William J. Heller is indebted to various institutions of Easton, Pennsylvania, for the educational privileges he enjoyed in his youth. After putting aside his text books he followed various pursuits, and became quite widely known because of his artistic talent and ability. In 1886, however, he established his present business, the manufacture of flags, opening the first exclusive flag factory in the United States. His business has constantly grown in volume and importance, and today he manufactures nearly one-half of the flags used in this country. While witnessing the decoration of a public school building for a celebration in the year 1886, the idea occurred to him that the nation's emblem should be seen used over school buildings of the country in order to foster a spirit of patriotism among the children of the land. He began discussing the idea with the prominent educators of America and, in fact, was the founder of the movement which has embodied his ideas, and deserves great credit for instituting the patriotic movement which swept over the country in 1892. He is popular and well known among workers in patriotic circles, and was one of the first active members of the Patriotic League. He has had many honors conferred on him by the Woman's Relief Corps, the National Congress of Women, and other national patriotic organizations. He is a charter member of the George Washington Memorial Association, organized to promote the establishment of the University of the Unted States. He is an honorary member of various leading Women's clubs in many parts of the country. He has lectured in many of the principal cities of America upon patriotic occasions. His lecture on "The Evolution of Our National Ensign" is universally known. History has always been a most interesting study to him, and he believes in promoting every line of thought that will foster a love of country and its people. He has made a study of local Indian history during his leisure hours, and is now engaged in compiling data for a history of the Forks of the Delaware. He is a life member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, also the Pennsylvania German Society, a member of the Bucks Countv Historical Society, and an honorary member of various historical societies in this and adjoining states. He takes an active part in public affairs, and is a member of the Board of Trade and of the Municipal League of the City of Easton.

Mr. and Mrs. Heller became the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. The two sons, Ray and Harry, died in early childhood. The daughter, Bessie Evelyn Heller, is a lineal descendant of sixteen patriots who gave active service in the Revolutionary war, and a great-great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Morgan, of Morgan's Hill, through her paternal grandmother, Susan Heller, a daughter of George Bay Heinlein, who was the son of James Heinlein and his wife Ann Bay, a daughter of Mrs. Morgan by her first husband Hugh Bay