BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL SOUVENIR FOR THE COUNTIES OF CLARK, CRAWFORD,
HARRISON, FLOYD, JEFFERSON, JEFFINGS, SCOTT AND WASHINGTON, INDIANA, John M.
Gresham & Company, compilers, published in 1889, pp. 281-282. NOTE: Other
reports indicate that Heffren was "drummed" out of the military after he
deserted during a battle rather than "resigning due to ill health" as noted
below.
Horace Heffren was born in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York, May 27, 1831,
and was the eldest son of Elijah and Julia A. (Dunham) Heffren. His father
was a farmer. His mother's brother, Cyrus L. Dunham, was a very prominent
man in state affairs being one of the leading attorneys of Indiana and also
represented the state in Congress. Mr. Heffren spent his early life on the
farm, attending school during the winter and at the age of seventeen taught
school three terms
In October 1850 he emigrated to Brownstown, Jackson County, Indiana, and in
the following spring began the study of law in the office of C. L. Dunham
and J. M. Lord at Salem. He was admitted to the bar in 1852 and admitted to
practice in the Supreme Court on motion of the Hon. William T. Otto, May
29th, 1855. In 1852 he began the practice of law at Salem, Indiana, and
resided there till his death. In October 1856 he was elected state senator
and introduced a bill that became a law: "To provide for transferring the
certificates of the stock of the state, providing for a registry of the
same; to prevent a fraudulent issue thereof, and providing a punishment for
a violation of the provisions of this act."
In 1857, through the manipulations of the joint session in an attempt to
defeat the election of United States senator, a point of order being raised,
Mr. Heffren spoke against time, as per arrangements, and succeeded in
electing the United State senator from his party.
In 1861 he was elected joint representative from the counties of Washington
and Harrison without opposition and was the Democratic candidate for Speaker
of the House, receiving the entire party vote. The same year he assisted in
raising the Thirteenth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry of which he
was commissioned major and afterward promoted colonel. In October he was
transferred to the Fiftieth Regiment Indiana Volunteers which he assisted to
recruit and was sent to Tennessee with a portion of the regiment.
In September 1862 he was compelled to resign owing to ill health. Returning
to Salem, he resumed the practice of law to which he devoted the remainder
of his life. In the fall of 1882 he was again elected to the House of
Representatives from Washington County, served as the chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee and was the acknowledged leader of the democratic side
of the House in that session. For four years he was engaged in writing the
history of Washington County which he published from week to week in the
Salem DEMOCRAT. For 35 years Mr. Heffren was a leading man in the
Democratic Party, and it was greatly indebted to him for its thorough
organization and its success under many adverse and trying circumstances.
He was married October 23d, 1855, to Miss Mary Persise. She died some years
ago; two children survive.
Mr. Heffren was made a Free Mason in 1852. He took all the degrees through
Knighthood and was a representative in the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of
the state.
He was closely identified with the growth and prosperity of Washington
County. He was regarded as standing at the head of the legal fraternity in
his county and was highly respected as a citizen and gentleman.