David Johnson Heaton was born in Phil. Pa. on Dec. 6, 1808, and died in St. Joseph Mo. on Apr. 28, 1898, at age 89. He united with the M. E. Church in 1834 and was a member of the I.O.O.F. from 1850 until his death. In June 1827, he became a professional undertaker and funeral director, the first in the U.S., and in 1890 he was presented, over 190 contestants, with a gold headed cane by the 'Sunny Side,' the oldest undertaker's journal in the world, and pronounced the "first undertaker and veteran of veteran's."