David HECK

                   DAVID L. HECK, [pages 1128-1129] one of the venerable citizens of Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, springs from German ancestors, who, on coming over from Germany, settled in Virginia.
David Heck, his grandfather, was a farmer in Virginia and there married Christina Lane, by whom he had the following children: Daniel, Christina, Elizabeth, Jacob, David and two others. The mother of these children having died, he married again, the name of his second wife being not now recalled, but by whom he had a large family.
David Heck, father of David L., was born in 1783 in Maryland, where his father lived at one time. He married, in Virginia, Magdalena Spitler, daughter of Jacob Spitler, fuller reference to whom is made in the history of the Spitler family, elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Heck there were born the following children: Samuel M., John D., David L., Annie, Elizabeth, Susannah, Polly A., and Andrew B., the last named of whom died at the age of six years. David Heck came to Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1818, settling in Madison township on December 29, of that year. David L. now lives on a part of the farm then taken up. David Heck received eighty acres from his wife's father, Jacob Spitler, who had purchased a quarter section in this county, but who himself never came here. David Heck had come to this county in 1811, then, going back to Virginia, married there, and, bringing his wife with him to Ohio, he erected a cabin and cleared a small part of his land. He again returned to Virginia after remaining here two months, and was engaged in the war of 1812. After the war was over he lived with his wife's father until 1818, when he again came to Montgomery county to remain. Upon arriving in Dayton he was offered the lot upon which the Phillips House now stands, in exchange for the leader of his four-horse team, which offer he refused, because the land there was so wet. By industry and hard labor he prospered and entered a half section of land in Tipton county, Ind., he and six others in 1837 going on horseback from Montgomery county to Indiana, where they all entered land. The price paid by Mr. Heck for his land was $400 for 320 acres.
Mr. Heck was a member of the Regular or Hard Shell Baptist church, but in his old age became a member of the German Baptist church. Politically he remained a Jackson democrat, and was always strong in the faith, as he was in all his opinions, religious or political. He was for a time a director of the Dayton turnpike company, of which he was a stockholder. He also served for a number of years as treasurer of the company. He served as justice of the peace one term, and was looked upon by all as a straightforward, honorable man.
David L. Heck was born March 4, 1816, in Botetourt county, Va., and was therefore only two years old when brought to Montgomery county by his parents. Reared among the early pioneers he became a typical pioneer himself, thoroughly familiar with their customs, habits and virtues. Though his educational facilities and opportunities were exceedingly limited when he was young, yet, possessing an active mind, he read and studied much privately, and became a thoroughly well-informed man. He fully appreciated the value of a cultivated, disciplined mind, and now has a good education. In his youth he learned the carpenter trade. On May 23, 1842, he married, in Perry township, Susannah Shank, who was born on December 25, 1819, and was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Noffsinger) Shank, for fuller reference to whom the reader is referred to the biographical sketch of Henry Shank, published elsewhere in this volume.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Heck remained on the homestead farm for six years, during which time he worked at his trade. He then bought forty acres of land adjoining his father's farm, where he now lives. Through steady work and industrious application he cleared his farm, made it a good home for his family, and has added to it,
To Mr. and Mrs. Heck there were born the following children: Harriet, who died at the age of seven years; David F., Elizabeth, Samuel, Eliza A., John W., Warren, Harry and Clement L. Mrs. Heck died in her seventy-fourth year, a member of the United Brethren church and a woman of many virtues. Politically Mr. Heck is a democrat, and as such has served as justice of the peace one term and as county infirmary director one term. Throughout his life he has been well known as a man of straightforward honesty of character and of strict adherence to principle. His judgment is universally respected, and for this reason he has been selected to serve the people of his county in various capacities.