Jackson County IA Archives Biographies.....Heckelsmiller, Adam December 24, 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com August 19, 2010, 11:30 pm Source: History of Jackson County, Iowa, 1910 Author: J. W. Ellis ADAM HECKELSMILLER Among the residents of Bellevue whose activity and diligence in former years now make it possible for them to live retired in the enjoyment of well earnest rest is Adam Heckelsmiller, who was born in Nockenheim, near Meines, Germany, on the 24th of December, 1843. He belongs to a family that, like many another, has come from across the water to profit by the opportunities of the new world. His parents were Mathias and Katharine (Smith) Heckelsmiller, both natives of the fatherland, who came to America in 1852, settlement being made in Galena, Illinois. Only six months, however, were spent at that place, after which they removed to a farm in Tete des Morts township, Jackson county, Iowa, where the family resided for three years, then returned to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where the family home was established. The father, who after his arrival in this country followed river pursuits for a number of years, subsequently turned his attention to farming, in which line of activity he continued throughout the rest of his active life- At the time of his demise, which occurred when he was seventy-three years of age, he was making his home with a daughter in Washington township, Jackson county, Iowa, but his wife passed away in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, at the age of fifty-three years. Their family consisted of seven children, as follows: Mathias and John, both deceased; Lena, who passed away in infancy; Theresa Regeth, also deceased; Peter, who died at the age of two years; John, residing in Bellevue; and Adam, of this review. The last named was a little lad of nine years when he came with his parents to this country, and hjs education, which had been begun in the fatherland, was completed in the schools of Illinois and Iowa. He remained at home, dividing his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the tasks assigned him by parental authority, until sixteen years of age, when, starting out in life on his own account, he became identified with river pursuits. He followed that occupation until the year 1865, when in response to the country's call for additional troops, he enlisted on the 24th of February from Jo Daviess county, Illinois, as a member of Company E, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving for one year or until the close of hostilities. During his term of service he took part in the battle of Goldsboro, North Carolina, participated in the engagement at Raleigh, that state, and spent two weeks in a hospital at St. Louis. In the latter city he was mustered out on the 24th of July, 1865, with a most creditable military record for one of his years. After the war Mr. Heckelsmiller returned home and resumed the occupation which had claimed his attention prior to his enlistment, continuing in that line of activity for thirty years. For the last twelve years he was captain of the White Swan, a freighter running from Dubuque south. He then took up agricultural pursuits, which he followed for about twelve years in Jo Daviess county and several years in Washington township, Jackson county. At one time he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he later sold, and removed to South Dakota, where he purchased a quarter section of land. To this he added until he was the owner of three quarters of a section, but he subsequently sold the entire tract and returned to Iowa, locating in Bellevue in 1893, since which time he has continued to make his home in this city. During the long years of his connection with business interests his efforts were characterized by a spirit of industry, energy and perseverance, which elements were salient qualities in winning for him a competency which now enables him to live retired and to enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor. In 1865 Mr. Heckelsmiller was united in marriage to Miss Odelia Gerlich, who was born in 1844 in the same village which her husband claims as the place of his nativity. In 1851 she came to America with her parents, John and Margaret Gerlich, the family taking up their abode in Galena, Illinois, where both passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heckelsmiller were born ten children, but only four of that number still survive: Mathias, residing in South Dakota; Stephen, who died at the age of eighteen months; John, who passed away in infancy; Adam, also deceased; Theo., who died when twelve years of age; Katie, whose death occurred in infancy; Charles, who also passed away in infancy; Ida, the wife of Roy Brown, of Michigan ; Josephine, who married Seymour Brown and also makes her home in Michigan; and Frank, still at home. In 1903 the wife and mother was called to her final rest, her demise occurring on the 2ist of September, and aside from her family she left a large number of warm friends to mourn her loss. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/jackson/bios/heckelsm387gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb