Yolo County Biographies This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm LORENZ HEINZ Lorenz Heinz, a farmer northwest of Davisville, in Yolo County, was born January 9, 1828, in the Kingdom of Wirtemberg, Germany, a son of Franz and Margaret Heinz, natives of Germany. He was brought up on a farm in the old country; his father being a blacksmith he learned the same trade, and at the age of twenty, being the only son and his father over sixty years old, he was exempt from further army service. In 1849 he sailed from France to America on the vessel Havre, and was thirty-six days on the voyage. Landing at New York he remained there for a short time and went to Philadelphia, and engaged at farm work near by in Chester County, in the employ of a man named Robert Brown, for one year at $87. He then was employed at his trade, blacksmithing and boiler-making, in Philadelphia until the fall of 1852, when he sailed from New York on the steamer Uncle Sam for California, by way of the Isthmus, on the Pacific side taking the steamer Cortez, and landing in San Francisco January 6, 1853. In that strange city he endeavored to find employment for a month, but in vain, and as he was without means he became sadly discouraged. Board was $13 a week, even for the plainest kind. At length he obtained a position in a manufactory of iron doors and shutters, at $5 a day; but in a month he concluded to go with some friends to Australia and gave up his situation; but the trip was given up and his occupation gone. He went to Sacramento and then started to the mines near Colusa on a steamer, which broke a shaft on the way, and while it was lying to for repairs Mr. Heinz met some miners returning who gave discouraging accounts. He returned again to Sacramento, heart-sick and discouraged. He went to the mines again, only to meet further discouragement, and even opposition. After hunting around for some time for employment, he was engaged by Wallace Barnes, at $50 a month, and he worked for him six months, but never received a cent of money for it! Next he engaged in a manufactory of iron doors and shutters at Sacramento; next in a vegetable garden for Mr. Muldrow until spring, when he again went to Sacramento and engaged in the manufacture of iron doors and shutters for Radcliff & Company. Thus he was employed until the fall of 1854, by which time he had accumulated about $400. Placing this in the bank, he struck out for the mines at Iowa Hill, where he worked for awhile, only for poor returns. In the spring of 1855 he went again to Sacramento, only to find that the bank had failed and all his hard-earned money gone! This almost uninterrupted series of disasters were enough to drive any common man insane, but Mr. Heinz still held up his head, and hired himself to a Yolo County man named Alexander Manor for the summer. He worked for various parties until the fall of 1860, when he with a band of sheep, located where he now lives, upon a half section of land, which he obtained of a squatter, at a cost of $800; and three years later he bought it a second time with school warrants of the State of California. He has, however, continued courageously on until long since he has made a fine home. His farm is one of the best kept in that section of the county, and comprises 337 acres. What an example we have, in the sketch of such a noble citizen, of patience and perseverance! Mr. Heinz was married December, 1862, to Miss Caroline Weimer, and they had two sons � Charley and Theodore. Mr. Heinz was married again in the fall of 1871, to Miss Lucia Kuehnel, a native of Germany, and they have three children, namely, Julia, August J. and Lucia. Transcribed by Kathy Sedler, July 2004. SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1891. pg. 327-328. Lorenz HEINZ An example of fortitude amid discouragements is afforded by the career of the late Lorenz Heinz. The pathway of his early years was rugged and thorn-strewn. Had he been easily depressed the weary obstacles between him and success would have daunted his courage. With a youth�s bright hope for the future he had come to the new world, only to find little to encourage him in his early prospects. Still optimistic of the future, he had sought the far west and here he found employment difficult to secure, wages sometimes held back from him and eventually, when he had accumulated a little capital by the most arduous exertion, the bank failed in which he had deposited his precious earnings. Notwithstanding these hardships and many other discouraging circumstances, he exhibited a tireless patience and an unflagging perseverance and in the end he worked his way out of difficulties into independence. The life which this narrative presents had its beginning in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, January 9, 1828, in the home of Franz and Margaret Heinz, natives of Germany. The father was a blacksmith, and it was natural that the son should learn the same occupation under the skilled training of the other. The fact that he was the only son in the family and that the father was more than sixty years of age exempted him from military service for his native land. During 1849 he took passage on the vessel, Havre, which covered the route from France to America in thirty-six days, a fast voyage for that period of history. The ship cast anchor in the harbor of New York and the young immigrant in a short time proceeded to Philadelphia, going from that city to Chester county, Pa., where he entered the employ of Robert Brown, a farmer. His wages for one year amounted to $87 and board. Next he was employed as a blacksmith