Notes:

Taken from History of Shelby County, page 893.

HEITMEYER, HENRY C.
The farmers of Shelby County are, as a rule, men of industry, intelligence, thrift and perseverance, as well as of independence, and this last trait has been as big a factor in the making of their success as the others. One of the successful men of Shelby County is Henry C. Heitmeyer of Flat Branch Township, who has been shifting for himself since the early age of thirteen. Mr. Heitmeyer was born February 7, 1856, in Prussia, Germany, a son of Henry and Anna Heitmeyer, who came to the United States in 1864, landing at New York and going thence to St. Louis, Mo. Shortly thereafter the family located in Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, where two of the children died, the mother following soon after, and on the day of her burial the father became ill and also died. Four children were left, two boys and two girls, the latter being placed with a family together, while the boys, Henry C. and Christ, lived together at the home of a German farmer near Hoyleton, Illinois. Later they were taken back by their guardian, the German farmer at whose home the parents had died, and with him Henry C. Heitmeyer resided until his thirteenth year, when he started in life for himself, working out among the farmers of that vicinity until twenty-five years old. In 1880 he came to Shelby County with about $1,100, $600 of which he had received from the family estate, and he purchased eighty acres of land in Flat Branch township, at $18 per acre. This was the nucleus of his present fortune. He remained on this farm until 1894, adding forty more acres at $10 an acre, and erecting new buildings and improving it in many ways. In 1984 he sold this farm for $60 an acre, about the highest price that land in this vicinity has brought, and purchased 180 acres of his present farm, later sold twenty acres, and then purchased seventy-five acres more at $60 an acre, making now a farm of 235 acres, situated two miles south of Moweaqua. It was formerly the home of William Workman, who improved it some extent, and is used by Mr. Heitmeyer as a grain and stock farm, and is fully tiled. As a cattle feeder and shipper, Mr. Heitmeyer is known throughout the county, and for fifteen years he has been shipping stock to Indianapolis and Chicago. In addition to his Illinois property, he owns an excellent tract of 534 acres in Monroe County, Mo., which cost him $85 an acre, and which now is worth much more than that figure. Starting with his small capital of $1,100, Mr. Heitmeyer has won success through his individual industry and shrewdness, and enjoys the distinction of being one of the county's most substantial citizens.
On January 1, 1881, Mr. Heitmeyer was married to Anna M. Brink, who was born and raised near Nashville, Washington County, Illinois and they have had the following children: Laura, who married A. W. Pistorius, who operates a part of the Missouri farm; Arthur, who also farms part of the Missouri farm; Pearl, Laurence, Bennie, Rachel, Noble and Vernon. Mr. Heitmeyer is a Republican in political matters, and he has served in the capacity of Road Commissioner. He is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church at Moweaqua, which he is serving as Trustee.

Raymond L. Brink shared with his daughter memories from his childhood of driving to Moweaqua with his parents to visit with the Heitmeyers. He particularly remembered Noble Heitmeyer. Mr. Heinrich Heitmeyer's wife, Anna, was a daughter of Christian, who is Raymond's great uncle.

