Source: "History of Sheboygan County Wisconsin, Vol II, Carl Zillier, Editor S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912" Page 705

Early recognition of the fact that diligence and determination are indispensable elements of success has enabled Henry C. Heiden to so direct his labors and use his time that he is now classed with the representative and successful as well as active business men of Sheboygan. He is now engaged in house moving and is also identified with financial circles here as a stockholder of the Citizens State Bank of Sheboygan. He was born in this county on December 1, 1861. His father, Hartwig Heiden, was born in the grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Germany, January 18, 1831, and in his boyhood was brought to America by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Schramm) Heiden, who made their way directly to Wilson township, Sheboygan county, where Henry Heiden continued to engage in farming throughout the remainder of his days. Hartwig Heiden was reader to agricultural pursuits and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. On starting out in life for himself he decided to engage in the occupation in which he had been reared, and was continuously connected with the farming enterprises until 1894, when he put aside the work of the fields and came to Sheboygan, where the remainder of his life was passed. He had served as a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Company K, Fiftieth Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry in 1865. He continued with that command until honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. He then resumed farming, which he continued to follow in this county until four years prior to his death, that period being in honorable rest and retirement in Sheboygan. His wife survived him for a few years, passing away in 1903. She bore the maiden name of Louise Jorges and was reared in Saxony, Germany, whence she came with her parents to the new world, the family home being established in Wilson township, this county. By her marriage Mrs. Heiden became the mother of one daughter and three sons, who are yet living: Louisa, now the wife of William Keoppe, of Sheboygan Falls; Ferdinand, who is living in Chicago; and Fred, a resident of West Park, Illinois.

The other member of the family is Henry C. Heiden, who spent his youthful days on the home farm and divided his time between the work of the fields, the duties of the schoolroom and the pleasures of the play ground. He afterward began learning the carpenter’s trade and at the age of eighteen years came to Sheboygan, where he was employed in various ways through the winter months, while the summer seasons were devoted to farm labor until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then engaged in fishing and later he again worked at carpentering. He is now connected with general house moving and does this difficult work in a most capable manner, thoroughly understanding the scientific phases of the business as well as the practical side.

In 1887 Mr. Heiden was married to Miss Sarah Van Akkeren, who was born September 1, 1866, in Wilson township, Sheboygan county, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Pattest) Van Akkeren, both of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Heiden have become parents of three children: Hartwig H., twenty-four years of age, a graduate of Lawrence College of Appleton; Abraham, who is twenty-two years of age and a graduate of the Stout Manual Training School of Menominee, Wisconsin; and Eleanor Lester, thirteen years of age. The parents are active and helpful members of the Methodist church and Mrs. Heiden belongs to the Ladies’ Aid Society and has been a most earnest and untiring worker in behalf of the church and its activities. Mr. Heiden belongs to the Odd Fellows Society, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Reserve, all of Sheboygan, and the Equitable Fraternal Union of Oshkosh. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the county in which the family have lived from pioneer times, having come by way of the lakes to this city. The old log cabin in which he was born and which was built by his father is still standing, one of the landmarks of the district. Great changes have occurred since that day and Henry C. Heiden is largely familiar with the history of development and progress here. He has ever given his influence on the side of the material, intellectual and moral welfare of his community and is justly accounted one of its representative and valued citizens.

Return to the Sheboygan Page

Return to Bios page