Franklin D. Heinlen

As printed in 1902

FRANKLIN D. HEINLEN.

The agricultural interests of Crawford county are well represented by Franklin D. Heinlen, one of the leading and foremost citizens of the locality. He was born on the farm where he still resides, on the 24th of June, 1858, a son of Matthias and Elizabeth (Bickle) Heinlen. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 181 5, and in 1837, m company with his brother George, he came to the United States, landing in New York city after a voyage of seventy days. On his arrival in this country his worldly possessions consisted of but one dollar, which he spent for his night's lodging, and on the following day he and his brother borrowed enough money from a friend who was coming to Crawford county to accompany him to this locality. The brother remained in Crawford county and worked out their indebtedness, while Matthias proceeded north to the Maumee canal, where he worked on the construction of the canal for a year, after which his health failed and he then returned to Crawford county and secured employment at farm labor south of Bucyrus, where he remained for eight years. He was then married and purchased a small farm of twenty acres, now known as the Nussbaum farm, in Bucyrus township, where he remained for another six years, when he sold that property and purchased forty acres near Glenville, now known as the Benjamin Simm farm, and after residing there for five years he sold that tract, and on the ist of March, 1858, secured possession of the present Heinlen farm, then known as the McLain farm. It contained a tract of eighty acres, and by hard work and persistent effort Mr. Heinlen was enabled to add another eighty acres thereto, making a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and there he spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 16th of September, 1897. The brothers deserve great credit for the success that they attained in life. They arrived in this country without money and without friends, "strangers in a strange land," and by perseverance and economy they both succeeded in acquiring a competency, and were numbered among Crawford county's most honored citizens. Matthias Heinlen was a Democrat in his political views, and was a worthy member of the Lutheran church. His wife, who was born in German) in 1820, came to America with her parents, Simon and Elizabeth Bickle, when a child of eight years, the family locating in the cranberry marsh in Ohio, but later removed to Bucyrus township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Heinlen is still living and now makes her home with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Heinlen became the parents of nine children, eight of whom still survive, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Absalom Bolinger, of Wyandot county, Ohio; John, of Bucyrus township, Crawford county; Simon M. and Samuel, also of Bucyrus township; Lena, wife of Byron Kent, a resident of Bucyrus township; Matilda, widow of Henry Ochse, of Nevada. Ohio; Lucinda, wife of J. S. Murphy, of Dallas township; and Franklin D., the subject of this review.

The latter was reared on the home farm, but received very limited school privileges, for at the early age of five years he began working on the farm, riding a horse in the fields for plowing corn, and as he grew older more important tasks were assigned him. Thus when most boys enter upon the active duties of life he was a leading factor in the conduct of the home farm. In 1 88 1 he assumed full management of the old homestead, working on the shares, and in 1889, with the accumulation of his former years of hard and incessant toil, he was enabled to purchase a farm of his own, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, in Dallas township. The land was then in its primitive condition, but he cleared and improved the tract, erected substantial farm buildings, and not only has he cleared it of all indebtedness, but has also made it one of the most desirable farms of the county. However, he has never resided on this property, it being conducted by a tenant. He has always made his home on the old Heinlen homestead, which after the father's death was divided, the mother retaining a power interest in the original tract of eighty acres, while our subject purchased the remaining eighty acres. On the loth of October, 190-1, be purchased a farm of thirty acres of his neighbor and

7i4 CENTENNIAL friend, Frank M. Harvey, who was obliged to sell owing to the poor health of his sister, Minnie, and move to town.

On the loth of February, 1901, Mr. Heinlen was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Harris, a native of Antrim township, Wyandot county, Ohio, and a daughter of A. E. Miller. By her marriage to Arthur Harris she became the mother of three children, only one of whom is now living, Chester A. A.

In his political affiliations our subject exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy. For the past nineteen years he has been a correspondent for the Nevada Enterprise, one of the leading journals of the locality, and he is also a member of the school board, now serving on his second term. Fie is also a prominent and active member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, No. 234, of Nevada, Ohio, in which he has filled nearly all of the chairs. He served one term as outer guard, one term as inner guard, one term as master at arms, one term as prelate, one term as vice chancellor commander, two terms as chancellor commander, one term as deputy grand chancellor, and at the present time is serving as master at arms. He is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Crawford county, and all measures for the public good receive his hearty support and co-operation.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.