Collection Title: Heagey Collection
Collection Number: MS Coll 162
Dates of Collection: circa 1861 – 1940
Extent: 3 boxes; 3 linear feet
Repository: Chester County History Center, West Chester, PA
Language: English
Project Archivist: Joseph L. Weber and Richard McKinstry
Henry Fredrick Cronise Heagey was born on February 9, 1857 in Biglerville, Pa., the son of Jacob (1827-1912) and Rebecca Cronise Heagey (1831-1927). Heagey, of German heritage and a sixth generation American, received his early education at Table Rock, north of Gettysburg, Pa., and at a private school in Gettysburg run by Prof. Aaron Sheeley. In 1879, Heagey graduated from the First State Normal School, Millersville, Pa., and taught school for six terms. In 1883, he received his degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was a practicing physician in Cochranville, Pa. for 66 years.
On September 4, 1883, Heagey married Sara Elizabeth Wenger (1856-1940) and together they had four children: Francis Wenger (1884-1935, also a doctor), Susan Maria (1889-1981), Mary Elizabeth (who died in infancy in 1895), and Anna Rebecca (1895-1956).
Heagey was also an amateur historian, focusing his studies on the families and history of West Fallowfield Township, Pa., particularly Cochranville. In addition, he was a member of the Chester County Historical Society (now Chester County History Center), the Cochranville Fire Company, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Free and Accepted Masons, and Chester County and Pennsylvania medical societies.
Heagey died in his ninety-second year on October 7, 1949 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lancaster, Pa., following a six-week illness. He is buried in Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery, Leola, Lancaster County, Pa.
The Heagey collection measures 3 linear feet and dates from circa 1860 – 1940. Found within the collection are genealogy research files and subject/topical files relating primarily to businesses, organizations, and institutions in West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
The Heagey collection measures 3 linear feet and dates from circa 1860 – 1940. Found within the collection are genealogy research files and subject/topical files relating primarily to businesses, organizations, and institutions in and around Cochranville in West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. While some original 19th century manuscripts are present, most of the items in this collection date from the 20th century when Heagey was conducting his research.
In Series 1, Family Files, folders are arranged alphabetically by surname. Each folder offers information on a single family whose members lived in West Fallowfield Township. Prominent, among others, are the Coates, Cochran, and Gray families. Many manuscripts in the series date from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some files are entirely notes, presumably in the hand of H. F. C. Heagey. In addition, there are copies of government forms. For example, included in the Woodburn family folder is a death certificate for black resident Amanda Jane Woodburn, identified as a housewife, who died in 1909, at age 55.
In Series 2, Subject Files, folders contain material on diverse topics having to do with West Fallowfield Township, from businesses to agriculture, Native Americans to taxes, transportation to bridges, and etc. Among the most documented topics is the history of the town of Cochranville, where research notes are most likely written by Heagey. Here, newspaper clippings and handwritten essays predominate. There is also substantial information on organizations, including the Cochranville Improvement Society; the Free and Accepted Masons, Skerrett Lodge; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hebron Lodge; and the Cochranville Patrons of Husbandry. The topic of post offices also includes five folders on the Cochranville post office.
The collection is arranged as 2 series:
The Chester County History Center also holds materials relating to West Fallowfield in the Township Ephemera Collection, Churches Collection, and Cemeteries Collection.
Box 1
Series 1: Family Files, 1861 – 1940s (Box 1)
Folder 1 Miscellaneous
Folder 2 Alison
Folder 3 Armstrong
Folder 4 Beard
Folder 5 Bell
Folder 6 Blair
Folder 7 Buchanan
Folder 8 Coates
Folder 9 Cochran
Folder 10 Davis
Folder 11 Dell
Folder 12 Evans
Folder 13 Fitzpatrick
Folder 14 Fredd
Folder 15 Gorley
Folder 16 Gray
Folder 17 Grill
Folder 18 Haig
Folder 19 Halton
Folder 20 Hamill
Folder 21 Hartshorne
Folder 22 Haslet
Folder 23 Heagey
Folder 24 Hughes
Folder 25 Hunter
Folder 26 Kelleher
Folder 27 McCauley
Folder 28 McClellan
Folder 29 McCordle
Folder 30 MacKey
Folder 31 McNeil
Folder 32 Moore
Folder 33 Morrison
Folder 34 Noble
Folder 35 Orr
Folder 36 Polk
Folder 37 Ramsey
Folder 38 Roussell
Folder 39 Rowan
Folder 40 Sanderson
Folder 41 Slouch
Folder 42 Smith
Folder 43 Taylor
Folder 44 Underwood
Folder 45 Valentine
Folder 46 Wenger
Folder 47 Windle
Folder 48 Woodburn
Folder 49 Woodrow
Series 2: Subject Files, 1862 – 1940s (Box 1 – Box 3)
Folder 50 Agriculture
Folder 51 Boundaries
Folder 52 Bridges
Folder 53 Business Houses
Folder 54 Business houses – Cochran Creamery
Folder 55 Business houses – Physicians
Folder 57 Business houses – Taverns, Hotels, Inns
Folder 58 Cemeteries
Folder 59 Churches
Folder 60 Churches – Methodist – Cochranville
Folder 61 Fragments File
Folder 62-69 History
Folder 70-75 History – Cochranville
Box 2
Folders 1-10 History – Cochranville
Folder 11 History – Faggs Manor
Folder 12 History – Glenville
Folder 13 History – Lancaster County
Folder 14 History – Pennsylvania
Folder 15 History – Phoenixville
Folder 16 History – Steelville
Folder 17 Indexes
Folder 18 Indians
Folder 19-24 Lands
Folder 25-26 Lands – James Light Property
Folder 27-28 Military
Box 3
Folder 1 Organizations – Cochranville Improvement Society
Folder 2-5 Organizations – Free and Accepted Masons, Skerrett Lodge
Folder 6-10 Organizations – Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hebron Lodge
Folder 11 Organizations – Independent Order of Red Men, Champeola Tribe
Folder 12 Organizations – Octoraro Farmers Club
Folder 13 Organizations – Patrons of Husbandry – Cochranville Grange
Folder 14 Photos and Printed Material
Folder 15 Politics – Election Districts
Folder 16 Post Offices
Folder 17-21 Post Offices – Cochranville
Folder 22 Public and Private Schools
Folder 23 Public Offices
Folder 24 Public Schools
Folder 25-26 Roads
Folder 27 Slavery – Underground Railroad
Folder 28 Taxes
Folder 29 Transportation
Folder 30 Transportation and Communication
225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 | 610-692-4800
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