Capt. Albert Heffley, Co. F

Albert Heffley of Berlin, Somerset County, PA was born on July 23, 1839 to John and Elizabeth (Keffer) Heffley. He was one of eleven children produced by that marriage and had three half-siblings from his father's first marriage.

Albert helped to raise Co. F of the 142nd PVI in the Berlin, PA area, and was their 1st Lieutenant until the discharge of Capt. F.A. Edmunds. Capt. Heffley led Co. F through their first three battles, until on July 1, 1863, after Confederate forces pushed the 142nd off of McPherson's Ridge and through town, Albert was captured in the home of Martin Luther Stoever, on the square in Gettysburg. He would spend the remainder of the war as a POW.

Both before and after the war, Albert was a tanner by trade. According to his obituary, "Captain Heffley was one of Berlin's most prominent citizens, serving the borough in several official capacities and was a Notary Public at the time of his death. He also served as Postmaster at Berlin and made a most capable official."

On Apr 28, 1867, Albert was married to Minerva Stoner. The couple had five children, but only two lived to adulthood.

On Oct 31, 1911, Albert Heffley passed away in his home in Berlin, PA. He and his wife Minerva are buried together in the IOOF Cemetery in Berlin.

To purchase the wartime diaries of Capt. Albert Heffley and Lt. Cyrus P. Heffley, please contact the good people at the Berlin Area Historical Society.