Home > United States of America > Kansas > Montgomery County > Liberty > Liberty Cemetery > David Heckman

David Heckman

View larger map

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

❮ ❯

David Heckman

Birth	:	17 Jan 1847 Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death	:	11 Nov 1922
Burial	:	Liberty Cemetery, Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.1581890, -95.6001580
Description	:	* DAVID HECKMAN – Thirty-three years ago, in February of 1870, the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review, filed on the claim upon which now stands the pleasant rural village of Liberty. Those were the days of the beginning of things in Montgomery county, when the coyote and Indian roamed over much of the county at will and each, in his way, made it interesting for the lone white settler in his scantily covered shack. As Mr. Heckman sits in his comfortable modern residence, surrounded with all that goes to make life desirable, he can hardly... Read More	* DAVID HECKMAN – Thirty-three years ago, in February of 1870, the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this review, filed on the claim upon which now stands the pleasant rural village of Liberty. Those were the days of the beginning of things in Montgomery county, when the coyote and Indian roamed over much of the county at will and each, in his way, made it interesting for the lone white settler in his scantily covered shack. As Mr. Heckman sits in his comfortable modern residence, surrounded with all that goes to make life desirable, he can hardly realize the many changes that have come to pass; but that they are here, he is well-assured, and satisfaction is his only feeling. The Heckmans are from the "Keystone State" and are of German descent. David was born in Armstrong county, in 1847, and is the son of Abraham and Esther (Clingensmith) Heckman, Abraham in turn being the son of Philip, who came to the county in an early day and died there at the age of sixty years, in 1839. These early members of the family were tillers of the soil, Abraham still residing on the old homestead. He was ninety-one years of age on the 24th of July, 1902. He is the father of ten children, eight of whom are still living – Henry is in Oregon; Mary Ann in Pennsylvania; Peter, William, John and Catherine (twins), and Margaret are also in the "Keystone State." [Pennsylvania] David Heckman grew to manhood amid the pains and pleasures (and there were both) of farm life in his native county, remaining on the homestead until he was twenty-three years old. He then came west and located, as stated above, in Liberty township. He immediately erected the primitive residence of that day, which had the distinction, while it stood, of being the first one in the town of Liberty, which was afterward laid out on the claim located by Mr. Heckman. Our subject deeded the claim on the 24th of July, 1871, and immediately sold it to Capt. McTaggart and Capt. Heard, who platted the town in the same month. Mr. Heckman continued to engage in agriculture until 1877, when he purchased a stock of goods and opened a store in the town, in company with Edward Barnett, under the firm name of Barnett & Heckman. The style of the firm changed, in 1881, to Heckman Bros., and in 1886, to David Heckman, our subject buying his brother's interest. He has continued the business since and is regarded as the leading merchant of the village. Mr. Heckman's citizenship has been of that unselfish character which looks to the interest of his town and county, rather than aggrandizement of self. He has always taken great pride in the town and has proved his friendship by many practical demonstrations, administering, at times, and sacrificing, cheerfully, time and money in its advancement. In state and national affairs, Mr. Heckman supports the Democratic party. Mrs. Heckman, prior to 1875, was Emma A. Barnett. She is a daughter of Edward and Lucretia Barnett, both parents deceased. They were worthy and respected residents of the county for long years. But one child was born to Mrs. Heckman, its death occurring in infancy. As a solace to their loneliness, they adopted a little girl, Miss True Thornton, who is now an inmate of their home. (per Montgomery County Biographies - "History of Montgomery County, Kansas, Illustrated," 1903) === * Of the men whose ability, industry and forethought have added to the character, wealth and good government of Liberty, none are better known than David Heckman. Mr. Heckman is a business man, not only by training and long experience, but by preference and natural talent, and all these qualities have been combined to form a force through which he has worked his way to success. He first came to this community in 1870, but it was not until 1877 that he located permanently in Liberty, and since that time his fortunes have been linked indissolubly with those of the growing community which he has watched grow and develop with the eye of a proprietor. Mr. Heckman was born on his father's farm near Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1847, being a son of Abraham and Esther (Klingensmith) Heckman, a grandson of Philip Heckman, a pioneer Pennsylvania farmer who died in Armstrong County before his birth, and a member of a family which originated in Germany and transferred its abiding place to America many years ago. Abraham Heckman was born in 1812, in Armstrong County, and there his entire life was passed in the vocations of farming and stockraising. He was a man of sound intelligence and force of character, and his abilities were recognized by his fellow-citizens on a number of occasions when they elected him to public positions of trust and responsibility, such as overseer of the poor, township treasurer and numerous other posts. He took a great interest in civic affairs and was prominent in his community as a democratic politician. He died in 1906, in the faith of the Lutheran Church, in which he had been an active worker. Mr. Heckman married Miss Esther Klingensrnith, who was born in Armstrong County in 1816 and died there in 1901, and they became the parents of the following children: Gideon, who died in Armstrong County after a long career passed as a tiller of the soil; Henry, who, in following the vocation of schoolteacher, traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and died at Salem, Oregon; Mary Ann, who is the widow of Lonis Deiffendeifer, a farmer of Indiana County, Pennsylvania; Peter, who died near the old homestead farm in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; A. J., who fought as a soldier during the Civil war, subsequently came to Kansas where he was in business with his brother, David, and died at Ossawotamie, Kansas, being buried at Liberty; William, who was in the real estate business and insurance at Coffeyville and died in February, 1916; David, of this review; John C., who was identified with steel mills in Pennsylvania for twenty years before his death in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in 1910; Catherine, who is the wife of Albert Klingensmith, a hardware merchant near New Kensington, Pennsylvania; and Margaret, who is the wife of Abraham Shutt, now living retired at Leechburg, Pennsylvania, after many years spent in agricultural pursuits. David Heckman attended the district schools of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and was reared on his father's farm, on which he resided until reaching the age of twenty-three years. In 1870 he left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the West, and arrived in Montgomery County, Kansas, February 14th of that year when he pre-empted from the United States Government a property which was later to become the townsite of Liberty. This he subsequently sold, after a short period, to Captains McTaggart and Herod, and the town was founded in 1871. When he disposed of this land, Mr. Heckman went to Crawford County, Kansas, where for six years he lived on a farm. Conditions there, however, were not entirely satisfactory, and on disposing of his property advantageously, he returned to Liberty, then a full-fledged, growing and prosperous town. In company with his father-in-law, he embarked in the mercantile business, with a stock of goods worth $2,000. From the start the business was successful, the ability, good judgment and foresight of the partners attracting a large volume of patronage and their straightforward dealing and absolute integrity in all matters holding customers that were once made. At one time, during the earlier days, so great had the business grown that trade was attracted from a radius of fifteen miles, and there are still a number of customers who come in from six miles and even farther to deal with this old and reliable concern. A three-story building is occupied, Mr. Heckman owning two floors and leasing the third, and everything is sold from a pin to a thrashing machine or an automobile. The floors have a front of 75 feet and a depth of 80 feet, and the great stock is being constantly rearranged and renewed so that only up-to-date goods of the best quality are kept. Throughout his career Mr. Heckman's name has been synonymous with fair and upright dealing, and this gives him decided prestige in business circles. While the greater part of his attention has been centered in his store, he has other interests, and at the same time has not been neglectful of his duties as a citizen, for he has lent his support to various public-spirited enterprises which have helped Liberty in its growth. He resides in his own home, located in block 9. Mr. Heckman is a democrat in political affairs, and fraternally is well known, belonging to Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 105, Liberty, Modern Woodmen of America Camp No. 96, Liberty; Lodge No. 279, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Coffeyville; the Rehekahs of Liberty and the Anti-Horse Thief Association, of this city. In 1874, at Liberty, Mr. Heckman was united in marriage with Miss Emma Barnett, daughter of the late Edward Barnett, a merchant of this place. Mrs. Heckman died February 29, 1916, having been the mother of one child, Myrtle, who died aged eighteen months and one adopted daughter, True, who married Frank Love, and resides at Winona, Missouri, where Mr. Love is filling the position of railroad agent. - Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, 1918 (per Becky Doan (#46821009) * Abraham Heckman Children: 1) Gideon 2) Henry 3) Mary Ann Deiffendeifer 4) Peter 5) A.J. 6) William 7) David 8) John C. 9) Catherine Klingensmith 10) Margaret Shutt

