James T. HEFFRAN, Prominent County Resident, Dies at 77 CHARLEROI, Feb 27 (1950) - James T. Heffran, 77, of Speers, long one of the prominent civic leaders and active churchmen of Washington County, died last night at 11:10 o'clock in his home. He had been confined to his home since Dec.14, when he suffered a heart attack. He was suddenly stricken again last night and died within 10 minutes. A son of immigrant parents, his initiative, enterprise and ability won him high place in the affairs of the community in which he had spent most of his life. A son of Issac and Jannet SLOWCOMBE Heffran, he was born in Tredcgar, Wales, Feb 19, 1873, on the same street as James J DAVIS, who served as U. S. Secretary of Labor and United States Senator. They were lifelong friends. Mr. Heffran, who was to serve his district in the Pennsylvania Legislature, as County Coroner, and become one of Charleroi's greatest boosters, began his career as a miner in Washington County, working at the Old Eagle and Shire Oaks pits. He maintained membership in the United Mine Workers throughout his life. Mr. Heffran served in the State Legislature for almost a decade, was coroner of Washington County for a period of 11 years and for six years was Secretary-Manager of the Charleroi Chamber of Commerce. He was one of the principle advocates of the program which has resulted in the development of Charleroi as a trading center, including the building of an artery of highways. At the time of his death he was secretary-treasurer of Charleroi-Monessen Hospital. During his years at Harrisburg, Mr. Heffran served on many important committees and became widely known to political leaders throughout Pennsylvania. Mr. Heffran took an active interest in church affairs, including the Washington County Sabbath School Association. He was teacher of the ___Reliable(?) Cl__of the Speers Methodist Church Sunday School for over 10 years. ______ a member of F & A. M. Lodge No. 615 of Charleroi, Monessen chapter of Royal Arch Masons , Washington Council of Cryptic Masonry and Syria Temple, Pittsburgh. He was a charter member of the Charleroi Rotary Club and was a member of the local I. O. O. F. lodge. His wife Hattie BEAZELL Heffran survives with a daughter, Mrs. John W HATFIELD, Ford City; a son Harold, of Speers; three grandchildren; a brother George, and a sister, Mrs. Jannet BLACK, both of Tarentum. Thanks, Mike Donaldson ([email protected]) Allenport, PA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.my-ged.com/donldson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Listowner of: Monongahela River Valley of Penna Rootsweb mailing list: [email protected] - Mail mode [email protected] - Digest mode