My Genealogy Hound

HORACE F. HEILMAN, formerly one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Lehigh County, and who has been an important factor in advancing its interests, is now living retired. He is a native of the county, his birth having occurred February 15, 1847. His parents, John and Maria (Guth) Heilman, were likewise natives of this section, and were born respectively in Lowhill and South Whitehall Townships. John Heilman, our subject’s grandfather, is believed to have come from Germany, and after locating in the Lehigh Valley he became one of the well-to-do citizens of his locality.

John Heilman, Jr., began work when a young man on farms near his home, and was thus occupied until twenty-six years of age, when he began farming on his own account. This was in 1837, and he continued to be his own “boss” until the date of his decease, December 20, 1889. His good wife, who was born June 15, 1808, is still living; she was the daughter of Peter and Catherine (Sterner) Guth, the former of whom was a native of this state and the son of Peter Guth, Sr., who emigrated from Germany to America during the last century. The grandfather at that time purchased four hundred acres of land in this county, for which he received the deed from William Penn. He died in 1823 and was buried in the cemetery at Jordan.

To Mr. and Mrs. John Heilman there was given a family of ten children, of whom those living are: Catherine, the wife of William Helfrich, who lives inAllentown; Eliza, Mrs. Clinton Troxel, a resident of Clinton County, Ind; Caroline, now Mrs. Levi Wenner, living in Marshall County, Ind.; Horace; and Uriah, a minister of the Lutheran Church in Amity Township, Berks County.

Horace Heilman, of this sketch, spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm and for many years aided his father in its cultivation. His first education was carried on in the public schools of his native place until reaching his sixteenth year, after which he was a student at the Millersville State Normal. He taught four terms of school after completing his education, and in that line met with more than ordinary success.

September 9, 1871, Horace F. Heilman and Miss Elmina Litzenberger were united in marriage. The lady was born August 5, 1847, in Upper Macungie Township, this county, and was the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Koch) Litzenberger. The father was likewise a native of this section, and a son of John J. Litzenberger, who on emigrating from his native Germany became one of the substantial residents of Macungie Township. The parents of Mrs. Heilman were blessed with twelve children, of whom Tilghman, William, Uriah, Caroline and Esther are living.

To our subject and his wife there were born six children, four of whom are deceased. Those who still survive are John J. and Milton H. The Lutheran Church finds in them active and influential members, and Mr. Heilman has been Trustee and Deacon in the congregation. His estate comprises one hundred and twenty acres, which by patient and unvarying toil he has improved, and now the fertile soil returns an abundant harvest. He is a Republican in politics, and probably no one in the county is more highly respected, and certainly no one is more deserving of representation in this record.