Carlinville has always been the home of Albert A. Heinz, the well
known proprietor of the Carlinville Steam Laundry, his birth having
occurred here on the 28th of April, 1864. He is of German extraction and
a son of Peter and Johanna (Knabner) Heinz, both natives of Germany. His
paternal grandfather, Henry Heinz, spent his entire life in that
country. He was a glass blower by trade, and for many years conducted a
factory at Klein, Dettau, Bavaria, where he passed away at the age of
seventy-seven years. In early manhood he married Miss Morgenthum, and to
them were born five children, namely, Andreas, Wilhelm, Peter, Christina
and Fredericke.
Peter Heinz, the father of our subject, was
reared and educated in his native land and there learned the
cabinetmaker’s trade. It was in 1852 that he crossed the Atlantic to the
United States and located in the vicinity of Chesterfield, Illinois,
where for a year he worked by the month as a farm hand. At the
expiration of that time he felt that he had acquired a sufficient
knowledge of the language and customs of the country to become more
independent and, coming to Carlinville, he worked at his trade for some
time and also devoted considerable attention to carpenter work and
contracting. He was a skilled mechanic and soon gave evidence of his
ability as a workman as well as his trustworthiness and reliability in
business affairs. Many contracts were awarded him and he erected a
number of business blocks and private residences in Carlinville, but,
preferring cabinet work, he later devoted his entire attention to that
occupation. Locating on West Main street, he began the manufacture of
furniture and coffins by hand and at one time employed four journeymen,
all master workmen. At that time walnut was the favored wood and he
obtained his material from the farmers who brought him the logs which he
had cut in accordance with his requirements. He continued in that
business until 1883, when he was succeeded by his sons, Charles G. and
Henry C. In early manhood he married Johanna Knabner, a daughter of
George and Ernestina (Karlin) Knabner, who emigrated to America and
located in Carlinville, Illinois, in 1854. Two years later they erected
the residence in which they spent the remainder of their lives and it is
now occupied by their grandsons. The death of both occurred in the same
summer and they were laid to rest in the city cemetery. Mr. Knabner was
a miller by trade and prior to his emigration to this country conducted
a grist and sawmill at Langennau. In his family were seven children:
Johanna, who became Mrs. Heinz; Fredericke, now Mrs. Loehr. of
Carlinville; Theresa, the wife of A. E. Sander, of St. Louis; Edward,
also a resident of St. Louis; Charles, of Seattle, Washington; Anton, of
Carlinville: and Christian, who died in Texas. The family were all
reared in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Heinz had
six sons and one daughter: Fredericke, the wife of John Kistner; Charles
G.; Theodore, who died in infancy; Henry C.; Albert A.; Adolph, who died
at the age of eleven years; and Gustav. All were confirmed in the German
Lutheran church, of which the parents were earnest members. The mother
died in December, 1904, and the father passed away the following year,
both being seventy-eight years of age at the time of their deaths.
Reared under the parental roof, Albert A. Heinz obtained his early
education in the public and German Lutheran parochial schools of
Carlinville. In order to acquire a practical knowledge of commercial
methods he pursued a course of study at the Johnson Business College of
St. Louis, from which he was graduated. He then served an apprenticeship
to the tinner’s trade, which he followed for fifteen years, and at the
end of that time embarked in the laundry business, to which he has since
devoted his attention with success.
On the 8th of November,
1898, Mr. Heinz was united in marriage to Miss Clara L. Siegel, a native
of St. Louis, Missouri, and a daughter of George and Clara L. (Horn)
Siegel. Her father was born in Waterloo, Illinois, but her mother was a
native of Pennsylvania and they were married in St. Louis, Missouri, in
1863. Five years later they became residents of Carlinville and here the
father passed away in May, 1911, at the age of seventy-one years, but
the mother is still living. Mr. Siegel served his country during the
Civil war as a volunteer in a Missouri regiment. Frederick and Julia
(Myer) Horn, the maternal grandparents of Mrs. Heinz, were natives of
Germany and Mr. Horn was associated with his father in the manufacture
of cloth, doing an extensive business. He was married in Newark, New
Jersey, after coming to this country and subsequently removed to St.
Louis, Missouri, and from there came to Carlinville, where both he and
his wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Heinz have three children, Albert E., Regina
Verlie and Karl. Fraternally Mr. Heinz is a member of Orient Lodge, No.
95, K. P., and also belongs to the Court of Honor. He is a stanch
supporter of the democratic party but has never cared for official
honors. He is one of the enterprising and successful business men of
Carlinville, and being upright and honorable in all his dealings has
made many friends.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 615-617.
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