Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2024
James B. Heth, Jr. was born Feb. 10, 1841 in Buffalo, New York, son of James Heath, Sr. (1808-1880) and Augusta Aviah Cheney Heth (1811-1890).
In 1862, at the beginning of the Civil War, James B. Heth Jr. was living with his parents and siblings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Like his great-great grandfather, Zebediah Heath (1731-1777), James and James’s older brother joined the military.
In fact, his great-great grandfather was killed at the Battle of Hubbardton, Vermont, British Colonies, on Aug. 7, 1777!
James B. Heth, Jr. and his brother enlisted into Wisconsin 24th Infantry Regiment, according to Julie Wiese and Neil Wingert for the Chaska Historical Society in an article, “A Civil War Artifact.”
In the article, the Chaska History Center has a sword from the Civil War. “The battles where he fought are inscribed on the scabbard: Chaplin Hills, Kentucky, Oct. 8, 1862; Stones River, Tennessee, Dec. 31- Jan 1, 1863; Chickamauga, Georgia, Sept. 19-20, 1863; Missionary Ridge, Tennessee, Nov. 26, 1863. In 1864, he was promoted to second lieutenant and was transferred to the Wisconsin 38th Infantry located around the capital – Washington City (before it was named District of Columbia).
“Smaller battles and skirmishes continued to the end of the war, and his regiment witnessed the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators and marched down Pennsylvania Avenue as part of the Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac before being disbanded and returned to Wisconsin. James was mustered out as a First Lieutenant, surviving four years of infantry combat without apparent physical injury or permanent disability or sickness.”
Once James B. Heth, Jr. was discharged from service, he moved to Shakopee, and on Oct. 29, 1865 James married Jennie Brown (1840-1905). Jennie’s mother, Lucelia, died in 1844, and her father, David S. Brown (1808-1883) married Julia Ann Kellogg Brown (1821-1912), and moved from Pittsfield, Michigan to Eden Prairie, and then moved to Shakopee. They managed the National Hotel, which the Shakopee Argus in a Feb. 14, 1867 advertisement noted, “This large house is now open for public entertainment and patronage. It has the advantages of being centrally located, convenient and comfortable in its arrangements with many large and airy rooms. Every thing is new and the house thoroughly renovated,” said David Brown, the proprietor.
James and Jennie had a son, James Heth III, who was born in 1868. “Little Jimmy” felt sick for one day and then died of scarlet fever in December 1880. A daughter, Nellie Jane Heth Faber, was born June 30, 1873, and died Sept. 18, 1957. Both were buried at Valley Cemetery in Shakopee.
James B. Heth, Jr. worked as a railway depot agent. Then, he managed the National Hotel with his wife Jennie until it was destroyed by the Great Fire on Oct. 2, 1879.
From then until his death, James worked in mercantiles and handyman jobs where he could find the work.
He was active in the community within the Grand Army Post and Shakopee Fire Department.
James B. Heth, Jr. was stricken with “paralysis” in June 1892 and died April 16, 1893, leaving his daughter Nellie to help care for her mother until Jennie’s death in July 1905.
Valley Cemetery has tombstones for James and his two children.