1862
Entered service
Isaac entered Union service in Ohio. Records connect him to the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the early phase of his military career.
Overview
Isaac Heading, veteran, father, and Lawrence County Union soldier
This site uses a document-card structure so every major claim can be tied to a specific source card. At present, the strongest combined evidence places Isaac Heading, also seen as Hedding in some records, in Company A of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, with service beginning in 1862, discharge in 1865, and residence in Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio, in June 1890, while some records preserve conflicting artillery designations.1890 Veterans ScheduleOhio Roster
Why this site matters
Isaac Heading is important as a Civil War veteran, furnace worker, and long-term resident of Lawrence County, whose family records also document his daughter Lucinda’s later marriage to Hamilton McGarvey. That places Isaac within a broader family network shaped by Union military service and postwar life in Lawrence County, while still preserving his biography as a documented story in its own right.1890 Veterans Schedule1898 Pension
Working name forms
The record trail currently supports the name form Isaac Heading, though some searches may need to include Heading and Hedding as alternate spellings. This is common in nineteenth-century records and should remain part of all future research on the family.
Life narrative
Life and documentary record of Isaac Heading
The life of Isaac Heading can be reconstructed through census records, military documents, pension files, and county records that together trace his movements, family structure, and occupation across southern Ohio during the nineteenth century.
Isaac Heading was born about 1817, though the documentary record preserves conflicting evidence regarding his birthplace. Early census records suggest Pennsylvania, while later records identify Ohio, and a Civil War draft registration records Kentucky, reflecting the fluid and sometimes inconsistent nature of nineteenth-century reporting.1850 Census1863 Draft Registration
By 1840, Isaac appears in Lawrence County, Ohio, newly married and establishing an independent household. The timing and location align with a marriage recorded in Scioto County on January 19, 1840, marking the beginning of a long-term family partnership that continued for the rest of his life.1840 CensusMarriage Record
Through the 1850 and 1860 census records, Isaac is consistently documented in Lawrence County, working as a laborer and living with his wife and children. These records establish both continuity of residence and the early structure of his household prior to the Civil War.1850 Census1860 Census
During the Civil War, Isaac entered Union service in 1862 and served through 1865. His own pension declaration provides a rare first-person account of the physical demands of that service and the lasting impact it had on his health.
“While crossing Cumberland Mountain… [I] received a rupture… caused by hard marching and heavy lifting on the march from Chattanooga to Knoxville.”
He further stated that he later “contracted chronic diarrhea” while stationed at Knoxville, Tennessee, conditions that he reported continued to affect him after the war and limited his ability to perform manual labor.1877 Pension Declaration
These statements provide direct insight into the physical strain experienced by soldiers in artillery units and the long-term consequences of that service in the years following the war.
Isaac’s 1877 pension declaration provides a rare first-person account of his wartime experience, describing illness and physical strain sustained during service. This document adds a personal dimension to the otherwise administrative military record.1877 Pension
After the war, Isaac returned to Lawrence County and resumed work connected to the iron industry, appearing in records as a laborer and later as a collier. The 1880 census confirms his continued residence in Washington Township, reflecting long-term stability within the same regional community.1880 Census
By 1890, Isaac was recorded in the Veterans Schedule as a Union veteran residing in Washington Township. This record confirms both his service and his continued presence in the same locality decades after the war.1890 Veterans Schedule
Isaac Heading died on March 27, 1900, in Lawrence County, Ohio. A county burial record documents his death, occupation, and status as an indigent veteran, indicating that his family lacked the means to pay for funeral expenses.Burial Record
Conclusion: The record presents a consistent life trajectory rooted in Lawrence County, Ohio, shaped by labor in the iron industry, Civil War service, and long-term family continuity, with only limited but explainable conflicts in birthplace and naming.
Family narrative
Family structure and continuity in southern Ohio
The surviving record establishes a continuous family centered on Isaac Heading and his wife Lydia, with strong evidence of long-term residence, children, and intergenerational connections within Lawrence and Scioto counties. Census records, pension testimony, and later death records together document a stable household that can be followed across multiple decades.
