| 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.
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1857 - 1936 (78 years)