Bio: Heinemann, Nathan (1849 – 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Heinemann, Kain, Young, McGovern

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Heinemann, Nathan (4 March 1849 – 19??)

NATHAN HEINEMANN, proprietor of the largest mercantile establishment at Wausau, Wis., has been a resident here almost forty years and during the greater part of the time has been a merchant. He stands as one of the solid, reliable, representative business men of Wausau. He was born in Baden, Germany, March 4, 1849, and is a son of Samuel and Yedda Heinemann, who came to Wausau after their sons, had established themselves here. They spent their last days here, honored and esteemed by all.  

Nathan Heinemann attended school and served his apprenticeship with a merchant at Baden and in the spring of 1863 entered the employ of a dry goods firm there as a clerk. In 1867 he came to the United States and before reaching Wausau, in 1874, spent the intervening years in large business centers, in New Jersey, New York, Savannah, Ga., and Chicago, Ill. After deciding upon Wausau as a promising business field, Mr. Heinemann with his brother Benjamin, opened a small store which was soon expanded into a general store, carrying all commodities for which there was a demand, and the brothers continued their partnership for twenty-two years. After the partnership was severed Mr. Heinemann continued for himself, and. although he has many other large and developing interests, he still carries on his merchandising, confining himself mainly to dry goods and carpets. There are many who would have a lonely feeling if his pleasant personality was removed from the activities in which he has made himself felt for so many years. Being one of the early business men here Mr. Heinemann can recall much that is interesting concerning the introduction of many of the labor saving devices which then were luxuries, but have now become necessities. He was one of the early sewing machine agents, there probably not being at that time more than three machines owned in all Marathon County.  

In September, 1873, Mr. Heinemann was married to Miss Rebecca Kain, of New York City, and they have six surviving children: Harry, who is associated with his father in the mercantile business; Helen, who is the wife of Max Young, of St. Paul; Gertrude, who lives at home; Fred, who is in the lumber business in Saskatchewan, Canada; and Solomon and Byron.  

Mr. Heinemann has always been interested in progressive matters and has been quick to recognize all modern utilities and has served as president of the Wausau Telephone Company of Wausau since its organization in 1895. He owns much improved real estate here and also great tracts of timber land in Wisconsin. For many years prominent in Masonry he was chairman of the committee that arranged for the erection of the Masonic Temple in this city. In 1912 he was appointed by Governor McGovern a member of the Wisconsin Income Tax Board. While he has concentrated his interests largely at Wausau, Mr. Heinemann has traveled extensively both in America and in Europe and can enjoyably visit Germany, France and Spain because he can speak their languages fluently. He belongs to the Wausau Club and to the Wausau Liederkranz.