From notes of Raymon Lawton:
Per the 1900 Census Henry C. Heitmeyer was born in January 1855. He was naturalized in 1864.
The obituary of Henry C. Heitmeyer states that he died on February 23, 1936. He was buried in the Salem Cemetery east of Mowequa, Illinois. His obituary states that he was born on February 7, 1856 in Prussia, Germany. He came to this country in 1865 and moved near Mowequa in 1880. On January 1, 1881 he married Anna M. Brink. He had 8 children as listed in the obituary of Anna except that this obituary lists Ben as living in Pana.
The obituary stated that he left 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. At the time of his death his age was given as 80 years and 16 days.
The book "Mowequa Remembers" page 87, quotesw Lawrence Heitmeyer remembersing his father, Henry Heitmeyer, Jr., stating he went hunting for food with a muzzel loading gun, butchering the meat, and hand schucking corn.
In the same book Rachael states that Henry Heitmeyer was born in Posen, Germany. He was 9 years old when the family came with a group to St. Louis and then up to Centralia.
The burial list of the Ludwig Cemetery in Mowequa, Illinois regarding Henry and Anna Heitmeyer states that Rachael was born in 1897 and still living. Pearl M. 1887 to 1958. Henry C. Heitmeyer, February 7, 1856 to February 23, 1936, Anna M. August 1, 1860 to June 2, 1930. It states that Henry was born in Prussia to Henry and Anna Heitmeyer and came to the U.S. in 1864 to WashingtonCounty, Illinois, then to Shelby County in 1880. They were married on January 1, 1881. Anna Brink was born n Washington County, Illinois.
His stone in the Cemetery gives his birth as February 7, 1856 adn his death as February 23, 1936.
The History of Shelby County 1910, page 843, states that Henry C. Heitmeyer was born Feb. 7, 1856 in Prussia, Germany, the son of Henry and Anna Heitmeyer and came to the U.S. in 1864 landing in New York, next to St. Louis, Mo. and then to Nashville, Washington County, Illinois. Here 2 children and their mother and father died. The 2 remaining girls were placed with a family together and the two boys lived at a farmers home hear Hoyleton. They were later taken back by their Guardian, the german farmer where their parents died. Henry left here at the age of 13, and worked for a farmer in the area and at the age of 25 moved to Shelby County.

HEINRICH married BRINK ANNA MARIA on 1 Jan 1881. ANNA (daughter of BRINK CHRISTIAN ERNST HENRY WILLIAM and KRUGHOFF CHRISTENA) was born in in near Nashville, Washington Co., IL.; later of Moweaqua, IL. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Died on Oct 14, 1867; only 14 days ago he with his family, his 75 yr. old father and his father-in-law arrived here from Germany. This would make his birth date May 10, 1821.

After the death of Henry and Anna Heitmeyer and the other two children the four remaining children grew up locally under the guardianship of Fred Kleeman. At the time of their parents death Anna was 15, Louisa 13, Henry 9, and Christian 8. Box 102 - "Heirs of Hy. Heitmeyer" gives us an insight into this. The court appointed Fred Kleeman as Guardian of Henry and Christian on December 16, 1867 apparently because they were under age fourteen.

the census of 1870 entitles the Inhabitants of Township #1 South Range Two West, Washington County, Illinois: Post Office; Minden, on page 6 lists living at house 120:
Frederick Kleeman, age 50, farmer
Louisa, age 40, wife
Martha, age 12
Louis, age 8
Henry, age 6
Lydia, age 2

Next door in House 121 are listed:
Hitemeyer, Henry, age 13, M. Bavaria
Christ, age 10, M.
Louisa, age 16, F.
Apparently the children under guardianship lived in a separate house next door to the Kleemans.

Apparently all did not go well with this arrangement for the boys as nine years later in March 1876 petition to the probate court was filed. this is quite interesting and reads as follows:

