Page 30 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2023 - Online Magazine

Slaton
History

HOW THE HEINRICHS

Rolled into Slaton

by Debbie Heinrich Johnson

n 1866, Wenzel and Magdalena from Galveston to what is now
Heinrich left their native Austria High Hill, Texas, where they
Ito come to the United States, homesteaded 50 acres, built
having heard of vast tracts of a home, and started farming.
land available to homesteaders. Farming was in their blood, Eugene Heinrich, who farmed in
In April, they boarded a sailing and in the years to come, agriculture the Woodrow area, preparing their
ship with their five children in proved to be advantageous for own sons to make their living on the
Amsterdam, Holland and landed their livelihood and that of future farms as well.
in Galveston in July. They loaded generations. In 1920, Ferdinand’s brother Joseph
their belongings onto a covered (Joe) and Emma (Miksch) Heinrich
wagon and continued their journey One of Wenzel’s grandsons,
Ferdinand, his wife Alvina came to the Slaton area, eventually
(Kahlich), and five of their children, having seven children. They
were the first Heinrichs to come to purchased a farm four miles west of
Slaton in 1917. (Three more children Slaton on Highway 41. The oldest
were born later.) Three of their sons, of their sons, Werner, joined and
Erwin, Willie, and Oscar Heinrich, retired from the military. Daughters
banded together in 1947 to form Irene Ehler, Erma Lee Schilling,
Slaton Gas & Equipment, which and Margaret Bednarz married
is still located on Industrial Drive into local farming families and
in Slaton. They delivered diesel, raised successful families. Daughter
gasoline, and propane to homes, Mildred entered the convent at 18
businesses, and farmers in the for a short time, before marrying
surrounding area. After more than Arthur Hlavaty and raising a large
75 years, Slaton Gas & Equipment family.
is still in operation and run by sons, As the Plains Division of the Santa
Donnie and Stanley Heinrich. Oscar Fe Railroad made its way to Slaton
had three sons who also worked around 1940, Joe’s son Cletus
in agriculture. His son Victor and (Honky) started his career with the
wife Milada (Hlavaty) Heinrich railroad at the age of 18. He married
raised two sons, Roy Lee and

Slatonites serving Slaton and surrounding communities.

Use the code word "Steak and Schnitzel" to receive a
10% discount off your entire ticket, excluding alcoholic
beverages. The offer expires June 1st, 2024.

30 Lubbock Senior Link