Bonaventura was the son of Aloys Heinz and Richardis Metz. He arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 29, 1846 on the ship the Sea Lion. The ship left from Le Havre, France, and he came alone. The family story is that he refused to be conscripted into the army, so he left for the United States. He didn't communicate with his family in Germany again.
He moved to St. Louis. Bonaventura served in the Mexican War from September 18,1847 to October 1, 1848, being discharged with a Surgeons Certificate when at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to St. Louis and married Margaretha on Jan. 29, 1849. Their first child Frederick was born there in 1852. They moved to Davenport where their other 5 children were born.
Bonaventura was a grocer, owned a boat store on the levee, and was a wharf manager. He took an active role in public affairs in Davenport. "He was a man of sterling character and integrity, and genial, sunny nature, and he had a large number of friends, and died, as far as known, without an enemy." (Obituary, The Davenport Democrat, July 25, 1899).
From the Obituary in The Davenport Times, July 25, 1899: "He was a member of no fraternal society, neither of any church. He was a thorough German American, a citizen of undisputed probity and was a rock ribbed Democrat until the free silver heresy made a breach in the party and caused him to adopt the gold wing of the same."
He moved to St. Louis. Bonaventura served in the Mexican War from September 18,1847 to October 1, 1848, being discharged with a Surgeons Certificate when at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to St. Louis and married Margaretha on Jan. 29, 1849. Their first child Frederick was born there in 1852. They moved to Davenport where their other 5 children were born.
Bonaventura was a grocer, owned a boat store on the levee, and was a wharf manager. He took an active role in public affairs in Davenport. "He was a man of sterling character and integrity, and genial, sunny nature, and he had a large number of friends, and died, as far as known, without an enemy." (Obituary, The Davenport Democrat, July 25, 1899).
From the Obituary in The Davenport Times, July 25, 1899: "He was a member of no fraternal society, neither of any church. He was a thorough German American, a citizen of undisputed probity and was a rock ribbed Democrat until the free silver heresy made a breach in the party and caused him to adopt the gold wing of the same."
Bonaventura was the son of Aloys Heinz and Richardis Metz. He arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 29, 1846 on the ship the Sea Lion. The ship left from Le Havre, France, and he came alone. The family story is that he refused to be conscripted into the army, so he left for the United States. He didn't communicate with his family in Germany again.
He moved to St. Louis. Bonaventura served in the Mexican War from September 18,1847 to October 1, 1848, being discharged with a Surgeons Certificate when at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to St. Louis and married Margaretha on Jan. 29, 1849. Their first child Frederick was born there in 1852. They moved to Davenport where their other 5 children were born.
Bonaventura was a grocer, owned a boat store on the levee, and was a wharf manager. He took an active role in public affairs in Davenport. "He was a man of sterling character and integrity, and genial, sunny nature, and he had a large number of friends, and died, as far as known, without an enemy." (Obituary, The Davenport Democrat, July 25, 1899).
From the Obituary in The Davenport Times, July 25, 1899: "He was a member of no fraternal society, neither of any church. He was a thorough German American, a citizen of undisputed probity and was a rock ribbed Democrat until the free silver heresy made a breach in the party and caused him to adopt the gold wing of the same."
He moved to St. Louis. Bonaventura served in the Mexican War from September 18,1847 to October 1, 1848, being discharged with a Surgeons Certificate when at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to St. Louis and married Margaretha on Jan. 29, 1849. Their first child Frederick was born there in 1852. They moved to Davenport where their other 5 children were born.
Bonaventura was a grocer, owned a boat store on the levee, and was a wharf manager. He took an active role in public affairs in Davenport. "He was a man of sterling character and integrity, and genial, sunny nature, and he had a large number of friends, and died, as far as known, without an enemy." (Obituary, The Davenport Democrat, July 25, 1899).
From the Obituary in The Davenport Times, July 25, 1899: "He was a member of no fraternal society, neither of any church. He was a thorough German American, a citizen of undisputed probity and was a rock ribbed Democrat until the free silver heresy made a breach in the party and caused him to adopt the gold wing of the same."