Marriage and identity of Lydia
Isaac Heading was married to Lydia, though the documentary record preserves variation in how her name was recorded. A Scioto County marriage entry dated January 19, 1840 names the bride as Julia Graham, while Isaac later identified his wife as Lydia in his pension records. These sources agree on the same date and location, strongly supporting a single marriage rather than separate unions.Marriage Record1898 Pension
Lydia’s 1916 death certificate provides critical corroboration, identifying her father as Samuel Graham and her mother as Rebecca Brooks. This confirms the Graham family connection and supports the conclusion that Lydia and Julia represent the same individual recorded under variant names.Death Certificate
Taken together, the evidence supports a single, long-term marriage between Isaac and Lydia, with differences in naming reflecting inconsistencies in nineteenth-century recordkeeping rather than multiple spouses.Marriage Analysis
Children and household continuity
The family structure is documented both through census records and through Isaac’s own statements. By 1860, the household in Washington Township included Isaac, Lydia, and their children, establishing the family prior to the Civil War.1860 Census
Later pension records provide direct confirmation in Isaac’s own words. When asked to identify his living children, he listed them by name, including his daughter Lucinda McGarvey, demonstrating both the continuity of the family and the use of married surnames in later life.Pension Questionnaire
“William Heading… Lucinda McGarvey… Nancy… John… Ed Heading… Mary…”
Correlating this testimony with census and burial records produces the following documented children:
- William Heading (born December 24, 1848) Find a Grave
- Lucinda Heading (McGarvey) (born March 2, 1850) Find a Grave
- Nancy Heading (Vickers) (born September 12, 1848) Find a Grave
- John Heading (born October 12, 1855) Find a Grave
- Edward Heading (born August 4, 1866) Find a Grave
- Mary Heading (Alban) (born May 31, 1869) Find a Grave
The close agreement between Isaac’s testimony, census records, and later burial documentation demonstrates a single, continuous household. Minor variations in reported birth dates are typical of nineteenth-century records and do not affect the identification of these individuals as members of the same family.
Connection to the McGarvey family
The marriage of Lucinda Heading to Hamilton McGarvey connects the Heading family to another established household in the region. This relationship is supported by both family records and the 1890 Veterans Schedule, which places both men in Washington Township during the same period.1890 Veterans Schedule
Lydia’s final years
Lydia survived Isaac by nearly sixteen years and died on January 28, 1916, in Scioto County, Ohio. Her death certificate records her as a widow and confirms her burial in South Webster Cemetery, while preserving her parental identification.Death CertificateFind a Grave
Conclusion: The combined evidence supports a single, continuous family centered on Isaac and Lydia, with children documented through both census records and Isaac’s own testimony. The agreement across independent sources provides strong confirmation of the family structure and long-term stability of the household.
Civil War Service
Military Service and Regimental History
Isaac Heading’s Civil War service forms the central documented chapter of his life. The combined evidence places him in Company A of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, with records reflecting both his enlistment in the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and the regiment’s later reorganization. Together, these sources present a continuous military career shaped by administrative change, regional campaigns, and the demands of Union service in Kentucky and Tennessee.
This section brings together narrative history, unit context, timeline reconstruction, and source analysis to present the most complete interpretation of Isaac Heading’s military service based on the surviving record.
Military Service
Union service in the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery
Isaac Heading served as a Union soldier during the Civil War, with the strongest combined evidence placing him in Company A of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery. His service reflects both the administrative structure of Union regiments and the practical realities of wartime duty in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Service timeline
- 1862: Entered Union service in Ohio
- 1863: Regiment reorganized from 117th Ohio Infantry to heavy artillery
- 1864: Service in Kentucky and Tennessee guarding railroads and supply lines
- 1865: Discharged at Knoxville, Tennessee
Unit designation
- Company A, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery
- Earlier designation: 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
- Rank: Private
- Service type: Garrison and defensive operations
The 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery originated as the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1862. In 1863, the War Department reorganized the regiment into heavy artillery, expanding its size and shifting its mission toward fortification construction, garrison duty, and infrastructure defense.
