The Dallas Journal, Volume 49, 2003 Page: 5
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Lindley/Heisel Bible Library Research Project
Heights created by the Murphy & Bolanz Real Estate Company showing both Dallas Avenue and Maggie Street,
the location of the Heisel residence.33
Our curiosity was piqued by the addresses of Adam Heisel's shoemaker's shop, and we thought we would
see where those addresses fit into a modern-day map of downtown Dallas. Some of the streets have disappeared
while others were either renamed or renumbered. However we were very surprised to learn that Heisel's shop at
147 Commerce Street was situated in exactly the same spot where the Kennedy Memorial Plaza stands today! Back
in 1893 it must have been thrilling to look out the shop windows to see firsthand the construction of the new Dallas
County Courthouse (now commonly known as "Old Red"). Imagine how proud Adam Heisel must have felt as he
watched his adopted city develop and grow all around him. One cannot help but consider that he must have
pondered how different his life would have been had he remained in Germany.
Adam Heisel and his family were enumerated on the 1900 U.S. census on 8 June 1900. Although street
names and numbers had not yet been assigned to their home, they were still living in Precinct 7 where they had
been since 1880.34 Interestingly Georgia Heisel did not indicate that she had lost a child (daughter Ruth). We also
noted that, on the 1900 census Adam Heisel's entry indicated that he immigrated to the U.S. in 1868 whereas we
found a naturalization record for Adam Heisel in 1864 in New York City. Further research would be needed to
prove or disprove whether we have two different Adam Heisels.
We continued to follow Adam Heisel through the first decade of the twentieth century where he is listed in
the 190035 and 190136 Dallas city directories with his shoemaker's business at 147 Commerce Street and his
residence at the junction of Cleburne and Fort Worth Roads in West Dallas. Apparently the name of Flanders
Heights was no longer being used, and the area was now called "Western Heights" by which it is still known.
Dallas had grown by leaps and bounds, and the Heisels were there to witness it. The 1903 city directory indicated
that the city's population had reached over 75,000, and Dallas boasted seventy-four miles of electrified street
railways and six national banks. President Theodore Roosevelt even paid a visit to Dallas in 1905 which no doubt
drew a large crowd into the downtown area. Did the Heisel family have the opportunity to see the famous "Rough
Rider?" 37
Adam Heisel was enumerated for the last time on the 1910 U.S. census on 2 May 1910. Daughter Marie
had married, but the two sons were still living at home with their parents.38 Once again Georgia Heisel did not
indicate that she had lost a child.
Adam Heisel died 17 August 1913.39 According to his death
certificate40 Adam Heisel of the Western Heights area of Dallas, was
born 10 September 1832 in Germany, occupation shoemaker and age
at death of 80 years, 10 months and 9 days. The informant, son Adam
Heisel Jr., named his grandfather, Jacob Heisel, of Germany but he
S.did not know his grandmother's name or birthplace. Cause of death
was senility, and burial was in Oakland Cemetery the following day.
f Obituaries for Adam Heisel appeared in both Dallas newspapers. The
Dallas Times Herald reported "West Dallas Farmer Passes Away
Sunday. Funeral services for Adam Heisel held from Loudermilk's
Chapel Monday Morning. Sam [sic] Heisel, a well-known farmer of
" West Dallas, died Sunday morning at 6 o'clock at his home. He was
eighty-one years of age at the time of death...The deceased was a native of Germany and moved to Dallas in 1877.
On his arrival he resided on the site where the Imperial Hotel now stands. A widow and three children survive him.
The children are Adam J. Heisel, W. T. Heisel and Mrs. Marie H. Fullerton. Three grandchildren also survive
[NOTE: only two grandchildren are named in the obituary; the Heisels only had two grandchildren]: June Heisel
Fullerton and Robert Vincent Fullerton."41 The Dallas Morning News published a funeral notice in its 19 August
1913 issue.42 Adam Heisel was buried 17 August 1913 in Oakland Cemetery, Dallas, in Section 2, Lot 103 in the lot
he had purchased on 1 May1906.43
Georgia Lindley Heisel survived her husband by only four years, dying 3 May 1917.44 According to her
death certificate,45 Georgia Heisel died at her home in West Dallas. Her daughter, Mrs. R. V. (Marie) Fullerton was
the informant and stated that her mother's parents were Wm. B. Lindley of Georgia and Louisa Allen of Georgia.
Georgia Heisel was buried 4 May 1917 beside her husband at Oakland Cemetery. Her obituary paid homage to her
long life in Dallas with the headline "Dallas County Pioneer Dies. Mrs. Georgia Heisel, 72, Had Resided West of
Dallas Forty Years. Funeral Today." In part the obituary read "Mrs. Georgia Heisel, a Pioneer resident of Dallas
The Dallas Genealogical Society 5
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Dallas Genealogical Society. The Dallas Journal, Volume 49, 2003, periodical, June 2003; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186862/m1/9/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Genealogical Society.