People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — COL. JOSHUA HEALEY. [ARTICLE]

COL. JOSHUA HEALEY.

Because of his residence for a considerable period and his active engagement in public life while living here, Col. Joshua Healey,»the subject of thissketch, is remembered by almost all of the earlier residents of Rensselaer. Mr. Healey was born in Bauhanraus county, Canada, Nov. 18, 1837, where he lived until the eighteenth year of his age, when removed with his parents to Cass county, Indiana. After living on the farm for several years, he qualified himself as a school teacher and coining to Jasper county taught the Smith school, north of Rensselaer. Mr. Healey enlisted in the Ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers for the first three months service, serving as a private. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he roinlisted for three years and was made captain of Company 0. In the spring of 1804 he was transferred to the 128th Indiana regiment and made major, jund after serving in that office for one year, he wAs again transfored, this time to the 151st Indiana regiment, of which ho was made colonel, and whero hp served until the surrender of Lee’s army. At the battle of Tullahoma, he was thrown from his horse, and injured to s Jell an extent that ho never recovered his health. Mr. Healey was with Sherman at the surrender of Atlanta and also on his famons march to the sea.

After returning from the army at the close of the war, he began the study of law in the office of E. P. Hammond. In company with Jacob Reiser he begun the publication of the Iroquois Press in the fall of 1800, and October 1, 18(58, the Press and Prairie Telegraph, published by R. B. James, were consolidated, the papers being run under the name of the Rensselaer Union, Joshua Healey and Horace E. James editors and publishers. Mr. Healey remained with the paper until the fall of 1875, when he retired from the paper, and engaged in the practice of law. Failing health caused him to go to the Hot Springs, Arkansas, the following spring, where ho remained for one year. Returning somewhat improved in health he engaged in law practice in Ooodland. His health, however, was only temporarily benefitted, and he died on January 2,1880, after only a brief severe illness. His remains were brought to Rensselaer for interment, where his wife and members of his family have since resided Besides his wife, Mrs. Julia A. Healey, there are three children, Mrs. Frank B. Lyon, Delphi, Indiana; GeorgeH. Healey, of Brookston, Indiana, and Miss Manua Healey, who was l>orn three months after the death of her father. Mr. Healey belonged to the Masonic lodge of Rensselaer for several years, was an active lodge member, and was buried under the auspices of that lodge.