My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE D. HEIST, one of the citizens and business men of Glenside, Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in the vicinity of his present home, January 3, 1834, a son of David and Dorothea L. (Ottinger) Heist.

The earliest ancestor of this family of whom there is any authentic information was Henry Heist (great-great-grandfather), who, accompanied by his wife, Catharine Heist, came from Germany to the United States about the year 1753. Three children accompanied them, one of whom died on the passage across the ocean, and was buried on landing. Shortly after their arrival at Philadelphia the family settled at Goshenhoppen, then being rapidly peopled by the German element.

George Heist (great-grandfather) was born August 3, 1754, at Goshenhoppen, Upper Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He resided in the vicinity of his birthplace during his entire lifetime, was an active and public-spirited citizen, and reared his children to lives of usefulness and activity. He died September 11, 1809.

George Heist (grandfather) was born December 29, 1781, on the homestead in Upper Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. On reaching manhood he removed first to Salzburg, in Northampton county, and later in life to the vicinity of Flourtown, in Montgomery county. He married, March 25, 1806, Catharine Cope, of Hilltown township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and their children were as follows: Charles, Joseph, David, mentioned hereinafter; Mary Ann (Mrs. Henry Stout); Catharine (Mrs. Benjamin Fisher); Elizabeth (Mrs. Arnold Green); Lavinia (Mrs. William Coffman); Julia Ann (Mrs. William Conover). George Heist, father of these children, died May 20, 1855.

David Heist (father) was born January 17, 1810, in Salzburg, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His opportunities for obtaining an education were somewhat limited, as the schools of his day and neighborhood were very inferior. At the age of eighteen years he became a resident of Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, and entered at once in the business of farming. For a dozen years after his marriage he leased a farm in Cheltenham, and at the expiration of that period of time purchased property at Glenside, to which he removed in the spring of 1847, continuing to reside thereon until his death, which occurred June 13, 1881, in his seventy-second year. The property then became the inheritance of his son, George D. Heist. Mr. Heist was a leading man in his community, being highly esteemed and trusted by all. He was active in promoting neighborhood interests, and was for many years a director of the Limekiln Turnpike Company. In politics he was a Democrat, but never sought or held office, party affiliation being a matter of principle with him. He was a man of decided religious convictions, and was for many years a member of the Lutheran church at Germantown, and later of the Whitemarsh Lutheran church. He made a bequest to the last named, and also to the Lutheran church at Chestnut Hill. Mr. Heist was united in marriage to Dorothea L. Ottinger, of Springfield township, born March 22, 1817, and died March 12, 1842. They were the parents of the following named children: George D., mentioned hereinafter; Henrietta, deceased, who was the widow of Daniel H. Wentz; Anna Cecelia, widow of Albert D. Wentz. Mrs. Heist died March 12, 1842. Mr. Heist married for his second wife Margaret Lenhart, of Cheltenham, and the only child of that marriage was Elizabeth F., now deceased, who was the wife of H. P. Appleman, of Bethlehem.

George D. Heist was educated in the public schools of Cheltenham township and the institution known as Treemount Seminary, in Norristown. On completing his school studies, he engaged in teaching in the schools of Cheltenham for about three years, and then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed for a few years. Afterwards he was occupied with mercantile pursuits for ten years at Edge Hill, in Cheltenham, and since the year 1872 he has been engaged in the lumber and coal business, as well as giving attention to the supervision of his extensive farming interests. He is a director of the Jenkintown National Bank. For a number of years he served as a member of the Cheltenham school board. The success which has attended the efforts of Mr. Heist in his various enterprises is due entirely to his capable business ability, perseverance and thrift. He is genial and affable in disposition, attentive to his home and family, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he is brought in contact, either in business or in social intercourse.

Mr. Heist married Eleanor Gilbert, born October 7, 1834, daughter of Jesse and Ann Gilbert, of Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children are as follows: 1. David Franklin, born May 11, 1861, died October 13, 1885; he married Anna M. Wilson, June 17, 1884, and they were the parents of one son, George D., born July 14, 1885. 2. Anna, born November 21, 1862; she became the wife of Dr. F. S. Slifer, October 3, 1899, and their children are: Eleanor H. and Ruth L. Slifer. 3. Flora, born March 30, 1865. 4. Howard, born December 21, 1866, died February 6, 1885. 5. An infant son, born August 4, 1868. 6. Gilbert, born March 9, 1871, died February 18, 1872. 7. George, born October 15, 1873; he is a graduate of Dickinson College, and is now practicing law in Philadelphia; he was married to Lillian M. Hoffner, and their children are Gilbert, born December 12, 1901, and Virginia, born December 26, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. George D. Heist are members of the Lutheran church. They attend Zion Lutheran church, of Whitemarsh, at Flourtown, of which Mr. Heist has been a trustee for many years.