My Genealogy Hound

H. J. HEINZ. Among the prominent business-men of Pittsburgh is Mr. Henry J. Heinz, who was born in that city Oct. 11, 1844, the eldest of nine children. At the early age of eight years he was engaged in selling the surplus products of his parents’ garden in the village of Sharpsburg; when only sixteen he was practically managing the brick business in which his father was engaged, keeping the accounts, making contracts and looking after the trade generally; and when nineteen his father sent him away from home to represent him in the ice business, continuing, however, the manufacture of brick and the sale of garden products. When at the age of twenty-one he had a half interest with his father in the brick business, to which were soon added building and contracting. His taste, however, seems to be inclined to the development of that industry, at which he now stands as the recognized head in America—the pickling and preserving of fruits and vegetables. He started the business in a small way about 1867, and soon recognized the fact that it was possible to so improve the manufacture of pickles and other condiments that they might attain to a higher standard, and be equal if not superior to any furnished anywhere. To excel in whatever he undertook was his motto, and having patience, energy, perseverance and faith in his enterprise, he never wearied of his work, and has been recognized for some time as the founder of this great industry in Pittsburgh.

His energy and usefulness as a business-man have been recognized in many departments of interest in that city. He is one of the founders of the Exposition Society of Western Pennsylvania, and is connected with many commercial, educational and charitable institutions. In his moral and religious life he has been recognized as a useful and upright man. There is no position in the church, in which he has been long a member, which he has not filled with fidelity and success. His principal qualities as a business-man are a quick perception, promptness of action and an inexhaustible store of energy, never yielding to difficulties, which, under ordinary circumstances, would overmaster other men. Having faith in the triumph of right principles, he has steadily pursued an even way through panic and disasters, winning his way into the confidence and support of the men with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Heinz is very fortunate in his social and home life. He was married Sept. 23, 1869, to Miss Sallie Sloan Young, a very estimable lady. Mr. Heinz considers all time and money spent in the care and improvement of his home, in the comfort and interest of his family, as money well spent, and while his discipline is decided, it is always tempered with a sincere love and good will; hence his home is always a place of pleasure, not only for his family but for his friends. Mr. Heinz has added to his native ability as a business-man by his extensive travels and observations, both in this country and in Europe, having an eye to business as well as to pleasure. It is but a just part of his biography to give a brief outline of the channels in which his energy has been at work, and the lines in which his industry have been extended.

The firm of which he is the recognized founder and head use the annual product of over two thousand acres of land in the manufacture of their products, five hundred acres of which they cultivate themselves, while they grow and furnish seed to farmers who grow the stock for pickles for them near their salting-houses. They employ regularly from six hundred to one thousand hands, while during the picking and preserving season a large additional force is required, and own and work ninety-three draft horses. They have agencies or branch houses in all the principal cities in this country. The skill, taste and energy of Mr. Heinz have been often rewarded by the reception of numerous medals in the various exhibitions where their goods have been displayed. Among these was the reception of four gold medals at the world’s exposition at New Orleans in 1884-85, where their industries came in competition with similar ones from England and all parts of the world.