BIO: David Heckert, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 22

DAVID HECKERT is a native of York, Penn., born in 1825, is a son of Jacob and 
Salome (Herbach) Heckert, is of German extraction and is traced authoritatively 
to Francis Heckert, who was born in New Bamburg, in the kingdom of Bavaria, in 
1708.  His father's name was Conrad Heckert, a native of the same town.  Francis 
Heckert was married February 25, 1728, to Miss Mary Margaretha Hilda Seymering, 
of Wallerthum, Bavaria.  To this union were born three children as follows: 
Magdalena, John Jacob and John Peter.  This family came to America in 1737, and 
settled in the territory that now comprises York County.  The great-grandfather 
of our subject was John Jacob Heckert, born in Bavaria, April 13, 1780, and his 
grandfather was Jacob Heckert, who, one year (1775) prior to the Revolutionary 
war, was bound out to Lawrence Etter, of York Township, to learn the wagon-
maker's trade.  He was tax collector of York during the years 1793 and 1795, and 
member of the house of representative 1812-18.  The father of Mr. Heckert was 
born in York, August 21, 1791, and died October 2, 1871.  The boyhood of our 
subject was spent in attending the early schools of York.  His first tutor was a 
Mrs. Willis.  At seventeen he began serving an apprenticeship to the tinner and 
coppersmith trades, and in September, 1847, he went to Baltimore, Md., and 
continued his trade for some time.  In 1850 he went to Independence, Mo., and 
there remained seven months, and then removed to Memphis, Tenn., where he 
continued his trade more than one year, and then returned to his native town and 
county.  Here, in 1855, he began business, in which he has since continued, the 
firm being now known as Heckert & Bros.  In 1884 he erected his business and 
residence block on Lot No. 26 East Market Street.  Politically he affilliates 
with the Republican party.  Ancestors Lutheran.  List of members for the house 
of representatives of commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the session of 1812-13 
for York County:  James S. Mitchell, Adam Hendricks, Peter Storm, Jacob Heckert.  
Officers for same term:  George Heckert, clerk; Samuel D. Franks, assistant 
clerk; John Benjamin, sergeant-at-arms; Henry Lechler, doorkeeper.  George 
Heckert's residence at that time was at Lancaster City.  He was a lawyer by 
profession, and practiced law at Lancaster bar later on in life.  He was a son 
of Jacob Heckert, who resided in Lancaster City till late in life.  He had four 
children--three sons and one daughter.  George the eldest lived to the age of 
eighty-six; Catharine, eighty-four; Jacob, eighty-one; Daniel, forty-seven.  
Daniel Heckert was a printer by profession in the year 1811.  He was in 
connection with Updegraff, doing business under the firm name of Heckert & 
Updegraff.  Published a paper called the York Expositor, issued weekly.  In 1812 
he enlisted in the company which went from York to the defense of Baltimore, and 
marched to North Point; was in the engagement at that place; died in 1829.