William Heilman

Who was William Heilman?

William Heilman was a U.S. Representative from Indiana, great-grandfather of Charles Marion LaFollette.

Born in Albig, Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Heilman immigrated to the United States in 1843 and settled on a farm in Vanderburg County, Indiana. After moving to Evansville, Indiana, he worked for a manufacturing company and subsequently became president of a cotton mill. In 1847, he founded a machine shop for the manufacture of drills. He served as member of the city council 1852-1865, as member of the Indiana House of Representatives 1870-1876 and as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876. He served in the Indiana State Senate from 1876 until March 3, 1879.

Heilman was elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the Forty-eighth Congress. He resumed his former business activities. He died in Evansville, Indiana, September 22, 1890. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.