The Heidenheimer Brothers was one of the largest grocery companies in Texas, run by Sampson (1834-1891), Abraham, and Isaac Heidenheimer in Galveston. It was established in 1867, when the brothers moved to Galveston from Virginia City, Montana. In 1883 the name changed to Heidenheimer and Company, and by 1887 Isaac was senior partner. Isaac also ran the firm of Heidenheimer and Hawley, importers of coffee and salt; co-owned a grocery store in Austin called Nelson, Davis, and Company; owned a flour mill in Kansas; and owned a sugar plantation in Louisiana.
In 1878, Sampson Heidenheimer built what is now called the Heidenheimer-Hunter Building in Galveston, which housed various wholesale groceries, until the building was purchased by Fred Hunter in 1920. Sampson also served as director of the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad. The town of Heidenheimer, Texas, grew up around railway station for the Santa Fe line and was thus named for the railroad's director.
Heidenheimer's Castle, originally built by Galveston Mayor John S. Snydor, was purchased and expanded by Sampson Heidenheimer, who owned it from 1884 to 1890. His brother Abraham then bought the building.
Sources:
Jenkins, Mary.
Heidenheimer Brothers Business Records, 1869-1881, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
The Heidenheimer Brothers Business Records, 1869-1881, consist of financial records and correspondence documenting the business activities of a Galveston, Texas general store. The collection includes letters from six full-time traveling salesmen, who covered the state of Texas; letters from retail grocers in almost every Texas town, including many which no longer exist; and correspondence from attorneys engaged by the Heidenheimers to collect on a large number of overdue bills. The salesmen's reports provide information about what people bought, what food they ate, and the economic conditions of particular areas.The records give many insights into the lives of Texans during the late 19th century and show that some people lived a spartan existence while other citizens enjoyed fine luxuries, such as expensive wine. Herein also exists records of the Heidenheimers' transactions as cotton factors.
This collection is open for research use.
Heidenheimer Brothers Business Records, 1869-1881, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s “History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project,” 2009-2011.