It is interesting that in the Lithuanian yeshivishe world, many if not most talmidim tended to try out different yeshivas , and many Roshei Yeshiva moved their yeshivas often. Of course, the constant movement was largely because of the persecution of the goyim y”s. But the result was that giants such as Rav Heiman learned, taught and certainly rubbed shoulders with most of the other gedolei torah in Europe. Rav Heiman learned mostly from Reb Baruch Ber in the town of Slabodka, but taught for a while in Baranovitch under Reb Elchonon before he came to the States. Needless to say, he was colleagues with Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky, Reb Elchonon, Reb Moshe Soloveitchik and his son Reb Yoshe Ber , and many others.
Rebi Akiva Eiger’s fame was widespread at the time. Considering that he died in 1837, only a generation or so before the golden years of Lithuanian yeshivas, he was often seen as the gold standard to whom every great lamdan was compared. It is no surprise that he was a favorite of Rav Heiman and many others, who would have given much to meet the famous lamdan and tzaddik.