HERRON, Francis J.

Francis J. Herron

HERRON, Francis J. (February 17, 1837-New York, Jan. 8, 1902). MEDAL OF HONOR recipient, Lieutenant Colonel, 9th Iowa Infantry. One of Dubuque's two Medal of Honor recipients in the CIVIL WAR, Herron came to Dubuque in 1855 at the age of eighteen and with his brother opened a bank.

Herron joined the Union Army in 1861 and received his commendation for action on May 7, 1862, during the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. Herron was cited for gallantly leading his men in battle until he was disabled when his horse was killed, and he was captured.

Herron was later exchanged for a Confederate officer and was promoted from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general. He continued his service to the Union for the remainder of the Civil War. His distinguished duty at the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in 1862 earned him promotion to major general when he was only twenty-five years old.

In the early 1890s Dubuque residents were angered when plans for a proposed soldiers and sailors monument on the Statehouse grounds in Des Moines did not include his likeness. See: George Washington HEALEY.

Information provided by Richard G. Bridges.

Oliver Perry SHIRAS, George Shiras and Francis J. Herron were second cousins. Oliver & George Shiras's mother Eliza and Francis J. Herron where first cousins.

The Shiras and Herron brothers all came to Dubuque around 1855 from the Pittsburgh area. George Shiras II (b.1806) married Elizabeth Perry Herron and had George Jr. (III) (b. 1832), Oliver Perry (b. 1833) and Francis Herron Shiras. Eliza Herron's (b.1809) father was Francis J. Herron's (b. 1837) uncle Rev. Francis Herron (b. 1774). Francis J. Herron's father was Francis Herron's brother and Francis J. Herron's uncle John Herron Jr. (b. 1792). Elizabeth Herron Shiras and Francis J. Herron's grandfather was also named John Herron Sr.

Francis J. Herron also had a brother, David R. Herron, Lieutenant in the 3rd Iowa Light Artillery Battery, also known as the Dubuque Battery, organized in Dubuque. And besides Oliver P. Shiras serving as aid de camp to Br. Gen. Francis J. Herron during the Civil War, Herron had a nephew, James A. Herron, son of brother William A. Herron (b. 1821), who served on his staff.

It should also be noted U.S. Supreme Court Justice George SHIRAS, Jr. married Dubuque born Lillie E. Kennedy (b. 1842) daughter of Robert T. Kennedy (b. 1819). It appears Robert T. Kennedy and several of his children are buried in Dubuque.

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/HERRON/2005-12/1135815989 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42719104 http://www.historycentral.com/Bio/rec/GeorgeShiras.html http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=42678583 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33811968

Geneology research by John Pregler