My Genealogy Hound

ISAAC R. HECKLER, one of the best known and most prosperous farmers of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, was born in Lower Salford township, February 14, 1837, son of Michael and Hannah (Rittenhouse) Heckler.

The Heckler family are of German origin, having emigrated from the province of Alsace Lorraine. George Heckler, the progenitor of the family in America, and the only member of it who came to the western continent, was a son of Michael Heckler. He was born in Alsace, then a French province, in 1736. He came to America when he was seventeen years of age, being given a passage for the new world by the captain of a sailing vessel, who after reaching Philadelphia sold him to a farmer in Chester county, Pennsylvania, for a sum of money equivalent to his passage money, for which he was to give the farmer his services for three years. At the completion of this period he left Chester county and located in Skippack township, Montgomery county, where he engaged with a farmer named Freed. Several years later he married the daughter of Freed, and after his father-in-law’s death purchased the farm, where he resided until his death. Peter, his son, and grandfather of Isaac R. Heckler, the subject of this sketch, was born at Skippack, but the greater part of his life was spent in Lower Salford township. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Detwiler, and their children were: Jacob, Henry, Abraham, Joseph, Christiana, Michael, Sarah and David, all now deceased.

Michael Heckler (father) was born in Lower Salford township in 1813. He spent his boyhood days on the homestead farm. In early manhood he purchased a small farm in Montgomery township, where he resided until 1864, when he sold it and resided with his son, Isaac R., for about three years. He then purchased a small farm in Hatfield township, which he soon afterwards sold and purchased another in Worcester township. A few years later he sold the Worcester property and purchased six acres of land in Hatfield township. About three years later, his wife having died in the meantime, he sold the small farm and resided again with his son Isaac for three years. He afterwards resided with his daughter, Mrs. Herman, until his death in January, 1896. The children of Michael Heckler: Isaac R., subject of this sketch: Aaron, who died in childhood; Matthias, died in childhood; Sarah, wife of Charles Rimbold, residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Franklin and Mary, both deceased.

Isaac R. Heckler obtained such a limited education as was to be had in the schools of the neighborhood in his youth. After leaving school he spent four years at the carpenter trade. At the age of twenty-two he began working for farmers, and three years later entered into an agreement with his father-in-law, Jacob M. Swartley, to manage his farm on shares. This agreement continued in force until 1869. He then purchased a farm of 113 acres on the state road, on which he now resides with his son Mahlon. This farm, together with one of seventy acres on the opposite side of the state road which he purchased in 1880, is one of the finest and most productive in that section of Montgomery county. It has been brought to a high state of cultivation through his industry and energy. The smaller farm is occupied by his son-in-law, Elmer Hespel, a very energetic and successful farmer. In politics Mr. Heckler is a Republican, but he is not a seeker for office. The family were originally Mennonites, but Mr. Heckler’s family attend the Lutheran or Methodist churches.

Isaac Heckler married, October 16, 1861, Susan Swartley, daughter of Jacob M.and Annie (Ruth) Swartley, who was born in New Britain township, Bucks county, May 26, 1843. Their children: Annie, born September 6, 1862, married Jesse Cassel; Mahlon, born October 20, 1865; Hannah, born September 12, 1868, wife of Charles Buck; Laura, born July 10, 1872, wife of Charles Shepherd; Susan, born in September, 1877, wife of Elmer Hespel.

Mahlon Heckler, son of Isaac R. Heckler, was born on the homestead farm in Montgomery township. He was educated at Montgomery Square public school, at D. Levin Coleman’s school at Centre Square, and at that of Professor Samuel U. Brunner, the North Wales Academy and School of Business. Since early boyhood he has been engaged in farm pursuits. He married at Camden, New Jersey, October 29, 1889, Emma Boehner, daughter of Henry and Lena Boehner.

They have six children, as follows: Bertha May, William B., Lawrence, Isaac, Mahlon and Laura. In his political views, Mr. Heckler is, like his father, a Republican.