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is David Heckman's memorial?
David Heckman's memorial is located at: Liberty Cemetery, Liberty, Montgomery County, USA.
When did David Heckman death?
David Heckman death on 11 Nov 1922 in
Where are the coordinates of the David Heckman's memorial?
Latitude: 37.1581890
Longitude: -95.6001580

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Emma A. Barnett Heckman

(1854 - 1916)

Siblings

A. J. Heckman

(1842 - 1889)

William Heckman

(1844 - 1916)

Children

Myrtle Heckman

(1876 - 1878)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Liberty Cemetery
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1581890, -95.6001580

2. All Saints Cemetery
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1542015, -95.5757980

3. Hinton Cemetery
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1384900, -95.6101000

4. Thompson Homestead Cemetery
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1767000, -95.6183100

5. Shelton Mausoleum
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1857760, -95.5490630

6. Montgomery County Poor Farm Cemetery
Liberty, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1888590, -95.6493690

7. Spring Hill Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1235600, -95.6595500

8. Harmony Cemetery
Cherryvale, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2324982, -95.5950012

9. Centennial Cemetery
Cherryvale, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2296982, -95.5466995

10. Pratt Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2324982, -95.6557999

11. Kalloch Cemetery
Coffeyville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0682983, -95.5867004

12. Russell Cemetery
Mound Valley, Labette County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1900490, -95.4763840

13. Union Cemetery
Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0630989, -95.5408020

14. Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery
Cherryvale, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2633018, -95.5753021

15. Calvary Cemetery
Coffeyville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0567017, -95.6502991

16. Saint Andrews Cemetery
Independence, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2566986, -95.6658020

17. Fairview Cemetery
Coffeyville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0546989, -95.6536026

18. Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Coffeyville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0527992, -95.6493988

19. Mount Hope Cemetery
Independence, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2413300, -95.7060050

20. Griffith Cemetery
Labette County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2463989, -95.4981003

21. Chapel of Resurrection Columbarium
Coffeyville, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0373300, -95.6187200

22. Calvary Cemetery
Independence, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2486000, -95.7043991

23. Bethel Cemetery
Independence, Montgomery County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2761002, -95.6457977

24. Richland Cemetery
Angola, Labette County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1342000, -95.4475000