Bernard Henry Hegge
Information comes from the German Pioneer Club Minutes
at the Campbell County Historical Society
Bernard Henry Hegge was born April 19, 1823 in Beesten Hannover. He
left his homeland in September 1847 and landed in December of the same year in
New Orleans where he remained for six months. Here he worked as a common
laborer to make a living. Then he came to Cincinnati and found work in a
steam boiler factory. He worked here for three years during which time he
married his surviving wife, nee Varnau.
In the year 1851 he founded a small lumber yard which he enlarged from year to year. In 1865 he left this business and made a trip with his wife to Germany. Since he was childless he brought with him on his return six children of his deceased brother and adopted them as his own. In 1866 Hegge came to Covington where he with his half-brother H Brinker, opened a coach factory. He continued in this work until his death which occurred July 9, 1881. Hegge was one of the founders of the Covington German Pioneer Club. Members of the club accompanied his remains to the cemetery.