Newsletter
 |  |  |  |
| | | |
| | | |
A. H. HEISEY & COMPANY
A CHRONOLOGY - PART 1
1842 - 1877
By Tom Felt
Reprinted from Heisey News, March 1986
This month begins a chronology of the life of Augustus H. Heisey and a history of his factory from its beginnings until the
closing in 1957. I have attempted to gather information from as many sources as possible, to verify that information from
multiple sources when available, and to include the most likely "guesses" based on our current knowledge, when the
sources disagree or reliable information is not available. I would appreciate very much hearing from anyone who has
additional information, or who can confirm or correct any information given in the following pages. Please contact me C/O
The Heisey News, P. O. Box 27, Newark, Ohio 43055. **Please note this is not a valid address anymore**
1842
August 25. Augustus Henry Heisey was born in Hanover, Germany. (1)
1843-1860
The Heisey family emigrated in 1843 and settled in Merrittown, PA. Heisey's father was in the cattle business. In the late
1840's he was murdered for a large sum of money which he had on him after the sale of some cattle out west. Heisey's
mother returned to German where she later died of cholera. According to the Crockery and Glass Journal, Heisey
received his education at the Merrittown Academy.
Heisey lived with his sister, Caroline Fredericka Glaser, in Brownsville, PA until he was 17 or 18. After leaving school, he
was engaged in the printing business in Brownsville.
1861
Heisey became a clerk with the King Glass Company in Pittsburgh.
1862
August 21. Heisey enlisted in the Army for a 3-year term and was commissioned 1st Sergeant. (2)
September 2. Company C of the 155th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers was mustered in. Heisey served with this
Company throughout the Civil War and was reported to been involved in 22 engagements, including the following:
December 11-13. Battle of Fredericksburg.
Heisey was advanced to 2nd Lieutenant.
1863
April 3 - May 4. Battle of Chancellorsville.
July 1 - 3. Battle of Gettysburg. Heisey's Company participated in the storming and capture of Little Round Too, the site
where the memorial for the 155th Regiment now stands. (3)
September 1. On or about this date, Heisey became acting Captain of Company C.
November 7. Battle of Rappahannock Station.
November 28. Battle of Mine Run.
1864
May 5 - 7. Battle of Wilderness.
May 8-11. Battle of Spottsylvania.
June 2. Battle of Cold Harbor.
June 17. Battle of Petersburg. Heisey received a commendation for gallantry in action, after taking command of a
bayonet charge against the enemy when its leader fell.
June 23. Battle of Weldon Railroad.
September 30 - October 1. Battle of Preble's Farm.
October 3. Heisey was officially promoted to Captain. (4)
1865
February 6. Battle at Dabney's Mill.
March 25. Second Battle of Hatcher's Run.
April 1. Battle of Five Forks. (5)
April 9. Surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House. According to T. Clarence Heisey, emissaries for
the truce came from Heisey's Company.
June 2. Heisey was mustered out of the Army. (6)
According to some sources, Heisey returned to the King Glass Company after the War. In late 1866 or early 1867, he
became a shipping clerk with the Ripley Glass Company in Pittsburgh. This firm was founded in 1866 and consisted of
Daniel C. Ripley, George Duncan, Sr. and four other partners. (7) Heisey later became a salesman and was regarded
as one of the best glass salesmen on the road, according to the Pottery, Glass and Brass Salesman (Feb. 16, 1922).
1870
May 11. Heisey married Susan N. Duncan, daughter of George Duncan. (8)
1873
February 18. A first son, George Duncan Heisey, was born.
1874
January 29. George Duncan, Sr., became sole owner of the Ripley Glass Company.
April 29. Heisey became one of the original incorporators of the Pittsburgh Clay Pot Company, Ltd., a firm which
manufactured the clay pots used in glassmaking furnaces.
May 1. George Duncan, Sr., deeded a ¼ share in the Ripley Glass Company to each of his children: George Duncan, Jr.,
James E. Duncan, and Susan N. Heisey, the terms being "one dollar and natural love and affection." The company was
renamed Geo. Duncan and Sons at this time.
May 28. Heisey's first design patent was submitted for a glass bowl with a hexagonal foot. (This patent was approved
June 16th as no. 7,493.) A first daughter, Mary Heisey, seems to have been born sometime during this year.
