Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/255

 HEREON

HEREON

of Peter and Margaret (Bogart) Haring, and greats-grandson of John Haring, who Avas born in Holland in 1633, came to America and was married in 1663 to Margaret Cozine, a widow, in the new Dutch church on Stuyvesant's Bou- werie, New York, they being the first couple married in that church. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1795, and studied law in New York city, where he after- ward practised. He was judge of the marine court of New York, 1805-08. He was married August 29, 1812, to Agnes, daughter of Lilian Van Rensselaer. He was register of the state, 1812-17, bj^ appointment of Governor Clinton, being the first to hold the office. In 1833 he was appointed by President Jackson the first commis- sioner of Indian affairs. He resigned the office in July, 1836, and retired from public life. He died in New York city, nearly ninety-nine years of age. Feb. 20, 1876.

HERRON, Francis, clergyman, was born near Shippenburg, Pa.. June 28, 1774, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was gi-aduated from Dickenson college in 1794; studied theology under the Rev. Robert Cooper, D.D., and was licensed to preach by the Carlisle presbyterj^ Oct. 4, 1797. He made a mis- sionary tour through the backwoods of Oliio, travelling with a frontier settler as a guide as far west as Chillicothe. He was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the Presbyterian cliurch at Rocky Spring, Pa., April 9, 1800, and re- mained there until 1811. He was pastor of the First Presbyte- rian church at Pittsburg, Pa., 1811-50. Upon accepting his resignation the church voted him an annuity for the rest of his life. He was moderator of the general assemblj' of the Presbyterian Cliurch in 1827, a trustee of Jef- ferson college, Pa., 1817-49, and a founder of the Western Theological seminary, Allegheny City, Pa., and president of its board of directors, 1827-60. He was married to Elizabetli Blaine. He received the degree of D.D. from Jefferson in 1824. He died in Pittsburg. Pa., Dec. 6, 1860. HERRON, Francis Jay, soldier, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 17, 1838; son of John and Clarissa (Anderson) Herron; grandson of Maj. James and Nancy (Davidson) Herron, and of Maj. William and Mary Ann (Cann) Anderson, and a descendant of Francis Herron, born 1734,

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of Herron's Branch, Franklin county, Tenn. He was graduated at the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1854. When the southern states seceded in 1860-61, he was a resident of Dubuque, Iowa, and commanded the " Governor's Greys," a fully uniformed and equipped company. He tendered to Secretary Holt the services of this company, Jan. 15, 1861, but his offer was de- clined on the ground tliat the government had no need for troops. In April, 1861, he en- tered the volunteer army as captain in the 1st Iowa regiment and commanded a company at the en- gagements at Boon- ville. Dug Springs, Ozark, and at Wil- son's Creek, where Gen. Nathaniel Lyon was killed while lead- ing the 1st Iowa regi- ment in a charge, Aug. 10, 1861. In September, 1861, Captain Herron was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 9th Iowa infantry, and commanded the regi- ment in the campaign of Gen. S. R. Curtis, 1862, in Missouri, Arkansas and Indian Territory. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner at Pea Ridge, Ark., March 8, 1862, and was ex- changed for Colonel Herbert of Louisiana. For services at Pea Ridge he was promoted brigadier- general of volunteers, July 16, 1862. He com- manded the " Ax-my of the Frontier " in its forced mai'ch with an immense train of supplies, mak- ing the distance of 114 miles in three days and relieving Gen. James G. Blunt at Prairie Grove, Ark., where he fought the battle of Dec. 7, 1802, that drove the Confederate army from the noi-th of the Arkansas river. For this service he was promoted major-general of volunteers, Nov. 19, 1862. In 1863 he joined General Grant at Vicksburg, commanding the left wing of the investing army, and was selected with Generals Logan and McPherson each to lead a division into the city and receive the formal surrender, July 4, 1863. He then commanded the combined forces of army and navy that invested and cap- tured Yazoo City, and was with Capt. John G. Walker on board the U. S. gunboat De Kalb, when that vessel was blown up by a torpedo. He commanded the 13th army corps in the Depart- ment of the Gulf, and after capturing ports on the Texas coast established his headquarters at Brownsville. Here he prevented the smuggling of cotton into Mexico across the Rio Grande, and as confidential agent of the state department