Max J Heinz of Kickapoo Township

 Max was my counterpart. A partner in crime, from long ago! Here is his long lost story.............

Max Heinz of Kickapoo Township

If not for Max Heinz, there would have never been a "Heinz Family: 1810 - 1975, by Mrs. Wm. L. Heinz and Robert D. Heinz " book published in 1975, or any of the research many of us have been able to conduct and publish over these last few years. While he stopped in 1948, the legacy continues. He could have never imagined how he, and his work, was going to be in full digital and end up far beyond his wildest dreams in 2026 @ https://ejheinz.center/g1/p17.htm#i412

Max Joseph Heinz never married. He stayed at home on the farm until he was 25 years old, then rented land and went into farming for himself. In two years, he went broke. First the land was too wet, and later it was too dry. There was no crop and no grain prices to pay expenses. Later he did carpenter work and paper hanging.

In 1930 Mr. Heinz moved to Dalhart, Texas. In 1931 he borrowed the money to go into farming and went broke again because of the depression. Then he worked on the W.P.A. until he was 65 years of age, when he was taken off that. He then received Old Age Assistance.

In 1941 he moved to San Angelo, Texas, on account of his high blood pressure. There he lived the rest of his life.

Mr. Heinz undertook the task of writing a Heinz Historical Book. It is that book which provided the inspiration for the compiling of the Heinz Family History; by Mrs. William L. Heinz, Genealogy book. Mr. Heinz gathered facts and dates at family reunions and other social gatherings. If he had not pursued that interesting hobby, most of the early information contained in the book would have been lost from memory and gone forever! He continued the book until 1948

Sources:

Princeville Heritage Museum

https://ejheinz.center/GedSite/EJ-o/up/books.htm

https://ejheinz.center/GedSite/EJ-o/g1/p17.htm#i412

Gilbert Marion Heinz of Kickapoo Township

Gilbert Marion Heinz was born on May 17, 1924, in Kickapoo, Peoria County, Illinois, the fourth child of Alex P. and Rosella V. (Gilles) Heinz. Raised on the family farm, he was educated in the local community and helped with agricultural work until he joined the U.S. Army in 1943. During his service in the European Theater of World War II, he participated in the historic D-Day invasion at Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in the leg in France on August 20, 1944, earning the Purple Heart medal before receiving his honorable discharge in 1946.

Following the war, he returned to Illinois and married Ruth Cook Rogers on August 20, 1947, at St. Mary's Church in Kickapoo. Gilbert adopted Ruth’s son from a previous marriage, Michael Heinz (born November 6, 1946), who later married Norma Jean Rodriguez. Together, Gilbert and Ruth had five more children: Joyce E. Heinz (born August 27, 1948), who married Danny Laverne Baggott; Randall P. Heinz (born January 12, 1951), who married Karol Million; Cheryl R. Heinz (born November 1, 1954); Roland J. Heinz (born December 7, 1955); and Richard M. Heinz (born August 19, 1958). 

This chapter of his life was marked by tragedy when Ruth, at age 33, was killed in a two-car crash on the Interstate 74 bridge on March 31, 1962. Gilbert remarried Elinor Crowder Dunlap on January 16, 1965. In a heartbreaking repetition of fate, Elinor was also killed in an automobile accident on October 15, 1967, and was interred at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kickapoo. 

In 1969, Gilbert found lasting companionship with Marilyn Arnold, whom he married in Missouri. They moved to Rushville in 1970 and had two children: Gilbert Heinz (born May 1, 1969) and Marnie Heinz (born February 7, 1971), who later married Brian Eskridge.

Professionally, Gilbert was known for his extraordinary work ethic, retiring in 2004 after more than 59 years as a bulldozer operator. He was a dedicated member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Rushville and the Schuyler American Legion Post 4. Gilbert passed away at the age of 81 on June 12, 2005, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Kickapoo following a funeral mass at St. Mary's Church. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife, Marilyn, his children, 24 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

Schools of Kickapoo 1902

Prior to the adoption of the free school system there were very few public schools in Kickapoo Township. 

In 1840 Mr. Samuel Dimon, who had come to the township in 1838, hauled the logs for the first school house in what is now District No. 1. It was situated on the northeast quarter of Section 11, where the present school house now stands. In that house Miss Harriet Hitchcock is believed to have been the first teacher, Samuel Dimon afterwards taught there for two or three terms.

Prior to 1851 there was a school house some distance west of Hale's Mill, known as the Kingsley School House; but it is not known when or by whom it was built. 

In 1851 Miss Sarah Smith taught the first school at Hale's Mill, occupying a cooper shop for a school house. The school house, now located at Pottstown, is known as No. 4. 

