On a chilly May morning in 1898 James Heddon arose from his slumber to begin his day. He never expected the turn of events to occur as they did; in fact it changed not only his life, but the lives of millions.

As his morning rituals played themselves out that day, he had fed his livestock, changed the bedding in a few stalls, had his breakfast and prepped himself for a journey into the town of Dowagiac, Mich.