Rather than serving primarily in large battlefield engagements, the regiment operated across Kentucky and Tennessee, protecting railroads, supply lines, and strategic positions. These duties were essential to Union success, even though they are less visible in traditional battle narratives.NPS Unit History
Isaac’s military record includes multiple unit designations, appearing both under the 117th Ohio Infantry and the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery. These are not separate enlistments, but reflect a unit reorganization during his service, with a transfer recorded on August 12, 1863.Unit Analysis
His 1877 pension declaration describes the physical strain and illness associated with service, providing rare first-person testimony that complements the administrative record.1877 Pension
Isaac’s pension declaration confirms that his service involved sustained physical hardship consistent with the known movements of his unit through mountainous terrain in Tennessee.
“Not treated in hospital… [I] received a rupture… from hard marching and heavy lifting.”
His statement that he was not treated in a hospital suggests that many of these conditions were endured without formal medical care, a common experience among enlisted men operating in field conditions during the war.1877 Pension Declaration
Conclusion: Isaac Heading’s military career reflects a continuous period of Union service shaped by regimental reorganization and sustained defensive operations. His experience represents the essential but often overlooked work of artillery units assigned to infrastructure protection and regional control.
Military Timeline
Service timeline, 1862 to 1865
This strip summarizes Isaac Heading’s military service as it appears across enlistment, transfer, and discharge records, including the regiment’s reorganization from infantry to heavy artillery.
1863
Transferred and reorganized
On August 12, 1863, the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was reorganized into the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, and Isaac’s service continued under the new designation.
1864
Railroads and defense duty
The regiment served in Kentucky and Tennessee, guarding railroads, supply lines, and strategic positions rather than fighting in a single major battle line.
1865
Final discharge
Isaac was discharged on June 20, 1865, at Knoxville, Tennessee, closing a continuous period of Union military service.
Military Unit Analysis
Unit Reorganization: 117th Ohio Infantry to 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery
Fold3 preserves Isaac Heading’s service under two related Union unit designations: the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company A and the 1st Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Battery A. Rather than indicating two different men or two unrelated enlistments, these records reflect a single continuous period of service during a regimental reorganization.
Earlier designation
- Regiment: Ohio 117th Volunteer Infantry (Union)
- Company: Company A
- Enlistment: September 15, 1862, Ohio
- Discharge from infantry designation: August 12, 1863
- Status: Transferred
Later designation
- Regiment: Ohio 1st Volunteer Heavy Artillery (Union)
- Battery: Battery A
- Enlistment date shown: July 28, 1862, Ohio
- Mustered in as heavy artillery: August 12, 1863
- Final discharge: June 20, 1865, Knoxville, Tennessee
The key date tying these two designations together is August 12, 1863. Fold3 records Isaac as discharged from the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on that date with the notation Transferred, and on the same date records him as mustered into the 1st Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery. This strongly supports a unit conversion rather than a break in service.
In practical terms, Isaac appears to have entered service in the infantry organization and then continued in the same military body after it was redesignated and reorganized as heavy artillery. That is why his military record can legitimately appear under both the infantry and heavy artillery titles.
Conclusion: Fold3’s listing of Isaac Heading under both the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and the 1st Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery should be understood as evidence of unit reorganization and transfer within a single military career, not as proof of separate men or unrelated enlistments.
