The agricultural interests of Cahokia township can claim no more
worthy representative than Henry J. Heyen, who for twenty years past has
been living retired from active labor, having acquired through energy
and ability one of the richest and most productive farms in this section
of the state. He was born in Germany, September 24, 1832, a son of John
and Anna (Klein) Heyen, both of whom passed their entire lives in the
old country.
Henry J. Heyen received his early education in the
common schools of Germany and as a boy he was instructed by his father
in the details pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He continued
in his native land until several years after reaching his majority and
then, on September 4, 1858, embarked at Bremen in a sailing vessel which
was bound for New Orleans. The voyage required eleven weeks and the ship
arrived in port November 20. Mr. Heyen came up the Mississippi river in
a steamboat to St. Louis and thence to Alton where he spent about a
week. At the end of the time named he came to Macoupin county and
secured employment as a farm hand, continuing in that capacity for about
fifteen months. He then rented land from his brother, Heye Heyen, who
had preceded him to Illinois, and proved unusually successful as a corn
raiser. The brother died the year following, and Mr. Heyen associated
with another brother, William, who came to America in 1851 and rented
the same farm which had been in charge of their brother Heye, continuing
in partnership for five years. Mr. Heyen of this review then farmed upon
his own account until 1872, when he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres in Cahokia township which became the nucleus of his present farm.
He labored diligently and persistently at all seasons of the year, and
as opportunity offered acquired more land until today he owns four
hundred and eighty-five acres of as good land as can be found in
Macoupin county. He bent every energy to his work and his success is
evidence of his sound, practical judgment.
In 1866 Mr. Heyen was
married to Miss Tillie Lambertus, who was born in Germany and came to
America in 1865. They are the parents of thirteen children, eleven of
whom survive, namely: Albert, who is engaged in stockbuying and r akes
his home at Gillespie; John, a farmer of Cahokia township; William, who
is associated with his brother Albert in stock-buying; George, also a
farmer of Gillespie township; Heye, record of whom appears elsewhere in
this work, at home; Lena, who married Edward Meyer, of Cahokia township;
Laura, the wife of Charles Young, of Cahokia township; Jessie, who
married Elmer Burge, of Montgomery county; Frederica, who became the
wife of Ambrose Burge, of Gillespie; and Tillie and Cora, both of whom
are at home.
In politics Mr. Heyen gives his support to the
democratic party. He has never been a seeker for public office but
served for six years most creditably as a member of the school board. He
and his family are actively identified with the Evangelical Lutheran
church. When he landed in America his cash capital amounted to seventy
dollars, but he bravely faced the problems which were presented in a new
country and for many years he has been known as one of the wealthy men
of Macoupin county. It would be difficult to find a more striking
illustration in the United States for ambitious young men than is
presented in the record of Henry J. Heyen. He is deeply respected by the
people of the township, as he has fairly earned the comforts he enjoys,
through his thrift and business sagacity.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 389-390.
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