Heinrich Henninger was born 27 October 1844 in Baden, son of Joseph and Cecelia (Mueller) Henninger. He arrived aboard the City of Cork from Antwerp in November 1867 and took the Oath of Allegiance the following year. He married Ottilia Kolisch in April 1872 in Manhattan and soon moved to Matawan Township.
Some Matawan reports say the original builder of the flour and feed mill was Jacob Edgar Wilson, who was born 25 October 1821 in Holmdel, son of William and Ann (Newell) Wilson. Those reports indicate that Wilson ran the mill for a few years, sold it, and took on a blacksmithing and carriagemaking business along the Matawan-Freehold Road (Route 79). (Matawan Journal, 17 Oct 1940, 27 Jun 1957)
Jacob Wilson appeared in the 1850 US Census as a wagonmaker in Canajoharie, New York. By the 1860 US Census, Jacob was a farmer in Matawan Township with a young wife and four children, and, of particular interest, a miller named James Nelson, born about 1815 in England. [Note: Nelson also appeared as a miller in Marlboro, NJ in the 1850 US Census.]
Matawan Journal, 31 Oct 1907
Henry Henninger took over grist mill operations by 1875. The street where the mill was located became known as Henninger’s Mill Road. In 1925, the Township changed the name to Wilson Street at the request of the post office. (Aberdeen Township Street Names, by Ed Fitzgerald, Matawan Journal, 21 Aug 1875, 4 Sep 1925, 17 Oct 1940)
Henry Henninger purchased a lot in Matawan township for $300 from Henry S Little in mid-April 1885. (Monmouth Inquirer, 23 Apr 1885)
Jacob Wilson and Henry Henninger were among the 16 local men who signed a liquor license application for Hart Moore, of the Mount Pleasant Hotel. Others on the list: W H Sutphin, Jacob J Van Pelt, John H Roberts, Joseph Black, Austin Casler, William H Lloyd, J C Smith, J M Cottrell, W H Conover, James S Hyer, Peter Tully, Joseph W Telton, J M Cottrell, and John Stewart. (Monmouth Democrat, 5 May 1887)
Mrs Clara M Perkins of New York visited Henry Henninger’s. Also visiting were Mrs John C Bucken and Miss S E Bucken of Brooklyn. (Matawan Journal, 19 Aug 1897)
Henry Henninger, Sr became candidate for County Commissioner of Appeals on the Republican ticket for Matawan Township in its Freneau primary in March 1898. (Matawan Journal, 10 Mar 1898)
Henry Henninger witnessed the will of James C Smith in May 1898. (Matawan Journal, 12 Jan 1899)
Henry Henninger was among those who signed the liquor license application of William Kaufer, of the Old Homestead Hotel. Other signers were James Van Brackle, Chris Ziegler, George I Woody, P J Devlin, D P Bailey, Walter Quackenbush, George P Clayton, George Linzmayer, Jr, Lottie Heiser, M E Haley, Ottillie Zimmerman. (Matawan Journal, 7 Aug 1902)
Henry Henninger sought the position of Road Superintendent but lost it to John S Woolley, whose petition had more signatures. (Matawan Journal, 26 Mar 1903)
Henry Henninger was among those who signed the liquor license application of William Kaufer, of the Old Homestead Hotel. Other signers were P J Devlin, Chris Ziegler, James Van Brackle, George I Woody, George Linzmayer, Jr, Lottie Heiser, M E Haley, Ottillie Zimmerman, J W Maggs, D P Bailey, and C L Winter. (Matawan Journal, 12 Nov 1903)
Henry Henninger sold for $1.00 to Henry Lamb certain land in Matawan Township on the road from Mount Pleasant to Old Bridge. (Daily Register, 6 Nov 1907)
“Henry Henninger has sold his farm to Henry Lamb of New York and Mr Lamb is in possession of the property. Mr Henninger had a sale of his personal effects this afternoon and will remove with his wife to Brooklyn.” (Matawan Journal, 7 Nov 1907)
Henry died in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1923.
The exact location of Henninger’s Mill is currently being investigated by the Matawan Historical Society. The map below shows its approximate location near Wilson Avenue in Aberdeen Township.
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Further research could be done to clarify who was the original owner of the grist mill. While local reports say Joseph Wilson built the mill, the presence of James Nelson, an apparently experienced miller in Wilson’s farm household, is worth exploring to make sure Nelson wasn’t the actual founder.
“Wheat Demanded” Image Source: Matawan Journal, 21 Aug 1875
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