Military Context
Service History of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery
The 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery served in the Union Army from 1863 to 1865, but its origins trace back to its organization as the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in September 1862 at Portsmouth, Ohio. The regiment was initially deployed to Kentucky, where it performed guard duty and conducted operations against guerrilla forces rather than participating in large-scale battlefield engagements.NPS Unit History
In May 1863, the War Department ordered the regiment’s reorganization into heavy artillery. This transformation expanded the regiment and shifted its role from infantry combat to garrison and logistical defense. By August 12, 1863, the regiment had been fully reorganized as the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, consisting of twelve companies assigned across Kentucky.Hayes Collection
From a unit perspective, much of its service centered on defensive and support operations rather than major battlefield assaults. The regiment constructed fortifications around Covington and Newport, Kentucky, and spent extended periods guarding supply lines, railroads, and key transportation routes.NPS Unit History
In early 1864, the regiment marched through difficult winter conditions into East Tennessee, arriving in Knoxville in March. There, and throughout the remainder of the war, its companies were dispersed across the region, protecting railroads and engaging in smaller-scale actions against Confederate forces and guerrilla activity.NPS Unit History
Although the regiment did not participate in the large, well-known battles associated with major Union armies, it took part in a series of campaign operations and regional engagements, including:
- Defense of Kentucky and construction of fortifications (1863)
- Railroad defense during Confederate cavalry attacks in Tennessee (1864)
- Operations in North Carolina and East Tennessee
- Participation in expeditions such as Gillem’s operations and Stoneman’s campaign (1864–1865)
These activities reflect the typical role of heavy artillery units in the western theater, which often functioned as infantry in dispersed defensive roles rather than as concentrated artillery batteries. Their work was essential to maintaining Union control over supply lines and occupied territory.
The regiment continued this pattern of service through the final campaigns of the war and was mustered out in July 1865 at Knoxville, Tennessee, after the collapse of Confederate resistance.NPS Unit History
Conclusion: From the unit’s perspective, the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery contributed to Union victory not through major battlefield engagements, but through sustained defensive operations, infrastructure protection, and regional campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Occupation and Community
Furnace life and work in the iron industry
Isaac Heading’s life was closely tied to the charcoal iron economy of southern Ohio. Across census, pension, and secondary sources, he appears as a laborer, farmer, collier, and furnace-associated worker.
Types of work
- Farmer in mid-century census records
- Laborer in early and burial records
- Collier, meaning charcoal maker for furnace fuel
- Ore setter or furnace worker in regional industrial context
Furnace communities
Isaac’s life intersected with Olive Furnace and the wider iron furnace belt of Lawrence County and nearby communities. These settlements depended on physically demanding labor tied to timber cutting, charcoal making, ore handling, transport, and furnace maintenance.
Charcoal production was exhausting work. Colliers built and managed slow-burning charcoal pits that supplied the furnaces, while associated laborers moved timber, ore, and iron through a difficult industrial landscape. Isaac’s pension statement about heavy exertion and later chronic illness fits this occupational world.1877 Pension
His occupational path also helps explain the instability visible at the end of his life. The same labor-intensive economy that shaped his working years likely contributed to declining health and the financial hardship noted in the 1900 burial record.Burial RecordWikiTree
Conclusion: Isaac Heading’s occupational history places him firmly within the charcoal iron world of southern Ohio. His labor, movement through furnace communities, and end-of-life circumstances make more sense when viewed through that industrial setting.
Death and burial
Final years, death, and burial at Olive Furnace
The end of Isaac Heading’s life is documented through county burial records, pension continuation, and cemetery references. Together, these sources confirm his death in 1900, his status as a Union veteran, and his burial in the Olive Furnace community of Lawrence County, Ohio.
Death and indigent burial record
Isaac Heading died on March 27, 1900 in Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. His burial was handled under Ohio’s provisions for indigent Union veterans, indicating that his family could not cover funeral expenses at the time of his death.Burial Record
The county report identifies him as an honorably discharged Union veteran and records expenses for the coffin, robe, hauling, transportation, and cemetery burial.Burial Record
Burial at Olive Furnace Cemetery
Isaac was buried in Olive Furnace Cemetery, a burial ground tied to the old furnace communities of Lawrence County. The burial document provides the strongest direct proof of this location.Burial Record
The Find a Grave memorial offers a useful public-facing cemetery reference, but it is treated here as supplementary evidence rather than primary proof.Find a Grave
Isaac’s death also connects directly to Lydia’s later widow pension record, which confirms the continuation of the federal pension system after his death and helps complete the family’s end-of-life paper trail.Widow Pension
Conclusion: The burial record, widow pension, and cemetery references complete the final chapter of Isaac Heading’s life and anchor his memory in the Olive Furnace landscape.
