Biography of Joseph Perry Heitz, pages 772/773.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Joseph Perry Heitz

One of the conspicuous names on the list of DeKalb county 
agriculturists is Joseph Perry Heitz, proprietor of a fine farm in 
Butler township, a gentleman of high standing to whom has not been 
denied a full measure of success.  Long recognized as a factor of 
importance in connection with the farming and stock-raising industries 
here, he has been prominently identified with the  material growth of 
prosperity of this part of the sate, his life having been closely 
interwoven with the  history of the county where he has been content to 
line and follow  his chosen vocation for over a quarter of a century. 
	Joseph P. Heitz was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on August 29, 
1870, and is the son of John H. and Lydia (Groves) Hietz, both of whom 
were natives of Ohio.  John H. Heitz came to DeKalb county many years 
ago, settling in Butler township, where he spent the balance of his 
life, having been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.  He 
and his wife are now both deceased. To them were born five children, 
Joseph P., immediate subject of this sketch; Edith, deceased; Cora E., 
Calvin W. and Georgia, deceased. The subject of this sketch received 
his education in the common schools of his home neighborhood and spent 
his earlier years under the direction of his father on the home farm.  
He was wise in deciding to make agriculture his life work, for in this 
line of endeavor he has achieved a most pronounced success and is today 
numbered among the representative agriculturists of Butler township.  

He owns eighty acres of land and also operates one hundred and sixty 
acres adjoining.  He carries on a general line of farming, raising all 
the crops common to this locality, and also gives some attention to the 
breeding and raising of live stock. On December 12, 1906, Mr. Heitz was 
married to Oma Dale Strause, the daughter of Joseph and Katherine 
(Krick) Strause, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of 
Germany.  The latter came to the United States when six months old with 
her parents, who settled at Pittsburgh, later moving to Wayne county, 
Indiana, where they remained until Mr. Krick was married, when they 
came to DeKalb county and located in Keyser township.  They became the 
parents of eleven children, namely; Mary, Boston, Ida, Rolando; Alice, 
deceased; Cora, deceased; Emma, William, Amanda, Oma, the subject’s 
wife, and Elmer. The father of these children has passed away, but his 
widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Heitz. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Heitz was born one child, Emily J.

Politically, Mr. Heitz is a Democrat, though his private business 
interest, have demanded his sole attention and he has no time for 
public affairs.  Nevertheless, he takes a proper interest in local 
events and give his support to all those things which tend to advance 
the welfare of the community in any way.  He is a man of clean habits 
and upright life, and enjoys the fullest measure of popular confidence 
and esteem.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com