One of the oldest enterprises of Carlinville is the furniture and
undertaking establishment of H. C. Heinz & Brother, which was founded by
their father over fifty years ago. The senior partner of the firm, Henry
C. Heinz, was born in this city on the 14th of December, 1861, and is a
son of the late Peter and Johanna (Knabner) Heinz, natives of Germany.
His paternal grandfather, Henry Heinz, spent his entire life in that
country. He was a glass blower by trade and for many years conducted a
factory at Klein, Dettau, Bavaria, where he passed away at the age of
seventy-seven years. In early manhood he married Miss Morgenthum, and to
them were born five children, namely, Andreas. Wilhelm, Peter, Christina
and Fredericke.
Peter Heinz, the father of our subject, was
reared and educated in his native land and there learned the
cabinetmaker’s trade. It was in 1852 that he crossed the Atlantic to the
United States and located in the vicinity of Chesterfield, Illinois,
where for a year he worked by the month as a farm hand. At the
expiration of that time he felt that he had acquired a sufficient
knowledge of the language and customs of the country to' become more
independent and. coming to Carlinville, he worked at his trade for some
time and also devoted considerable attention to carpenter work and
contracting. He was a skilled mechanic and soon gave evidence of his
ability as a workman as well as his trustworthiness and reliability in
business affairs. Many contracts were awarded him and he erected a
number of business blocks and private residences in Carlinville but,
preferring cabinet work, he later devoted his entire attention to that
occupation. Locating on West Main street, he began the manufacture of
furniture and coffins by hand and at one time employed four journeymen,
all master workmen. At that time walnut was the favored wood and he
obtained his material from the farmers who brought him the logs which he
had cut in accordance with his requirements. He continued in that
business until 1883, when he was succeeded by his sons, Charles G. and
Henry C. In early manhood he married Johanna Knabner, a daughter of
George and Ernestina (Karlin) Knabner, who emigrated to America and
located in Carlinville, Illinois, in 1854. Two years later they erected
the residence in which they spent the remainder of their lives and it is
now occupied by their grandsons. The death of both occurred in the same
summer and they were laid to rest in the city cemetery. Mr. Knabner was
a miller by trade and prior to his emigration to this country conducted
a grist and sawmill at Langennau. In his family were seven children:
Johanna, who became Mrs. Heinz; Fredericke, now Mrs. Loehr, of
Carlinville; Theresa, the wife of A. E. Sander, of St. Louis; Edward,
also a resident of St. Louis; Charles, of Seattle, Washington; Anton, of
Carlinville; and Christian, who died in Texas. The family were all
reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Heinz had
six sons and one daughter: Fredericke, the wife of John Kistner; Charles
G.; Theodore, who died in infancy; Henry C.; Albert A.; Adolph, who died
at the age of eleven years; and Gustav. All were confirmed in the German
Lutheran church, of which the parents were earnest members. The mother
died in December, 1904, and the father passed away the following year,
both being seventy-eight years of age at the time of their deaths.
The boyhood and youth of Henry C. Heinz were largely devoted to the
acquirement of an education, in pursuit of which he attended the
parochial school for six years and subsequently the public and high
schools, while later he pursued his studies at Blackburn University.
After the completion of his education he entered his father’s store,
which he and his brother Charles subsequently purchased, Gustav also
having an interest in the business.
On the 12th of November,
1892, Mr. Heinz married Miss Matilda Heinemeyer, a daughter of
Christopher and Carolina (Volger) Heinemeyer. She is also a native of
Carlinville, but her parents were born in Braunschweig, Germany,
emigrating to the United States and locating in Carlinville in 1856.
Here both passed away. Eight children were born of their marriage who
attained maturity: Minnie; Caroline; Matilda, now Mrs. Heinz; Louis;
Henry; Lucy; Walter; and Flora. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Heinz
was Henry Heinemeyer, and he was the father of three sons and two
daughters. Her maternal grandfather, Anton Ludwig Volger, was a miller
by trade. Together with his wife and family he emigrated to the United
States locating in Madison county, Illinois. His family numbered five
daughters and one son. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heinz there has been born one
son, Peter Henry.
The family belong to the Lutheran church, and
fraternally Mr. Heinz is affiliated with the Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76,
A. F. & A. M. Politically he is a democrat and has been a member of the
school board. Although he is publicspirited and takes an earnest
interest in all municipal affairs, he has never born as prominent a
factor in civic life as his father, who was many times called to
positions of trust in the township and county. Peter Heinz was held in
high esteem as a public official and gave most efficient service as
county coroner and treasurer, while he was several times elected mayor
of Carlinville and also filled some of the minor offices. The family and
its various members have always been held in the highest esteem in
Macoupin county, their honorable and upright business methods as well as
their earnest and conscientious fulfillment of all responsibilities,
both public and private, having won them the respect of all with whom
they come in contact.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 644-646.
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