HENRY HEINER

View Portrait of Henry Heiner

Henry Heiner, an honored citizen of Cedar county, who is now living retired after many years devoted to agricultural pursuits, was born near Cassel, Germany, on the 28th of November, 1823, and was reared and educated in his native land, where prior to his emigration to America he served in the army for a time. It was in 1851 that he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed in Baltimore, Maryland, whence he made his way at once to St. Louis, Missouri. There he secured employment as a teamster and was thus employed for about a year. At the end of that time he removed to Red Bud, Illinois, and there purchased a small tract of land, upon which a few improvements had already been made, and to its further development and cultivation he devoted his energies for about five years.

On selling that place Mr. Heiner came to Iowa and purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in Clinton county, not far from Lowden. Upon the place were a log house and log outbuildings, but as time passed he improved the farm and continued to reside thereon for nine years. When the Northwestern Railroad built their tracks through that section they secured the right of way across his farm and he received orders to move his house which he did, and in 1861 erected a new frame residence. In 1866 he sold that property, but prior to this time had purchased one hundred and fifty-two acres adjoining it on the south, and after selling the former tract in 1866 he bought forty acres adjoining the one hundred and fifty-two on the west in Cedar county. Upon the latter tract was a log house, in which he lived until the following fall, when a more modern and substantial residence was erected, this being a stone structure, comfortable and up-to-date in its appointments. There he made his home until his retirement from farming twenty-eight years ago. He also erected a good substantial barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and in the cultivation of his land he met with most excellent success. In 1883, however, he sold the property to his son and now lives retired in Lowden, enjoying a well earned rest.

In 1853 Mr. Heiner was united in marriage to Mrs. Catherine Wensel, nee Weidling, and by that union three children were born, namely: Henry, a Lutheran minister now located inLincoln, Nebraska; Charles, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; and Anna, who is now the wife of Rev. Peter Speidel, of Buffalo, New York. The mother of these children passed away in 1896, at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. Heiner affiliates with republican party and is an earnest and consistent member of the Evangelical church, to which his estimable wife also belonged.