Biography - John Philip Heinz
JOHN PHILIP HEINZ. This gentleman who is well known throughout Rose
Township, Shelby County, as the efficient and active Supervisor, resides on
section 15, where his excellent farm bespeaks the admiration of every
passer-by. His father, the late John P. Heinz, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt,
Germany, May 27, 1815. The grandfather of our subject, Jacob Heinz, was a
native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and was the son of Michael, who spent his
whole life in the Old Country. The grandfather of our subject emigrated to
this country about 1850, and made his home in St. Louis, Mo., where he spent
the remainder of his days.
Jacob Heinz had been preceded to the New World by his son John P., the
father of our subject. He came here in 1842 when still a single man, and
found his wife in St. Louis, Mo. He was married in 1846 and made his home in
that city, pursuing his trade which was that of a shoemaker, he came to
Shelby County, Ill., in 1853 and settled in Rose Township, where he engaged
in farming, which pursuit he followed until his death, which occurred July
6, 1883. The mother of our subject was Dorothy Douth, who was also a native
of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, being born there May 22, 1827. Her death
occurred in Rose Township, September 22, 1881.
The eleven children of John P. and Dorothy Heinz are as follows: John, who
died in infancy; John P., the subject of this writing; Jacob, a farmer in
Rose Township; Catherina, the wife of Philip Boening of Chicago; William,
who died in childhood; J. Lewis, a farmer in Holland Township, this county;
Maria, who is now Mrs. Jacob Stilgebauer; Louisa, the wife of Jacob Dagen,
of Rose Township: Anna M., now Mrs. Gabriel Fadrer, of Rose Township;
Frederick W., and Caroline M., the wife of Frederick Roessler.
The subject of this sketch was born in St. Louis, Mo., April 9, 1848, and
was thus five years old when his parents removed to Shelby County, and most
of his life has been spent here at the home in Rose Township. His early
training was taken upon his father's farm and in the common schools and when
twenty-two years old he engaged in farming on his own account, renting land
for the first year. He then purchased forty acres on section 5, and has
added to this by purchase until he now owns one hundred and three acres.
Farming has been his chief business, although in 1884 he spent six months in
Kansas City, where he was engaged in other employment. Upon this farm he has
placed substantial improvements and comfortable buildings. Most of his farm
was in timber land and he had this to clear.
The marriage of John P. Heinz took place in Rose Township, February 3, 1876,
his bride being Miss Carolina Friesner, the daughter of Andrew J. and Sarah
E. (Bowman) Friesner, who are now residents of Kansas City. This lady was
born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 19, 1858, and is now the mother of
three children: Louis P., J. Otto and Caroline V. The election of Mr. Heinz
to the office of Township Supervisor, took place in the spring of 1890, and
he was re-elected to the same office in the spring of 1891. He has been
their Highway Commissioner for seven years and has performed the duties of
that office with ability and satisfaction to his constituents. For one year
he held the office of Assessor and he has been School Director for six
years.
The religious home of Mr. and Mrs. Heinz is with the Lutheran Church, of
which they are active members. Political affairs deeply interest this
gentleman and as a member of the Democratic party he takes an active part in
its movements and plans. He earnestly believes that the declarations of that
body embody the principles of true government and will work out the best
success for this country. He is a man of keen intelligence and has a good
degree of information on matters of public interest, and his reputation as a
thorough-going farmer as well as an upright business man gives him a good
standing in the community.
Extracted 13 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 429-430.
