Biographical Sketch of

Henry Vinz

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 409 - 410


Henry Vinz is a promnent merchant of Kingston, and is numbered among the early settlers of Green Lake County. The 
history of life on the frontier is both thrilling and interesting, but it was connected with many hardships, and 
the noble band of men and women who patiently bore those trials deserve the highest words of praise for their 
self-sacrifice and efforts. To them the county owes her present prosperity, and it would be injustice on our part 
to omit the sketch of one who has been so prominently identified with the progress and advancement of the community 
as he whose name heads this sketch.

Mr. Vinz was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, on the 21st of March, 1832, and is a son of John W. Vinz, who died when 
our subject was but four years old. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent in his native land, in much the usual 
manner in which boys occupy their time. Liberal educational opportunities were afforded him and he profited by his 
opportunities. It was in the eighteenth year of his age that he crossed the Atlantic to America to seek his fortune. 
He had heard much of the splendid advantages offered to young men, and he resolved to see for himself if it were 
possible to more readily gain a competency in the new world than in the old. He has never yet had occasion to regret 
the step taken. Though he began life with nothing, he is now one of the wealthy citizens of the community, and in 
connection with his business interests owns between 500 and 600 acres of land as the result of judicious management, 
untiring labor, and the able assistance of his wife, who has proved herself a true helpmate to him. 

On the 20th of August, 1854, Mr. Vinz led to the marriage altar Miss Margaret Weisel, who came to this country in 1850. 
Nine children came to gladden the home by their presence, but only two remain under the parental roof. Mary C., the 
eldest, died at the age of nineteen years, Margaet G. is the wife of Henry Schmidt, of Salem, McCook Co., South Dakota; 
John H. is living in Salem, S.D.; and is the husband of Amelia Vinz; Eliza is the wife of John Luecke, of McCook Co., 
S.D.; Edward William married Lizzie Fretzke, and makes his home in Markesan; Frederick G. is living on the farm; Adam 
E. has been admitted to partnership with his father; Eva T. resides with her brother on the old homestead; and John 
Frank is still with his parents. Mr. Vinz is a member of the Lutheran church and Mrs. Vinz is a member of the 
Congregational church, and both are highly respected citizens of the community in which they make their home. 

Since 1866 Mr. Vinz has been engaged in the mercantile business in Kingston, carrying a full stock of general 
merchandise. He has a good trade, and is one of the enterprising and successful business men of the town, who finds 
time to devote to the interests of the community as well as his own affairs. He possesses excellent judgement, and 
his long years of experience have made him familiar with the wants and desires of his customers. 

Mrs. Vinz is a native of Grossherzogthum, Hesse-Darmstadt, at Mushenheim, where she was born May 13, 1837, and 
came to America in 1850, with her parents, Conrad and Anna M. Weisel, who settled in the town of Manchester, Green 
Lake County, the same year of their arrival. Mr. Weisel died in November, 1866, and his wife is still living at the 
age of eighty years. They had a family of one son and three daughters, all of whom are living.






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