Dear Cousin:
All of the Heinzman’s in Fort Wayne and Columbia City are related to me.
Sometime in the middle of the 19th Century my grandfather traveled from Pennsylvania and lived in central Indiana for an unknown amount of time. He eventually moved on to Florence, Nebraska
( just North of Omaha ) and settled on a farm in the 1880’s. His name was William Charles Heinzman. ( Born Unknown – Died 11/13/1923 )
He married Carrie Kessler ( Born 04 / ?? / 1868 – Died 01/25/1890 ) of Omaha, Nebraska on 10/11/1887. They had 2 children and their 1st son was born sometime in 1888, however for unknown reasons he died shortly after his birth. He was never given a name, but he would have been my uncle. Their 2nd son was my father, William “Bill” Henry Charles Heinzman. ( Born 01/21/1890 – Died 2/21/1977 ) My grandmother Carrie died 4 days later from complications during childbirth at the age of 21. My father weighed 16 pounds at birth. As far as I know, my grandfather continued to work and live alone as a widower on his farm in Florence, Nebraska till his death. He chose not to raise my father alone and gave him to Carrie’s parents, ( Kessler’s ) who raised him for his first 10 years.
In 1900 my father moved in with Carrie’s brother and wife, William Henry Kessler and Julia Kalla / Kessler, who were married on 01/27/1897. He remained with them for the next 7 years.
In 1907, at the age of 17, my father joined the U.S. Navy where he spent the next 12 years. During this period he fought in WW I and served aboard several Battleships, acquiring the rating of Chief Water Tender.
In May of 1919, while on leave in Omaha, Nebraska he met and married my mother, Edith Fannie Tennebaum. ( Born 03/01/1901 – Died 03/28/1990 ) Shortly thereafter he was discharged from the Navy. Dad and Mom settled in Omaha and had 4 children.
1. William Lawrence Heinzman 3. Harry (none ) Heinzman
2. Ruth Lucille Heinzman 4. Max (none) Heinzman
My brothers and I all served in the U.S. Navy during WW II in the Pacific and my sister built B-26 and B-29 bombers in a war factory near Omaha.
Sometime in the mid 1930’s a Paul Heinzman visited my father and I believe he was from Indiana, however I am uncertain. If there is any family connection to your grandmother and my family or this Paul Heinzman, I would appreciate any information you may have. I also have additional information to share with you about our family, as we are spread across the country.
Best Regards, Max Heinzman
P. S. My sister told me that was a group of Heinzman’s in western Nebraska, near Sidney.
My son also told me that he also met a Heinzman while working in the Waterloo, Iowa area.
Posted by Kevin Goodman 
