Grandpa was placed in an orphanage in NY when his father left the family for the Silver Rush in Colorado (peaked about 1893) before 1900. His father was killed in Colorado by a gunshot wound. The 1900 census for Hamilton, NY listed the four youngest children as "at school". More than likely this was the orphanage.The orphanage was the Madison County (NY) Home for Desititute Children in Peterboro (Smithfield), NY (the home is also known as the Peterboro Orphanage). According to my sister, Cheryl Trimble, Grandpa told her that the orphanage was a work farm. Records from the Home indicate the following (printed verbatim, mistakes and all): "Hearld Hepiner, received 10/31/1892, #14, male, age 9, white, birthplace Hamilton, parentage: half orphan; surrendering authority Madison Co. Hamilton; name and title of commiting magistrate: E. Douglass, Poor Master, Hamilton." Another entry says this: "Herald Hepner, received 8/17/1898, #112, male,age 11, white, birthplace: ____; parentage: father dead; surrendering authority: brought back by the people who took him; remarks: mental condition "knot first." " (Source: 1885-1899 Volume Peterboro Orphanage Records - Donna D. Burdick, Smithfield Town Historian). This rather sad account tells us that Grandpa's family was very poor after his father died and that the orphanage let the children out to families who used them as free labor. Grandpa was a brilliant man butwho knows what he could have attained had he not met up with some of these socalled families? According to Gordon Heffner, my uncle, Grandpa left the orphanage, bummed around the country riding the rails, joined the Marine Corps (at age 16, under the name of Fred Flanagan), did some boxing, deserted from the Marines, worked in Flint, MI at a Buick auto plant, and finally settled in Orangeville, MI. He worked at a Tech School for his last years of employment. Grandpa was a very fun grandfather. He told stories about little men that captured him in his travels and that his prominent Adam's apple was due to a cannon ball shotat him by the little men. He always had a story, a ready laugh, and loved Detroit Tigers baseball! Grandpa grew gladiolas and sold them. His farm in Orangeville was one of the happiest places in the world. He had several black walnut trees in the yard. We would pick them up, put them in a burlap sack, and lay themin the drive way to be run over by the car. This would get the green shell offthe nuts. They were the tastiest walnuts ever! Grandpa had an outhouse that all the grandkids used (the indoor plumbing was usually reserved for the grownups). The outhouse was behind the big barn. The barn was full of pigeons and the oldest things you ever saw in your life! Every moment was an adventure at Grandpa's. He had horseshoe pits on the other side of the driveway. They had wooden backboards, which we put the horseshoes over when we were done. Grandpa was a great horseshoe player - he threw them cocked to the side, like my Dad did. The dining room table was a huge oak clawfoot table that seated about 400 people itseemed. The living room was full of pictures of family members, most of whom were long passed or at least did not look that way in the present. There were bedrooms off the living room and upstairs. Grandpa and Grandma's bedroom was off the dining room and had the bathroom attached to it (we had to go through theirroom to get to it - always a cool thing to do). Their soap smelled different from anyone else's soap but it was always pleasant to take a shower there. Upstairs there was an attic that none of us was supposed to go in but it was full ofold things: swords (my Dad's Japanese swords from WWII), baseball cards (I swear I saw Honus Wagner's rookie card there), letters with old stamps, and many other things. Grandpa died of emphysema, probably from smoking, perhaps also fromasbestos. He was a great man who is missed by all who knew him.

1. 2. Charles Burton HEFFNER   b. 8 Sep 1920, Martin, MI; d. 4 Apr 1998, Bay City, MI.
2. 3. Doris HEFFNER  
3. 4. Hazel HEFFNER   b. 17 Jun 1917, Martin Twp., Barry County, MI; d. 9 Jan 2003, Plainwell, MI.
4. 5. Frances HEFFNER  
5. 6. George HEFFNER  
6. 7. Gordon HEFFNER  

1. 8. Living HEFFNER  
2. 9. Living TRIMBLE  
3. 10. Living HEFFNER  
4. 11. Living HEFFNER  

SIBBERSEN, Hazel H.
Pine Lake

Hazel was a spiritual person, throughout herlife she quietly practiced her faith. Hazel's dedication to her family and friends was with her all the days of her life. Hazel died Thursday, January 9, 2003 at the Life Care Center of Plainwell. She was born on June 17, 1917 in MartinTwp. to Harold and Laura (Bradshaw) Heffner. She graduated in 1935 from the Martin High School, and was married to Leroy Sibbersen on November 21, 1936 in Hastings. Hazel was a master homemaker, and had also volunteered at the AmericanRed Cross and the Ladies Extension Club. Hazel enjoyed bowling and was active in the Plainwell Lanes bowling leagues. She enjoyed reading, bingo, shuffleboard, playing cards, golf and spending time with family and friends. Two sons survive her, Duane (Lillian) Sibbersen of Kalamazoo, David (Rose) Sibbersen of Plainwell; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Frances (Claude) Bartholomew of Portage,; a brother, Gordon (Edizene) Heffner of Orangeville.Her husband of 59 years, Leroy in 1996, a son, Gerald "Jerry" Sibbersen in 1976, two brothers, Charles and George Heffner, and a sister, Doris Daniels, preceded her in death. Friends may visit the family Sunday, January 12, 2003 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren Funeral Homes, Plainwell Chapel, where a Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, January 13, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. Please visit Hazel's web page at www.rdmg. com, where youcan leave a memory for the family, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the charity of one's choice.
Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 1/11/2003. (posted by a volunteer-no family connection)

1. 12. Living SANTIAGO  
2. 13. Living HEFFNER  
3. 14. Living HEFFNER  
4. 15. Living HEFFNER  
5. 16. Living HEFFNER  

1. 17. Living SANTIAGO