David Henry Heath was 17 years old when he enlisted for three months service at Monroeville, Ohio, on April 22, 1861, but like many gutsy youths of that era, he stated that he was 18 years old so that he could serve. When this militia unit disbanded in May, 1861, without seeing active service, David enlisted for three years and mustered into service officially on June 6, 1861, at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. Private Heath served honorably in Company G. On October 23, 1862, he received a discharge so that he could serve with an understrength Regular Army artillery unit, Battery H, 4th U. S. Artillery. Following his discharge from service in the 4th U. S. Artillery, he reenlisted and served in Company I, 25th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

After mustering out of service on July 15, 1865, David Henry Heath returned to his home in Monroeville, Huron County, Ohio. In 1869 he married Sarah Ann Wheaton. David and Sarah had four children. Harry Bateman Heath, Ralph Mason Heath, Walter Wheaton Heath, and Mary Ethel Heath. Mary died in early childhood.

In 1886, the Heath family moved to Kansas where David and Sarah remained for the remainder of their lives. Their first home was in Fargo Springs, Seward County, Kansas. One year later they moved to Stevens County, Kansas, and like many prairie farmers, resided in a sod house until sufficient lumber could be obtained for a more traditional frame house. David suffered an accidental gunshot wound to his right hand and lost it due to amputation, reducing his ability to farm.

David Heath kept in close contact with his old friends in the 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 24th O.V.I. reunion association listed him as residing in Monroeville, Ohio, in 1891 and 1893.

David was a strong supporter of public education, and he was an organizer of the first public school in Stevens County, Kansas. He also was elected to several township and county positions, including Stevens County Commissioner. He was a prominent delegate to county and state political conventions on numerous occasions.

The Stevens family was deeply religious, joining others in the founding of a rural Baptist church in Stevens County. They were also well known for active participation in church activities.

When David's wife, Sarah, died in 1912, David moved to Seward County to live with his son, Ralph. David died September 27, 1927, at Liberal, Kansas, and is interred beside his wife in the Liberal Cemetery, Liberal, Seward County, Kansas.

Sources: "Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion and 24th O.V.I. pension index." Phyllis Schnedler of Manhattan, Kansas, also provided much biographical information.

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