The first school house in District No. 5 was located on the northwest quarter of Section 9. It was a frame building erected in the spring of 1851, at a cost of $260. The first school taught there was by H. Gregory, commencing in the fall of that year. This school house was replaced in 1877, by a modern frame house which cost $570.

The first school house in District No. 6 was erected on the southeast quarter of Section 16, in August, 1860. It was a frame building costing $300. School was commenced there in the fall of 1860 by a teacher named H. M. Behymer. 

The first school house in District No. 7 was erected in the summer of 1867 on the northeast quarter of Section 33. Miss H. Pritchard was the first teacher there. She commenced in the winter of that year. 

The first school house in District No. 8 was erected in the summer of 1867 on the northwest quarter of Section 13, at a cost of $528. The first school was taught there in the winter of that year by Miss Hattie C. Humison. 

The township is now well supplied with school houses of modern style, and the schools are in a prosperous condition. The Patrons of Husbandry at one time had a strong hold in this township, there having been two granges. No. 446 or South Kickapoo, new extinct, and Orange, having a Grange Hall on the northeast quarter of Section 11, It is one of the seven yet surviving in the county.

George F. Heinz Farm of Kickapoo Township

 

George F. Heinz was born on 15 June 1862 in Kickapoo, Peoria County, Illinois. He was the son of Andrew W. Heinz and Christina (Reed) Heinz. He grew up in the Kickapoo community, where the Heinz and Reed families were among the early settlers of the region.

In 1880, George was living in Kickapoo, unmarried, and listed as a son in the household. He married Mary A. Heinz Becker in 1887 in Peoria County, Illinois. Together they made their home in Kickapoo, where they raised their family and remained active in the local farming community.

George experienced the loss of both parents during his adult life. His mother, Christina, died on 11 June 1902 in Kickapoo, and his father, Andrew, died on 22 May 1907 in Kickapoo Township. By 1920, George was recorded as the head of household in Kickapoo, living with his wife Mary.

Mary died on 16 February 1938 in Kickapoo. George died the following year on 31 January 1939 at the age of 76 in Kickapoo, Peoria County, Illinois. They are buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kickapoo.

The 47-acre site on Route 150 that now serves as the Pringle Robotics headquarters carries a deep agricultural legacy, having once been the farm of George F. Heinz. As mentioned above, a descendant of German pioneers who settled in Kickapoo Township in the mid-1800s, George F. Heinz managed the land for decades, raising his family there alongside his wife, Mary Ann Becker.

Today, the property represents a unique bridge between Peoria’s history and its future; while the fields once yielded traditional crops under the Heinz family's care, they now house a high-tech "robotics hub" where autonomous machines are assembled and tested, often within sight of the original farm structures.

Also (as per Haven on The Farm) the property associated with the Heinz family was first settled in 1838 by Samuel Dimon, one of the earliest settlers in the area and the teacher at the first schoolhouse, which stood on the property. After Dimon's death in 1880, the land passed through several owners before being purchased by George F. Heinz in 1898. Over the years, the property was divided and sold to various families, including the Cunningham, White, Dempsey, Folkers, Danehy, Nelson, Schielein, and Weary families.

The Schielein family moved to White Acres Farm in 1954 and created many memories of farm life with horses, ponies, cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens. The original 1838 house was demolished in 1970 and replaced with a two-story pink brick southern colonial home.

In November 2021, part of the property was purchased by Ashley Wurzer, whose vision for Haven on the Farm was inspired by her own rural upbringing and desire to share the peace of small-town living.

Sources and More:

Haven On The Farm 

https://ejheinz.center/g1/p14.htm#i343

https://ejheinz.center/ti/George-F-Heinz-0300-0225.jpg

From Coal Dust to Power Parades: The Legacy of Caterpillar’s Edwards Proving Grounds

 

From Coal Dust to Power Parades: The Legacy of Caterpillar’s Edwards Proving Grounds

By EJ Heinz

For those of us who grew up in or around Kickapoo Township, the rumble of heavy machinery isn’t just background noise—it’s a part of our identity. In 2025, Caterpillar’s Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center hits a major milestone: 100 years of steel, soil, sweat, and spectacle.

This is more than a company story. It’s our story. And it’s time to dig into how this global brand rooted itself in central Illinois—and how a little place named Edwards became a world stage for construction innovation.

Why Edwards? A Location Chosen by History and Industry

In the 1920s, as Caterpillar grew into a major industrial force, it needed a place to put its machines through hell—and prove they could survive. Edwards, just west of Peoria, provided the perfect terrain: rolling hills, stubborn Midwestern clay, and space to move earth without limits.

