rectangular table, with benches on either side. The benches were made of one by twelve inch boards. Over the years, the growing Heddins boys consumed a lot of food at that table, most of which they had worked hard to produce on their farm. Julia canned many of the foods that they grew on the farm, to be eaten during the winter months. The jars were stored in the storm celar, near their house. Also near their house they had a tool shed. Two cedar trees shaded the front yard of the Heddins' homeplace, and in the back yard was an old hickory tree which produced large hickory nuts.

Like many people in those days, Isaiah and Julia used tobacco. Isaiah smoked "Big Bail" tobacco, and Julia chewed tobacco. They grew a lot of their tobacco on their farm. In those days it was not known that tobacco was hazardous to ones health. Isaiah Heddins, unlike his father, did not receive much of an education if any. According to his oldest grandson, Lettrial Heddins, he could neither read nor write, at least not very well. All the paper work or correspondence was done by Julia, who could read and write. On one occasion, Isaiah received a letter in the mail from one of his relatives in Illinois who wanted to correspond with him or someone in his family. Isaiah gave the letter to his oldest son, Tom, who wrote back and forth to her for awhile.

Another of Isaiah's grandsons, Clifford Heddins, recalls a small pet dog of Isaiah and Julia's, named Tip. The little dog often slept by the big fireplace in their living room. Isaiah used to get down on his hands and knees and call for Tip. Tip would run to Isaiah and jump up on his back for a ride!

In the Good Hope Baptist Church records, on November 1, 1913, it reads, "There was a difference reported between Brothers I. L. Heddins and J. S. Hunter..." On July 17th of the following year the minutes read, "The committee that was appointed to adjust the difference between Brothers Heddins and Hunter reported...On motion the church withdrew fellowship from Brother Heddins for non- fellowship." So it appears that by 1914, Isaiah Heddins had stopped attending church due to a falling out with J. S. Hunter, and because he apparently wouldn't reconcile, the church took the disciplinary action to withdraw fellowship from him.

In 1915 Albert Heddins married Eula Frances Parker, a daughter of Frank and Nancy (Smith) Parker. And in 1917 Charlie married Elsie "Meady" Thornton, a daughter of James H. and Francis R. (Pepper) Thornton.One of Isaiah's oldest grandsons, Lettrial Heddins, described his Grandpa Heddins as a "damn little dictator." He was rather bossy, prideful, and hard headed. He was not a pleasant man to be around if he didn't get his way. Some claim that that same "Heddins trait" has been passed down to the "third and fourth generation!" Lettrial also described him as having closely resembled England's King Edward VIII in appearance.

In about 1917, Isaiah became gravely ill, losing weight and strength, and doctors could not determine what was wrong with him. His sickness prevented him from doing very much in his final days. It is known that bitterness and a lack of forgiveness will weaken one's immune system and open the door for serious illness. It is worth noting that not long after Isaiah's bitter "difference" with Mr. Hunter, followed by what could appear as rejection from the church, he came down with his deadly illness. After being sick for many months, Isaiah finally died on Thursday, April 18, 1918, at their home in the Crooked Creek Community. He was 61 years old. Isaiah was buried at Myrtle Springs Cemetery at Myrtle Springs, Van Zandt County, Texas, nearly ten miles away.

Isaiah's grandson, Clifford Heddins, recalled the day of his grandfather's funeral. All the family members loaded up their individual families onto their wagons and buggies and headed from the Crooked Creek community to Myrtle Springs, some seven miles away. At the end of the funeral, dark thunder clouds gathered from the west, so all the families and friends departed in a hurry. Clifford and his siblings were sitting on the back of the horse-drawn wagon as they hurried down the dirt road (now Van Zandt County Road 3204), and suddenly the wagon passed over a tree root in the road, and the wagon bounced up, throwing the children from the wagon. They weren't seriously hurt, but it was a memorable experience on their trip back from Grandpa Heddins' funeral.

At the time of Isaiah's passing, Marion and Wesley were still living at home. Julia remained living at the old home place for several years even after her boys left home. Toward the end of her life, Julia lived with her daughter, Effie Adams.

In 1919 the last remaining single Heddins boys married. On May 25th Wesley married Trudy Belle Parker, a half-sister of Eula Parker, Albert's wife. Then on September 11th, Joe married Vula Mary Scott, and on September 14th, Marion married Janie Herma Foster, daughter of Tom and Willie Foster.

In early 1923, Jim's wife, Ninnie, died of pneumonia, leaving Jim with seven young children. At that time, Julia stepped up to the plate, moving in with Jim's family to help out. There she did all the cooking and cleaning, and Jim's children got to know their grandmother much better. In 1927, Jim married Ninnie's older sister, Maggie Ethridge. They had no children together, nor did they stay married long.

In 1923, Isaiah and Julia's son, Charlie Heddins, and his family, moved west to Amarillo, Texas. Charlie and Meady raised their children there. The following year, in 1924, Tom Heddins and his family moved west to Lubbock, Texas. Tom and Emma raised their two children there.

Nineteen years after Isaiah's death, Julia Ann Heddins died at the age of nearly 77 on Thursday, January 28, 1937. She had lived her final days with her widowed daughter, Effie Adams, in the Crooked Creek Community. It has been said that Julia was a consecrated Christian for most of her life, and that she was loved and honored by all who knew her. Julia's body was buried next to Isaiah's at Myrtle Springs. A tombstone was erected for Isaiah and Julia, but the s was left off of Heddins, and also the two years of birth were wrong.

This biography was compiled and written by Roland J. Heddins, copyright 2000 (edited 2023). If re-published (in print or on the internet) please give attribution to the author. Thank you. -RJH

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