Document analysis
Analysis of Evidence
Identity, continuity, and resolution of conflicting evidence
The identity of Isaac Heading is supported by a consistent chain of records spanning census data, military service, pension documentation, and county records. While minor discrepancies appear in naming and birthplace, these variations can be reconciled through comparison and correlation across independent sources.
Across census records from 1840 through 1880, Isaac appears as a continuous presence in Lawrence County, Ohio, with consistent household structure, occupation, and family relationships. These records establish a stable identity over time and confirm that the same individual is being documented across multiple decades.1840 Census1880 Census
Military and wartime records further reinforce this continuity. Isaac is documented as a Union soldier serving through the Civil War, with records linking him to the reorganization of the 117th Ohio Volunteer Infantry into the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery. Although unit designations vary, the evidence reflects a single, continuous period of service rather than multiple enlistments or separate individuals.Unit AnalysisUnit History
The 1863 draft registration places Isaac in Decatur Township during the war and records his birthplace as Kentucky, while earlier and later records variously identify Pennsylvania or Ohio. These differences are typical of nineteenth-century records and do not disrupt the overall identity, as all other personal and geographic details remain consistent.1863 Draft Registration
Family relationships provide some of the strongest confirming evidence. Census records document a consistent household including Lydia and their children, while Isaac’s 1898 pension questionnaire confirms these relationships and names his daughter Lucinda McGarvey, linking the family across multiple independent records.1860 Census1898 Pension
The most significant point of variation concerns the identity of Isaac’s wife. Marriage records record the bride as Julia Graham, while later records consistently identify her as Lydia. A compiled marriage source reconciles these names as Lydia (Julia) Graham, and Lydia’s 1916 death certificate independently confirms her father as Samuel Graham. Together, these sources resolve the apparent conflict and support the conclusion that Lydia and Julia refer to the same individual.Marriage CompilationDeath Certificate
No evidence has been identified that supports the existence of multiple individuals with the same name, multiple marriages, or separate family units. Instead, the record consistently points to a single individual whose life is documented across overlapping and mutually reinforcing sources.
Conclusion: The combined evidence demonstrates that all records refer to a single individual, Isaac Heading of Lawrence County, Ohio, Civil War soldier and laborer, and that the apparent discrepancies in naming and birthplace reflect normal variation in historical documentation rather than separate identities. This conclusion provides the evidentiary foundation for the formal proof summary that follows.
Evidence Resolution
Marriage Identity Resolution: Lydia and the Graham Record
The documentary record of Isaac Heading’s marriage presents variation in the recorded name of his wife, but the combined evidence supports a single, continuous marriage rather than multiple unions. A Scioto County marriage entry dated January 19, 1840 records the couple as Isaac Hedding and Julia Graham, while Isaac later identified his wife as Lydia in his 1898 pension questionnaire.Marriage Record1898 Pension
A compiled marriage record further clarifies this discrepancy by recording the bride as Lydia (Julia) Graham and identifying her parents as Samuel and Elizabeth Graham, suggesting that both names were associated with the same individual rather than representing separate spouses.Compiled Marriage Record
The strongest confirming evidence appears in Lydia’s 1916 death certificate, which identifies her father as Samuel Graham and her mother as Rebecca Brooks. This independently supports the Graham family connection and aligns with the earlier marriage record evidence.Death Certificate
Supporting evidence
- Exact match of marriage date and location (Jan. 19, 1840, Scioto County)
- Compiled record explicitly linking Lydia and Julia
- Death certificate confirming Graham parentage
- Continuous census record showing only one wife, Lydia
Explained variation
- Use of alternate given names (Lydia / Julia)
- Later-life reporting differences in pension records
- Clerical or transcription inconsistencies in early records
All records agree on a single marriage event in 1840 and a single long-term spouse appearing consistently in census, pension, and death records. No independent evidence supports the existence of a second marriage.
