Abraham Heistand

As printed in 1908

ABRAHAM C. HEISTAND, a representative citizen of Bethel Township, residing on his valuable farm of 110 acres, which is situated on the north side of the old Carlisle Turnpike Road, six miles west of Spring-field, was born on his father's farm in York County, Pennsylvania. January 11, 1838. His parents were Abraham and Leah (Longenecker) Heistand.

Some of the family records of the Heistand family indicate that members of it came to Pennsylvania in the days of William Penn, but the first authentic date is 1731, when John, Abraham, Balser, Barbara and Anna Heistand sailed for America in the ship Brittania. They were natives of Germany, but had been forced to flee to Switzerland on account of religious persecution, and for freedom of religious belief they crossed the Atlantic Ocean and established a home in what was then largely an unsettled country. In the fall of 1731 they landed at Philadelphia and John and Abraham went to Lancaster Coimty, where they took up 500 acres of land, 200 of which still remains a possession of the family. Balser went to the South and all trace of him or his descendants have been lost sight of.

Abraham Heistand, son of John Heistand, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he became a man of wealth and influence. He subsequently moved to York County, where his last years were spent. He was twice married and his children were of his first union, as follows: John, Abraham, William, Balser, Sarah, Nancy and Susan.

Abraham Heistand, son of Abraham and father of Abraham C., was born on his father's farm in York County, Pennsylvania, where he lived a long and useful life and died at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Leah Longenecker, who survived to the age of ninety-two years. They had eleven children, as follows: John, Catherine, Sarah, Christian L., Abraham, Susan, William, Jacob and Amanda, twins, Anna and Alice, all of whom survive with the exception of the youngest.

Abrahani C. Heistand was reared on his father's farm and in boyhood went to school, a distance of three miles, when his services were not required at home. In 1861 he joined his older brother. Christian L., in Clark County, Ohio, and together they bought a farm of 280 acres, the old General Mason ]place, in Moorefield Township. They continued to farm that place for seven years and then sold out to Jacob Hertsler. Mr. Heistand then came to his present farm, buying the first seventy acres from Samuel Miller and the remainder he purchased from other parties as he has seen a chance for a good investment. At the time of purchase an old brick house stood on the place, which Mr. Heistand tore down and replaced with a comfortable eight-room frame dwelling. He erected all the substantial farm buildings and made all the very noticeable improvements. He carries on general farming and devotes considerable attention to raising fine Durham cattle.

In 1869 Mr. Heistand was married to Martha Fisher, who is a daughter of John Fisher. They have one son, Clarence. Mr. Heistand, like all other members of his family, is a Democrat.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.