Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/209

 HECKER

HECKMAX

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Catholic religion, and in 1845 while spending a season with Thoreau at his hermitage in Con- cord, Mass., he became a convert to that faith. He went to Germany to study for the priesthood, entered the Redemptionist order at St. Trond, Belgium, and was ordained by Cardinal Wiseman in London, England, in 1849. He served as missionary in Eng- land, 1849-51, and on returning to the Uni- ted States in the lat- ter year he conducted missions throughout the country. Feel- ing the need of a distinctively Amer- ican order of mis- sionaries who should direct their efforts toward converting the Protestant world to Catholicism, he irisited Rome in 1857 and laid his plans before the pope, who approved of his scheme and released him from his obligations to the Redemptionist order. He named his proposed society, which he founded in New York city, the " Congregation of the Mission Priests of St. Paul the Apostle," and was made superior of the oi'der popularly known as Paulist Fathers. He built the church of St. Pavil the Apostle; a home for the commu- nity and a cluster of schools. Converts were not restricted by harsh rules and priests could leave the order at any time. The organization grew rapidly and was made up largely of converts from the Protestant EpiscojDal faith. In 1865 Father Hecker founded the Catholic World and the Catholic Publication society for the dissemi- nation of tracts and books. Congregational sing- ing was mtroduced in the church service, Sunday schools were organized, and parish and Sun- day school libraries instituted. In 1869 he was a delegate to the Roman Catholic congress at Malines; was theologian to Arclibishop Spalding at the Vatican council, 1870-71; travelled through Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land, 1871-75; and was reelected and served as superior of the Con- gregation of St. Paul the Apostle, 1876-85. His contribution to the lievue Genemle. Brussels, 1869, on the relation of the Roman Catholic church and democracy in the United States attracted wide attention. He published. (Questions of the Soul (1855), Aspirations of Nature (1857); Catho- iicity m tiie United IStates (1879), Catholics and Protestants Agreeing on the School Question (1881), and a series of papers on Orestes A. Brownson in the Catholic Worht (1887-88). He died at the Mission Uouse in Mew York citv, Dec. 2^, 1888.

HECKEWELDER, John Gottlieb Ernestus,

pioneer, was born iu Bedford, England, March li, 1743. He was brought to America by his par- ents, who were Moravians, and educated in their settlement in Bethlehem, Pa. He learned the trade of cooper. He visited Ohio in 1762 in com- pany with a colonial agent and there had his first intercourse with the Indian tribes. He was employed in the Indian missions, established in Pennsylvania, 1765-71, and as assistant to David Ziesberger in Ohio, 1771-86. At the request of Henry Knox, secretary of war, he accompanied Gen. Rufus Putnam to Port Vincennes to treat with the Indians in 1792, and in 1793 he went on a similar commission to the Indians of the Lakes. Besides his missionary labors he was postmaster, justice of the peace and of the court of common pleas. He remained in Ohio till 1810, when he returned to Bethlehem, Pa., and engaged in literary pursuits. He was elected a member of the American philosophical society of Philadel- phia. Many of his unpublished manu.scripts relating to the Indians are preserved in the Penn- sylvania historical society. His contributions to Indian archaeology treat of their condition, lan- guage, manners, life, customs and character. Gen. Lewis Cass says: "■ Heckewelder"s account is pure unmixed panegyric. The most idle traditions of the Indians with him became sober history; their superstition, religion, their indolence, phil- osophical indifference and pious resignation, their astonishing improvidence, hospitalitj'. and many otlier defects in their character were converted into the corresponding virtues." His published works include: Account of the Indian Nations icho once inhabited Pennsylvania and the Neighboring States (1818; German trans., 1821; French trans., 1822); Narrative of the Missions of the United Brethren among the Delawares and. Mohegan Indians (1820); Names uihich the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians gave to Elvers, Streams and Localities within the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia, loith their Signification (1822). See Life of Heckeicelder by the Rev. E. Rondthaler (1847). He died in Bethlehem, Pa., Jan. 21, 1823. HECKMAN, George C, educator, was born at Easton, Pa., Jan. 26. 1825; son of John and Mary (Schneider) Heckman; grandson of Adam Heckman, a soldier of the Revolution; great- grandson of Brig. Gen. Peter Kichlein of the war of the Revolution; great- grand.son of John Peter Kichlein of Heidelberg, Germany, who arrived in America Sept. 21, 1742, and settled at Bedminster. Bucks county, Pa., and also great^ grandson of WiUiam Diltz, who settled in Amwell, Hunterdon county, N.J, about 1730. All of his ancestors came from Germany before 1750 and all his great grandparents were among the original settlers ot Northampton county. Pa.