Conclusion: Isaac Heading had one wife, Lydia, whose name appears in records as Lydia and Julia. The strongest available evidence supports her identification as Lydia Graham, daughter of Samuel Graham. The apparent conflict reflects naming variation rather than multiple marriages.
Genealogical proof summary
Proof of identity: Isaac Heading and Lydia (Graham)
The identity of Isaac Heading and his wife Lydia is supported by a body of direct and indirect evidence drawn from census records, marriage records, military documents, and pension files. While minor discrepancies appear in naming and birthplace, these variations are consistent with nineteenth-century recordkeeping and do not indicate multiple individuals.
1. Reasonably exhaustive research
The analysis incorporates federal census records (1840–1880), Civil War military and draft records, pension documents, county marriage records, burial records, and later death certificates, representing a broad and sufficient evidentiary base.1850 CensusPension
2. Complete and accurate source citations
All sources have been documented and categorized by type, distinguishing between primary records, compiled sources, and derivative databases.
3. Analysis and correlation
Census records establish a continuous household across decades, while pension records confirm family relationships. Marriage records and Lydia’s death certificate independently align on the Graham family connection, allowing reconciliation of the Lydia/Julia naming variation.Marriage CompilationDeath Certificate
4. Resolution of conflicting evidence
Conflicts in naming (Lydia vs. Julia) and birthplace (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky) are explained through record variation, transcription differences, and later-life reporting. All records converge on a single individual and a single spouse.
5. Soundly reasoned conclusion
The combined evidence supports the conclusion that Isaac Heading, resident of Lawrence County, Ohio, Civil War soldier, and laborer, is the same individual across all records. He was married once, to Lydia, whose maiden name is best supported as Graham, and they were the parents of a continuous household documented across census and pension records.
Final Conclusion: The identity of Isaac Heading and Lydia Graham is proven through converging documentary evidence, with all apparent conflicts resolved through standard genealogical analysis.
Document gallery
Research archive and document gallery
The document gallery collects the core records behind this biography. Each card pairs a source preview with a concise explanation of how that document contributes to the reconstruction of Isaac Heading’s life.
Marriage Record Conflict
Conflicting 1840 Marriage Entry, Scioto County, Ohio
This 1840 marriage entry is an important but disputed document. It appears to associate Isaac Heading with Julia Graham in Scioto County on January 19, 1840. However, Isaac later stated in his 1898 pension questionnaire that he married Lydia on that same date and in that same county.
Interpretation: This record should not be presented as settled proof of a separate long-term marriage. At present, it is best treated as conflicting evidence to be weighed against Isaac’s later first-person pension testimony naming Lydia.
Compiled Marriage Record
Marriage Records of Scioto County, Ohio (Published Compilation)
This published compilation records the marriage of Isaac Hedding and Lydia (Julia) Graham on January 19, 1840 in Scioto County, Ohio. The entry includes parental information identifying Lydia as the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Graham, preserving key family relationships not consistently present in all original records.
Interpretation: This compiled source is especially valuable because it preserves parental names and attempts to reconcile naming variation by recording Lydia as “Lydia (Julia) Graham.” As a derivative work, it should be used alongside original records, but it strongly supports a connection between Lydia and the Graham family.
Federal Census
1840 U.S. Census, Lawrence County, Ohio
The 1840 census places Isaac Headding as a head of household in Lawrence County and provides the earliest known residence anchor.
Federal Census
1850 U.S. Census, Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio
The 1850 census lists Isaac Hedding as a laborer in Lawrence County and confirms the Hedding spelling in an early named record.
Federal Census
1860 U.S. Census, Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio
This key prewar family record lists Isaac Hedding, wife Lydia, and children including Lucinda.