"State of Illinois, Washington County, In probate court to March term A.D. 1876.
Petition for Citation - In the matter of Fred Kleeman, guardian for Anna Heitmeyer, Louisa Heitmeyer, Henry Heitmeyer, Christian Heitmeyer - Children of Henry Heitmeyer, deceased.
To the Honorable M. M. Goodner, County Judge for the County of Washington and State of Illinois, humbly complaining come your petitioners: Louisa, now intermarried with William Brink; Anna, now intermarried with Henry Feiker, in their own proper persons, Henry and Christian Heitmeyer by their next friend,m William Brink, and represents and shows unto your Honor that they are the only children of and left surviving Henry Heitmeyer, deceased.
And your petitioners further show unto your Honor that one Fred Kleeman was appointed the guardian of your Petitioners by this Honorable court on December 16, 1867; and your petitioners further state that since his said appointment and the filing of his bond as such guardians of your petitioners that he, the said Fred Kleeman had never at any time since made any report to this court of his doings as such guardian - --------that the said Fred Kleeman at the time of his appointment or soon thereafter collected or should have collected the sum of Two Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Dollars and Sixty Cents, money belonging to your petitioners in equal proportions.
And your petitioners further represent unto your Honor that Ann Heitmeyer, now Anna Feiker of about the age of twenty-five years; and that Louisa Heitmeyer, now Louisa Brink is about the age of twenty two years; and although long since entitled to receive their proportionate share of said money from said guardian and also after repeated requests for the payment of the same, yet the said Fred Kleeman wholly refuses, fails, and neglects to pay or settle with any or either of your petitioners.
Therefore your petitioners pray that a citation may issue by order of this Honorable Court compelling said Fred Kleeman to appear on the third Monday in March A>D. 1876 and that he be compelled to make a full and true report of his acts and doings as such guardian and otherwise obey the orders of this Honorable Court; and for such other orders and proceedings as toYour Honor may give met and proper in the premisies.

And your petitioners will even pray to Louisa Brink; Anna Fieker and Henry and Christian Heitmeyer by their next friend Wm. Brink, Petitioners.

by Crews and Jones, Attorneys for Petitioners


We have no reply to this request so we do not know what happened. However, we do have a record of a request to the Honorable M. M. Goodener, Judge, by both Henry and Christian "that having now attained the age of fourteen years he elects to nominate his own guardian and respectfully prays that Jacob Leibsack may be appointed his guardian. Dated July 20, 1876. There are two such forms; The first signed by Henry Heitmeyer states that on the above date he had attained the age of 19 years on January 7, 1876. This would place his birth date on January 7, 1857. The second signed by Christian Heitmeyer states that he had attained the age of 17 on November 14, 1875. This would place his birth date on November 15, 1858. At least the two boys obtained new guardians a few months after their complaints about Fred Kleeman


The "Germans to America" lists of Passengers arriving in U.S. Ports, Volume 20, August 1867 to May 1888 by Ira A. Glazier and P. Wm. Filby, page 72 lists the Heitmeyer family as arriving on the S.S. Bremen from Germany in New York on September 23, 1867. The listing is as follows:

Heitmeyer Ludwig 60 M. Farmer, Prussia, Unknown village.
Heinrich 46 M. Farmer
Anna41 F.
Anna17 F.
Luise13 F.
Heinrich 9 M. Child
Christine 8 F. Child
Catharine 4 F. Child
Charlotte .06 F. Infant

On the same ship is listed Christian Rowekamp, age 54 Farmer.

The Hoyleton Zion Church records, page 115, state that Heinrich died the 14th of October 1867 at the age of 46 years, 6 months, and 4 days. The records also state that he was born in Reineberg, District of Lubbecke, on April 10, 1821.

HEINRICH married ROWEKAMP ANNA MARIA LOUISE CHARLOTTE on 25 Oct 1844 in Lubbecke, Prussen. He was 23, she was 18 (Dates may be wrong). ANNA (daughter of ROEWEKAMP JOHANN HEINRICH and ROEWEKAMP ANNE MARGARETHE ILSABEIN yub.) was born on 26 Sep 1826 in #6 Huellhorst,Prussia;Bapt.Oct.1,1826;IL records DOB as 4/3/1824;Prussia11/28/26; died on 6 Oct 1867 in age of 41 yrs. & 8 days; buried Oct. 7, 1867 (makes dob 9/28/1826). [Group Sheet]

CHRISTIAN married KRUGHOFF CHRISTENA. CHRISTENA (daughter of KRUGHOFF FREDERICK WILHELM (WILLIAM) HESEMAN and KRUGHOFF SOPHIE MARIE (MARY) ELIZABETH) was born on 22 Aug 1826; died in 1913. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Grandmother of Julius Brun.