and boilermaker in Philadelphia. During the autumn of 1852 Lorenz Heinz sailed from New York City on the vessel Uncle Sam, bound for the Isthmus of Panama. After he had crossed to the Pacific side of the isthmus he boarded the ship Cortez, which cast its anchor in the harbor of San Francisco January 6, 1853. The western metropolis presented a strange appearance to his inexperienced eyes. A motley throng of emigrants from all parts of the world formed its leading inhabitants. Many lived in tents, although the process of permanent building was well begun. The young German was entirely friendless and none too familiar with the English language, so that he worked under a great disadvantage in his efforts to secure employment. As he paid $13 per week for board his scanty savings became reduced so rapidly that he was practically penniless when at the expiration of a month he finally found work. The new position, which paid $5 per day, took him into a factory where iron doors and shutters were made, and he continued for a month, when he resigned to accompany an expedition to Australia. Scarcely had he resigned the position when the trip was abandoned and he was left again without employment. Seeing no favorable opening in the city, Mr. Heinz went to Sacramento and from there started via steamer for the mines near Colusa, but in the course of the voyage the vessel broke a shaft and a delay was occasioned. While awaiting the completion of the repairs, Mr. Heinz became acquainted with a number of miners returning from the mines and they gave such discouraging reports of conditions there that he abandoned all thought of going farther. Returning to Sacramento, he took up the weary search for work. Finally he was engaged by Wallace Barnes, who agreed to pay him $50 per month, but after he had given his best efforts for his employer for six months he was left without a penny of pay. His next position did not result so disastrously, but was of brief duration, being a temporary post with a concern that manufactured iron doors and shutters. Next he worked in the Muldrow vegetable gardens and then entered the employ of Radcliff & Co., of Sacramento. Having saved $400 by 1854, Mr. Heinz deposited the money in a Sacramento bank and started for the mines at Iowa Hill. During the spring of 1855 he went back to Sacramento, only to find the bank closed and his earnings lost. With these discouragements to depress him, he looked for a new location, where he might retrieve his losses. Coming to Yolo county, he hired to Alexander Manor and worked for various ranchers until the fall of 1860, when he settled on a half-section of land six miles northwest of Davis, having obtained the land of a squatter for $800. Later he bought the land with school warrants of the state of California. Starting with sheep, he afterward became interested in other lines of agriculture. Little by little success came to him. The ranch was improved with substantial barns and a neat house. Shade trees gave beauty to the landscape and fruit trees proved a source of profit. From year to year improvements were made as the means of the owner permitted. Gradually the ranch took rank among the best-improved places of the community. This result was due to the early pioneer efforts of the owner, seconded by the wise management of the present proprietor, A. J. Heinz, youngest son of the upbuilder of the property. The first marriage of Mr. Heinz took place in December, 1862, and united him with Caroline Weimer, by whom he had two sons, Charles and Theodore. On February 25, 1871, Mr. Heinz married Miss Lucia Elsobe Kuehnel, a native of Husum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, born September 28, 1839. In 1870 she came to California and the following February she was married. Mrs. Heinz was a noble woman and her exemplary life furnishes an example that no woman can study without benefit to herself and help to those with whom she associates. She was true in all of the relations of life, a good neighbor, a loyal friend, a devoted wife and mother, an ardent and loyal Christian, and her death was profoundly mourned by a wide circle of friends. She passed from earth March 29, 1901, after a happy wedded life of thirty years. Just three years later, March 28, 1904, Mr. Heinz also entered into eternal rest, mourned by a large circle of friends, who united in bearing testimony to his courage in the midst of difficulties and her perseverance in the routine of farm work. Mr. Heinz� honesty was joined with the still nobler qualities and principles. He was not only honest, but just and generous. It was known that at one time he paid out of his own pocket hundreds of dollars given voluntarily and without other influence or obligation than his recognition of the Golden Rule. What he was to his neighbors can be best stated by the estimate one gave him when he said, �A better neighbor never lived.� Surviving Mr. Heinz are the three children of his second marriage, the son, August J., previously mentioned as the present capable manager of the old homestead, and the two daughters, one of whom, Julia, is the wife of L. J. Cassel, while the other, Miss Lucia Heinz, an artist of prominence, has her studio in San Francisco. The old Heinz ranch comprises three hundred and thirty-seven acres and is given over particularly to grain, alfalfa and stock raising. August J. Heinz was born on the place October 10, 1875, and was educated in the public schools and Herperian College. Transcribed by Bea Barton Source: �History of Yolo County, California� by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 779 � 782.