Federal Census
1880 U.S. Census, Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio
The 1880 census records Isaac as head of household with Lydia and family in Washington Township, confirming long-term residence in the same community.
Veterans Schedule
1890 Special Schedule, Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines
This schedule places Isaac Heading in Washington Township in June 1890 and also lists Hamilton McGarvey on the same page.
Draft Registration
Civil War Draft Registration, Isaac Heading, 1863
This 1863 Civil War draft registration records Isaac Heading as a white male, age 44, residing in Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio, with a reported birthplace of Kentucky. It provides an important wartime identity record and adds another significant data point to the question of Isaac’s birthplace.
Interpretation: This is a strong wartime identity record. It reinforces Isaac’s presence in Lawrence County in 1863 and adds meaningful evidence that his birthplace may have been reported as Kentucky, even though other records give different states.
Service Index
General Index Card, Isaac Heading
The index card references Isaac under both Heading and Hedding and points to an artillery designation written as Co. A, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery.
National Park
Service
Unit History
Service
Unit History
Government Record
National Park Service, 1st Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery
This National Park Service unit history provides a concise federal summary of the regiment’s organization, service assignments, and operational history. It is especially useful for understanding the regiment’s role after reorganization and for placing Isaac Heading’s service within the broader history of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery.
Hayes Library
Manuscript
Collection
Manuscript
Collection
Manuscript Collection
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery
This Hayes Presidential Library collection provides regimental context for the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, including information on organization, early service, and the regiment’s broader role in Union military operations. It is valuable as a contextual source for interpreting the unit’s history beyond Isaac Heading’s individual record.
Wikipedia
Unit
Summary
Unit
Summary
Reference Summary
Wikipedia, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery Regiment
This Wikipedia entry provides a tertiary overview of the regiment, including a quick summary of its formation, reorganization, and service. It is useful as a general reference point, but should be read as a supporting summary rather than as standalone proof.
Pension File
Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Isaac Heading
Sworn on October 23, 1877, this declaration gives Isaac’s first-person account of service, illness, physical description, and postwar residence.
Pension File
Department of the Interior Pension Questionnaire, Isaac Heading
This 1898 questionnaire is the strongest family proof document, naming Lydia’s maiden name and identifying Lucinda McGarvey among Isaac’s children.
Widow Pension
Army Widow Pension Card, Lydia Heading
The widow pension card confirms Lydia as Isaac’s widow under the Act of June 27, 1890 and extends the federal paper trail into the twentieth century.
County Record
Indigent Soldier Burial Record, Isaac Heading
Filed in April 1900, this county document reports Isaac’s death on March 27, 1900, confirms his status as an honorably discharged Union veteran, and records burial at Olive Furnace Cemetery.
Find a Grave
Memorial
193287517
Memorial
193287517
Cemetery Record
Find a Grave Memorial, Isaac Heading
The Find a Grave memorial provides a public-facing cemetery reference point for burial details already supported by the county burial record.
Death Certificate
Death Certificate of Lydia Hedding, Scioto County, Ohio
This 1916 death certificate records Lydia Hedding as a widowed woman born on December 27, 1823, in Ohio, and deceased on January 28, 1916 in Bloom Township, Scioto County, Ohio. Most importantly, it identifies her father as Samuel Graham and her mother as Rebecca Brooks, adding strong late-life evidence that Lydia’s family line was associated with the surname Graham.
Interpretation: This record materially strengthens the case that Lydia’s family was tied to the surname Graham, and it should now be weighed alongside the 1840 marriage entry and the later pension record that has been interpreted as preserving Hogan.
Find a Grave
Lydia Julia
Heading
Lydia Julia
Heading
Cemetery Record
Find a Grave Memorial, Lydia Julia Heading
This Find a Grave memorial provides a public-facing cemetery reference for Lydia Julia Heading, including burial location and memorial details. It is useful as a supporting cemetery reference, but should be read as a derivative source and weighed alongside the 1916 death certificate and widow pension records.
