Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: October 1963 Volume 12 Number 4, Page 77

John Franklin Heagy

Ruth Moore Styer

Page 77

John Franklin Heagy was born in New Providence, Lancaster County, on November 17, 1884, the son of Hiram Royer and Lydia Groff Heagy. The latter was a direct descendant of Hans Groff, one of the first settlers of Lancaster County.

He started working for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1903 in Quarryville, having learned telegraphy from his father. In 1903 he was appointed extra agent on the Philadelphia Division.

On June 12, 1913, he married Hilda E. Brown of Refton, and in 1915 they came to Berwyn, where their two children, James Francis and Elizabeth, were born.

In 1928 he was appointed agent at Paoli, and a year or so later Berwyn, Malvern, Strafford, and Wayne stations were added to his responsibilities. Due to ill health, he gave up all stations but Berwyn in 1937. In August of 1941 he was taken very ill and was never able to return to the railroad.

Perhaps it is at Berwyn station that he is remembered best. In the morning rush hours, selling commutation or straight tickets, taking money for newspapers, always with unfailing good humor, he gave commuters a good start for the day.

His interests were many and varied. First came his Church Trinity Presbyterian, where he was a member of the Men's Bible Class, Elder for two terms, and trustee for a number of years. His other memberships were in Washington Lodge No. 156, F.& A. M., Quarryville, the Berwyn Men's Garden Club, and the Tredyffrin-Easttown History Club, which he served as business manager of the Quarterly for several years.

Always interested in anything to benefit country or community, he was successful in selling quite a few War Bonds during World War II. He was a director of the Berwyn Building and Loan Association, serving as treasurer from 1940 to 1955.

As a man who so loved life and made the world happier because he was in it, it was sad for his many friends to see him suffer during the many months preceding his death. The gay spirit which marked most of his life had gone and the constant pain made him withdrawn. Death came as a blessed release on May 15, 1962. But to those of us who knew him, his friendship will always be a cherished memory.