Julius A. Heinz, while one of the younger men of Champaign County, has acquired many successful interests since coming to Pesotum and is a real leader in the life and affairs of that town.
Mr. Heinz was born in Kickapoo Township of Peoria County, Illinois, September 29, 1880. His parents Frank and Mary (Heitter) Heinz were also natives of the same county. His paternal grandfather was a native of Germany, while the maternal ancestry came from Prance. Frank Heinz followed farming during his active career and he and his wife are now living retired in Peoria. They were the parents of these children: Ida and William, both deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Frank Bienemann, of Peoria; Mary, deceased; Julius A.; a daughter that died in infancy; Emil, of Peoria; Sylvester, deceased; Etta and Clarence, twins, the latter now deceased, while Etta is the wife of Henry Speck, Jr., of Peoria.
Julius A. Heinz attended the parochial schools in Peoria County until he was sixteen years of age. After that he lived on his father’s farm and worked there until the age of twenty-two. Then, fifteen years ago, he arrived at Pesotum and began the active business career which has brought him such generous rewards. For two weeks he worked in an implement business and then bought out Mr. Kleiss and with his cousin, L. T. Heinz, continued the trade, handling implements, buggies, lumber, hardware and other supplies. In 1904 an undertaking department was added and the cousins remained in partnership until 1909, when the business was reorganized and divided.
At that time Mr. Heinz took the undertaking line and also the real estate and insurance department. He still continues the undertaking business, and has a splendid equipment for a small town, including a motor hearse. He is also senior partner in the firm of Heinz & Creamer at Tolono, and is head of the Heinz-Riemke agency of automobiles, at Pesotum. They make a specialty, as sales agents of the Haynes and Reo cars.
In 1913 Mr. Heinz accepted the position of cashier of the Bank of Pesotum and now gives much of his time to the administration of the bank’s business and is one of its directors.
His name is also associated with the public affairs of Pesotum. He was the first village treasurer and was tax collector one year. Politically he is a Democrat, is a member of the Catholic Church, and is affiliated with Champaign Lodge of Elks, has taken the fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. November 22, 1916, Mr. Heinz married Kathryn Kerwin, a native of Marion County, Illinois.