1875
October 9. A second son, Edgar Wilson Heisey, was born.
1877
A second daughter, Emma Heisey (later Mrs. Oliver H, Dockery), was born. (9)
A very detailed account of Heisey’s experiences in the Civil War was written by Joe Lokay in the May 1978 issue of the
Heisey News.
The other partners were Thomas Coffin, John and Jacob Strickler, and Nickolas Kunzler. The factory was located at 10th
and Washington Sts. According to deed records, Duncan was not a partner at the time the factory was erected, but
purchased a share of the firm on March 23, 1867.
A third daughter was also born to the Heiseys, Alice (later Mrs. Frederick H. King), birthdate unknown.
1 An obituary in the Crockery and Glass Journal, February 16, 1922, reported his birthdate as August 3, 1843. That
same source also erroneously gave his birthplace as Merrittown, PA.
2 According to his obituary, previously cited, he enlisted as a Private, but once again this source appears to be
erroneous.
3 The obituary in the Crockery and Glass Journal reports that Heisey was shot from his horse and slightly wounded at
this battle, but there is no further documentation for this.
4 Although a number of sources have indicated that Heisey was advanced to Major, including his obituary in the
Crockery and Glass Journal in 1922 and a letter written by T. Clarence Heisey in 1940, all other records indicate that 5
Captain the highest rank to which he attained.
5 Other battles he was reported to have been involved in between 1864-1865 include Laurel Hill, North Ann River
(possibly the Battle of North Anna, May 26 – 27, 1864), Tolopotamy, Bethesda Church and Saylor’s Creek.
6 A very detailed account of Heisey’s experiences in the Civil War was written by Joe Lokay in the May 1978 issue of the
Heisey News.
7 The other partners were Thomas Coffin, John and Jacob Strickler, and Nickolas Kunzler. The factory was located at
10th and Washington Sts. According to deed records, Duncan was not a partner at the time the factory was erected, but
purchased a share of the firm on March 23, 1867.
Note: Footnote #8 is referenced in the text of the article but was not included at the end.
9 A third daughter was also born to the Heiseys, Alice (later Mrs. Frederick H. King), birthdate unknown.
A CHRONOLOGY - PART 1
1842 - 1877
By Tom Felt
Reprinted from Heisey News, March 1986
This month begins a chronology of the life of Augustus H. Heisey and a history of his factory from its beginnings until the
closing in 1957. I have attempted to gather information from as many sources as possible, to verify that information from
multiple sources when available, and to include the most likely "guesses" based on our current knowledge, when the
sources disagree or reliable information is not available. I would appreciate very much hearing from anyone who has
additional information, or who can confirm or correct any information given in the following pages. Please contact me C/O
The Heisey News, P. O. Box 27, Newark, Ohio 43055. **Please note this is not a valid address anymore**
1842
August 25. Augustus Henry Heisey was born in Hanover, Germany. (1)
1843-1860
The Heisey family emigrated in 1843 and settled in Merrittown, PA. Heisey's father was in the cattle business. In the late
1840's he was murdered for a large sum of money which he had on him after the sale of some cattle out west. Heisey's
mother returned to German where she later died of cholera. According to the Crockery and Glass Journal, Heisey
received his education at the Merrittown Academy.
Heisey lived with his sister, Caroline Fredericka Glaser, in Brownsville, PA until he was 17 or 18. After leaving school, he
was engaged in the printing business in Brownsville.
1861
Heisey became a clerk with the King Glass Company in Pittsburgh.
1862
August 21. Heisey enlisted in the Army for a 3-year term and was commissioned 1st Sergeant. (2)
September 2. Company C of the 155th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers was mustered in. Heisey served with this
Company throughout the Civil War and was reported to been involved in 22 engagements, including the following:
December 11-13. Battle of Fredericksburg.
Heisey was advanced to 2nd Lieutenant.
1863
April 3 - May 4. Battle of Chancellorsville.
July 1 - 3. Battle of Gettysburg. Heisey's Company participated in the storming and capture of Little Round Too, the site
where the memorial for the 155th Regiment now stands. (3)
September 1. On or about this date, Heisey became acting Captain of Company C.
November 7. Battle of Rappahannock Station.
November 28. Battle of Mine Run.