But it wasn’t just dirt. The land was laced with strip mines and underground coal tunnels. The nearby E.D. Edwards Power Station, operational from 1960 to 2022, gave Caterpillar logistical power: rail lines, river access, and industrial-grade infrastructure.

A Proving Ground Like No Other

The Edwards site transformed from test field to technological cornerstone. Today, the 720-acre Demonstration & Learning Center includes high-traction hills, precision grading pits, and a 150,000 square-foot indoor Machine Development Center (MDC)—one of the only places in the world where you can move 50 tons of dirt inside.

In 2025, Caterpillar greenlit a $2.6 million expansion of its demonstration zones—proof that Edwards still plays a vital role in the brand’s future.

The Power Parades: Engineering Meets Entertainment

Between all the serious engineering, Caterpillar also knew how to throw a show.

Starting in 1964 and recurring in 1973, 1978, 1988, and 2000, the company launched the Power Parades—large-scale public demonstrations of earth-moving choreography. These events turned machines into performers and the Edwards proving grounds into a dirt-filled theater.

Over 100,000 people attended some parades. More than two dozen shows were performed during a single season. Track-type tractors and loaders moved in perfect sync, while characters like “Toby the Clown” and “Alexander Botts” added family-friendly flair. For many, these parades were unforgettable—a blend of mechanical power and community pride.

Watch the 2000 Power Parade here:
Caterpillar Power Parade 2000 (Full Footage)

Go behind the scenes at the Edwards facility:
Inside the Caterpillar Edwards Demonstration Center

Land, Legacy, and the Road to 2025

Kickapoo Township has changed. Edwards has changed. But the presence of Caterpillar—sometimes controversial, often complicated—has been constant.

Yes, the relationship between company and community hasn’t always been smooth. Many locals, myself included, have had reasons to feel frustrated by decisions, misinformation, or shifting policies. But it’s also true that Caterpillar has employed generations, trained talent, and kept central Illinois on the global manufacturing map.

As 2025 nears, there’s talk of a new Power Parade. And why not? The centennial is the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come—and to remind the world that the heart of heavy equipment still beats strongest right here in the Midwest.

Share Your Stories—Let’s Tell the Whole Truth

Were you at the Power Parades? Did you work the grounds, test equipment, or tag along as a kid to see giant machines do the impossible? Please share your stories and images.

This isn’t just a Caterpillar story. It’s ours. Let’s make sure we get it right—and make it complete. Happy 100th. 

Sources & Media

• Washington, Illinois Sesquicentennial, 1825–1975
• Sesquicentennial History Book, 1824–1974
• Equipment World
• WCBU Peoria
• MiniMovers Power Parade Retrospective
• CitizenPortal.ai
• YouTube: Power Parade 2000
• YouTube: Inside Edwards Center

• https://heinzgenealogy.blogspot.com

Charles Brady of Kickapoo Township Illinois. Born 1841.

Biography of Charles Brady (1841–1927)

Charles Brady was born in 1841 on the fertile lands of Orange Prairie in Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois. His parents, John and Ellen Brady, were among the early Irish immigrants who sought better lives in America during the difficult decades before the Great Famine. Growing up amid a community of hard-working Irish Catholic settlers, Charles learned the farming skills and faith traditions that would define his life.

At the age of 21, Charles enlisted in Company G, 67th Illinois Infantry Regiment during the early days of the American Civil War. His unit served primarily at Camp Douglas in Chicago, guarding Confederate prisoners of war — a vital but often overlooked duty that kept him away from the frontlines but deeply involved in the Union war effort.

Returning home after a brief service, Charles married Melissa Ann Dunbar on February 16, 1864, in Peoria County. They built a life together on the family farm at Orange Prairie, raising several children. Over the decades, Charles became a respected farmer, cultivating about 80 acres of rich Illinois soil and contributing to the growth of the Irish Catholic community centered around St. Patrick’s Church.

Charles Brady remained a Democrat and active citizen in local politics, although he never sought public office himself. His quiet leadership helped maintain the tight-knit spirit of Orange Prairie’s farming community through the end of the 19th century and into the dawn of the 20th.

Charles passed away in 1927 at a venerable age, after seeing vast changes sweep across America. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois — a resting place for many of the region’s founding families. Charles’s legacy lives on in the rich soils he farmed, the strong community he helped build, and the descendants who carry his blood and story forward.

There also appears to be a son born out of wedlock found from a PCGS source:

Son: Brady Ralph Waldo Emerson 1872-Apr-16  Father: M Brady, Charles Michael 

Location: 27 Orange Prairie, Kickapoo Twp., Peoria, Ill. Peoria, Peoria Co., IL (Hancock 

St.)