Bibliography & Evidence
Works Cited
Primary Sources
- Ancestry.com. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863–1865 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863–1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. NAID 4213514. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. The National Archives in Washington, D.C. Entry for Isaac Heading, Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio, July 1, 1863. (Primary, draft registration record)
- Lawrence County, Ohio. Indigent soldier burial record for Isaac Heading, filed April 16, 1900.
- National Park Service. “1st Regiment, Ohio Heavy Artillery.” Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. Accessed 2026. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UOH0001RAH.
- Ohio. Adjutant General’s Office. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861–1866. Vol. X. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1889. Entry for Isaac Hedding, p. 262.
- Ohio Death Certificate, Lydia Hedding, Bloom Township, Scioto County, Ohio, January 28, 1916. Recording father as Samuel Graham and mother as Rebecca Brooks. (Primary)
- Scioto County, Ohio. Marriage Records, 1840. Entry associated with Isaac Heading, recording a spouse name as Julia Graham, January 19, 1840. Scioto County, Ohio.
- United States. Census Office. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. Lawrence County, Ohio. Entry for Isaac Headding.
- United States. Census Office. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Entry for Isaac Hedding.
- United States. Census Office. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Entry for Isaac Hedding household.
- United States. Census Office. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Entry for Isaac Heading household.
- United States. Census Office. Eleventh Census of the United States, 1890. Special Schedule of Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines. Washington Township, Lawrence County, Ohio. Entries for Isaac Heading and Hamilton McGarvey.
- United States. Bureau of Pensions. Declaration for Original Invalid Pension, Isaac Heading, Lawrence County, Ohio, October 23, 1877.
- United States. Bureau of Pensions. Army widow pension card for Lydia Heading, certificate dated August 28, 1901.
- United States. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions. Pension questionnaire for Isaac Heading, January 15, 1898.
- United States War Department. General index card for Isaac Heading or Hedding, Ohio volunteer artillery service card, late nineteenth or early twentieth century.
Secondary Sources
- Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. “Civil War: 1st Ohio Heavy Volunteer Artillery.” Accessed 2026. https://www.rbhayes.org/collection-items/miscellaneous-manuscripts/civil-war-1st-ohio-heavy-volunteer-heavy-artillery/.
- Shoemaker, Caryn R. F., and Betty J. Sisler Rudity, comps. Marriage Records of Scioto County, Ohio, 1803–1860. 1987. Reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003. Database: Ancestry.com, “Scioto County, Ohio, U.S., Marriage Records, 1803–1860,” accessed 2026. Entry for Isaac Hedding and Lydia (Julia) Graham, January 19, 1840. (Derivative compiled source)
Derivative Sources
- Find a Grave. “Mary Ann Alban.” Memorial 115991523. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115991523/mary-ann-alban. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “Edward Heading.” Memorial 140888537. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140888537/edward-heading. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “Isaac Heading.” Memorial 193287517. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193287517/isaac-heading.
- Find a Grave. “John Heading.” Memorial 140891030. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140891030/john-heading. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “Lydia Julia Heading.” Memorial 254009072. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/254009072/lydia-julia-heading. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “Lucinda McGarvey.” Memorial 269443966. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/269443966/lucinda-mcgarvey. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “Nancy Jane Vickers.” Memorial 167880204. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167880204/nancy_jane-vickers. (Derivative)
- Find a Grave. “William Heading.” Memorial 129688747. Accessed 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129688747/william-heading. (Derivative)
- Fold3. “Isaac Heading, Civil War Stories.” Accessed 2026. https://www.fold3.com/memorial/662131154/isaac-heading-civil-war-stories.
- WikiTree. “Isaac Heading (Heading-90).” Accessed April 2026. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Heading-90.
Source Reliability Framework: Primary sources, especially census, pension, burial, and county records, form the foundation of this study. Secondary sources provide contextual interpretation. Derivative sources provide leads and public access points but are not treated as standalone proof.