John Friedrich Heiden, the eighth and final child of August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden, was born Thursday, May 1, 1884. He was born at the family farm at 8700 South Custer Road where he lived for the rest of his life.

On Wednesday, November 2, 1910, he married Agnes Emma Brockman. John was 26 and Agnes was 18 at the time. They had one son and 4 grandchildren.

According to a 1928 article in The Dundee Reporter, Agnes was a member of a group called The Lady Arbeiters which held pot luck dinners at members' homes. The name means Lady Workers in German and was a German-American social club that originated in the mid-19th century to help immigrants adapt to their new country.

John and Agnes were married 48 years before John’s death at the age of 75 on Sunday, June 21, 1959. He was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dundee, Michigan.  Agnes lived to be 89 before passing away on Friday, June 12, 1981. She too is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery.
 

Aunt Agnes was a special person, in my opinion. She was a very nice lady who always had a smile on her face. I was only 11 when John died and about all I remember of him is that he had a day bed off the kitchen that he seemed to always be in when I was around.

Agnes was significant in encouraging my interest in family genealogy. She was the last of my grandfather's generation of Heidens and she helped me get the search started in 1972.

 

Henry (Heinrich) Heiden (33) was listed as the head of the household living on 8700 South Custer Road. Living with him were his parents, August (62) and Rika (57) and his sister, Lena (18) and brother, John (15).

Eight year old Agnes Brockman lived near Dundee a short distance from her future brother-in-law, John Koster (20).

Note: This was the house next door to east of Ernst Heiden's house.

August (72) and Rika (68) were living in the same house on South Custer Road with their youngest child, John (26).

Agnes (18) was listed as a house servant to Seth and Lida Dixon who lived on Tecumseh Street in Dundee

Note: Henry had moved to his own farm at 8420 Dixon Road.

August (82) and Rika (84) were living in the same house on South Custer Road with their youngest child, John (35) who was married to Agnes (28). John was listed as head of household.

Note: August would die in 1922 and Rika passed away in 1926.

John (46) and Agnes (38) continued to live at 8700 South Custer Road. Their son, Howard was ten years old at this time.

John (56) and Agnes (48) continued to live at 8700 South Custer Road. Their son, Howard was nineteen years old at this time.

John (66) and Agnes (58) continued to live at 8700 South Custer Road.