Mother: Pratt, Cunthia Maria 

Timeline of Major Life Events

1841 Born in Orange Prairie, Peoria County, Illinois

1862 Enlisted in Company F, 77th Illinois Infantry Regiment

1862 Mustered out after Civil War service

1864 Married Melissa Ann Dunbar in Peoria County

1870s–1890s Farming and raising a family in Orange Prairie

1927 Died; Buried in  Oak Hill Cemetery, Peoria County

 

Sources Cited

• 1850 and 1860 United States Federal Censuses, Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois.

• Peoria County Marriage Records, 1867, Peoria County Clerk’s Office, Book C.

• Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database, Illinois State Archives.

• 1873 Atlas Map of Peoria County, Illinois.

• Peoria County Genealogical Society.

Charles Brady (1841–1898) – Genealogical Research Archive Additional Information 

 

I. MAP INFORMATION

Resource: 1873 Peoria County Atlas (Kickapoo Township and Orange Prairie Section)

• Area Located: Orange Prairie (near Kickapoo Township) in Peoria County, Illinois.

• Brady Family: Early settlers listed in township records.

• Historical Atlas Reference: Atlas Map of Peoria County, Illinois (1873).

 

II. Service

• Service: Charles Brady served in Company G, 67th Illinois Infantry during the American Civil War.

 

III. GRAVESITE INFORMATION

Burial: Oak Hill, Peoria County, Illinois

• Listing Found: On FindAGrave.com (memorial # 96196257).

 

IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Basic Life Facts:

• Born: 1841, Orange Prairie, Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois.

• Parents: John Brady and Ellen,  Irish immigrants arriving by late 1830s.

• Military Service: Enlisted 1862 in Company G, 67th Illinois Infantry.

• Marriage: 16 Feb 1864, to Melissa Ann Dunbar, Peoria County.

• Occupation: Farmer, raising several children.

• Death: 1927; Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Peoria County, Illinois.

Expanded Biography:

• John Brady (his father) was among early settlers who helped build St. Patrick's Catholic Church nearby.

• Charles Brady maintained an 80-acre prosperous farm.

• Active participant in local Democratic Party functions but never sought elected office.

• Known as part of the strong Irish Catholic farming community that defined Orange Prairie.

 

V. SOURCES USED FOR ADDITIONAL 

1. 1850 and 1860 United States Federal Censuses — Kickapoo Township, Peoria County, Illinois.

2. Peoria County Marriage Records, 1864 — Peoria County Clerk’s Office, Book C.

3. Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database — Illinois State Archives.

4. 1873 Atlas Map of Peoria County, Illinois — Historical Atlas.

5. Peoria County Cemetery Records — Springdale Cemetery, Peoria, IL.

6. History of Peoria County, Illinois (1880s) — Local pioneer biographies.

7. PEORIA COUNTY LATE ENTRY BIRTHS RECORDED 1850-1877 Courtesy of JOHN J.BULGER, County Clerk (1899-1981)

Charles Brady's Pension:

Field Information

Name    Charles Brady

Enlistment Date    2 Jun 1862

Enlistment Rank    Private

Muster Date    13 Jun 1862

Muster Place    Illinois

Muster Company   G

Service Notes: Mustered in Chicago, guarded Confederate POWs, discharged after 100 days.

1. 67th Illinois Infantry Records

• Service: 67th Illinois Infantry was a 100-day regiment, organized in June 1862 and mustered out October 1862.

• Charles Brady served from June 2, 1862 to around October 6, 1862.

• Primary duty: Guarding Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas, Chicago.

• Meaning: He did not fight in major battles, but served important duty guarding POWs.

Source: Adjutant General’s Report of the State of Illinois, 1862

No battle injuries likely, but he still qualified for veteran benefits later.

 

2. Marriage to Melissa Ann Dunbar – February 16, 1864

• Peoria County Marriage Records, Book C.

 

3. Grave at Oak Hill Cemetery

• Charles M. Brady

• Birth: 1841

• Death: 1927

• Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery, Peoria, Illinois

 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96196257

Family: (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/2Z35-H8K/charles-brady-1841-1927)

Charles Brady

1841–1927

Melissa Ann Dunbar

1843–1934

Marriage: 16 February 1864

Edward Brady

1866–1867

Ella Mae Brady

1868–1964

Christina Brady

1870–1954

Ollie Virginia Brady

1872–1955

Mayme Ida Brady

1874–1962

Lena Brady

1876–1877

Thomas F Brady

1877–1961

Albert Brady

1879–1935

Anna Melissa Brady

1880–1930

George W Brady

1882–1971

Addie M. Brady

1884–1959