1864
May 5 - 7. Battle of Wilderness.
May 8-11. Battle of Spottsylvania.
June 2. Battle of Cold Harbor.
June 17. Battle of Petersburg. Heisey received a commendation for gallantry in action, after taking command of a
bayonet charge against the enemy when its leader fell.
June 23. Battle of Weldon Railroad.
September 30 - October 1. Battle of Preble's Farm.
October 3. Heisey was officially promoted to Captain. (4)
1865
February 6. Battle at Dabney's Mill.
March 25. Second Battle of Hatcher's Run.
April 1. Battle of Five Forks. (5)
April 9. Surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House. According to T. Clarence Heisey, emissaries for
the truce came from Heisey's Company.
June 2. Heisey was mustered out of the Army. (6)
According to some sources, Heisey returned to the King Glass Company after the War. In late 1866 or early 1867, he
became a shipping clerk with the Ripley Glass Company in Pittsburgh. This firm was founded in 1866 and consisted of
Daniel C. Ripley, George Duncan, Sr. and four other partners. (7) Heisey later became a salesman and was regarded
as one of the best glass salesmen on the road, according to the Pottery, Glass and Brass Salesman (Feb. 16, 1922).
1870
May 11. Heisey married Susan N. Duncan, daughter of George Duncan. (8)
1873
February 18. A first son, George Duncan Heisey, was born.
1874
January 29. George Duncan, Sr., became sole owner of the Ripley Glass Company.
April 29. Heisey became one of the original incorporators of the Pittsburgh Clay Pot Company, Ltd., a firm which
manufactured the clay pots used in glassmaking furnaces.
May 1. George Duncan, Sr., deeded a ¼ share in the Ripley Glass Company to each of his children: George Duncan, Jr.,
James E. Duncan, and Susan N. Heisey, the terms being "one dollar and natural love and affection." The company was
renamed Geo. Duncan and Sons at this time.
May 28. Heisey's first design patent was submitted for a glass bowl with a hexagonal foot. (This patent was approved
June 16th as no. 7,493.) A first daughter, Mary Heisey, seems to have been born sometime during this year.
1875
October 9. A second son, Edgar Wilson Heisey, was born.
1877
A second daughter, Emma Heisey (later Mrs. Oliver H, Dockery), was born. (9)
A very detailed account of Heisey’s experiences in the Civil War was written by Joe Lokay in the May 1978 issue of the
Heisey News.
The other partners were Thomas Coffin, John and Jacob Strickler, and Nickolas Kunzler. The factory was located at 10th
and Washington Sts. According to deed records, Duncan was not a partner at the time the factory was erected, but
purchased a share of the firm on March 23, 1867.
A third daughter was also born to the Heiseys, Alice (later Mrs. Frederick H. King), birthdate unknown.
1 An obituary in the Crockery and Glass Journal, February 16, 1922, reported his birthdate as August 3, 1843. That
same source also erroneously gave his birthplace as Merrittown, PA.
2 According to his obituary, previously cited, he enlisted as a Private, but once again this source appears to be
erroneous.
3 The obituary in the Crockery and Glass Journal reports that Heisey was shot from his horse and slightly wounded at
this battle, but there is no further documentation for this.
4 Although a number of sources have indicated that Heisey was advanced to Major, including his obituary in the
Crockery and Glass Journal in 1922 and a letter written by T. Clarence Heisey in 1940, all other records indicate that 5
Captain the highest rank to which he attained.
5 Other battles he was reported to have been involved in between 1864-1865 include Laurel Hill, North Ann River
(possibly the Battle of North Anna, May 26 – 27, 1864), Tolopotamy, Bethesda Church and Saylor’s Creek.
6 A very detailed account of Heisey’s experiences in the Civil War was written by Joe Lokay in the May 1978 issue of the
Heisey News.
7 The other partners were Thomas Coffin, John and Jacob Strickler, and Nickolas Kunzler. The factory was located at
10th and Washington Sts. According to deed records, Duncan was not a partner at the time the factory was erected, but
purchased a share of the firm on March 23, 1867.
Note: Footnote #8 is referenced in the text of the article but was not included at the end.
9 A third daughter was also born to the Heiseys, Alice (later Mrs. Frederick H. King), birthdate unknown.