Henry was born 2 Nov 1833 in Lippe-Detmold, Prussia, Germany, son of Fred and Wilhelmina HUE (pron Hoy) HANSMEYER. This bio appears in Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler, and Brown Counties, Illinois, pub 1892.

Henry was born in Lippe-Detmold, Prussia, Germany in 1833. He came of pure German ancestry and of hardy stock. His father, Fred HANSMEYER married Wilhelmina HUE (pron Hoy) of the same province. In 1839 they took passage for America and landed in New Orleans after a seven-weeks voyage. Thence the family came up the Mississippi to St. Louis where the mother and one child died of the cholera after being there one week. The father and four children came to Chicago, where Henry was attacked by cholera and confined to the house for two weeks, later he joined his father and the other children in Watertown (Chicago?), and it was near there that the father died about one year later, being then in middle life.

Henry HANSMEYER is the second of four sons yet living. He came to this country in 1849 and lived on a farm in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, until 1851 working for $10 a month. He came to Beardstown in 1851 and still worked by the month for a time for $10; he saved his money, became a stock dealer and trader and did various things until he accumulated enough to purchase land. In 1865 he found himself on safe ground for business, which he carried on successfully and extensively. He was an active farmer and stock-raiser until 1880 when he retired from business and moved to Beardstown. He owns a fine farm of 306 acres, 250 of which is under the plow and the rest in pasture, good land and all supplied with first-class farm buildings. He purchased this farm in 1865 and also owns some good residence property in Beardstown, the opera house building in Mt. Olive, Illinois, and other residence property there.

He was married in Beardstown in 1857 to Miss Catharina SCHMIDT. She was born in Hesse-Darmstadt. She was the dtr of the Rev. George and Kate SCHMIDT who came to the United States in 1856 settling in Beardstown where they died. Mr. Schmidt was for many years pastor of the Lutheran Church. He was a fine minister and an anti-slavery advocate, a Republican in politics and a leader in his community. Mrs. HANSMEYER is a great worker in the Lutheran Church and a very fine woman. They have 4 children: Augusta, wife of Henry OETGEN, a farmer in Schuyler County; Minna [Wilhelmina Paulina], wife of Henry STOCK; Katie, wife of John DUVALL, First State Bank of Beardstown; William, a miller by trade. Mr. HANSMEYER is a public-spirited citizen, a Republican in politics and a member o fthe Fourth Street Lutheran Church of which he has been a Trustee for sixteen years.

Henry married 20 Nov 1857 in Beardstown, Illinois. She was born 13 Jul 1836 in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, dtr of Pastor George and Kate SCHMIDT, and came to Beardstown with her parents in 1856. The HANSMEYERs were farmers near Beardstown where Catherine died on 28 Oct 1899.

Henry was a successful man and owned farmland near Beardstown, town lots in Beardstown and Mt. Olive, Illinois, as well as land in Oklahoma. At his second marriage to Mrs. Margaret KUHL MANKEN on 3 Jul 1901 in Beardstown, they signed an anti-nuptial contract which his record in Cass County, Illinois.

"During the married life of the said parties the said Henry HANSMEYER shall provide for the said Margaret MANKEN according to his condition in life and as a husband should provide, and the said Margaret MANKEN shall properly and fully perform her duties as wife."

Henry died 21 May 1911 in Beardstown and is buried there with Catherine(a) in Oak Grove Cemetery.

1. Augusta C (Catherine(a)? born 1859 (no date) in Beardstown, Illinois. She married Henry W. OETGEN [mother Helen L. VESLAGE] on 13 Mar 1879 in Beardstown. They lived and died in Beardstown. He in 1919 (no date) and Augusta in 1941.
They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. They had 3 children: Arthur, Homer and Inez OETGEN CALLINGS.
2. Wilhelmina Paulina "Minnie" born 1861 in Beardstown. She married Henry Thomas STOCK on 12 Mar 1885 in Beardstown, where they lived.
3. Katherine Elizabeth born 4 Nov 1866 in Beardstown. She married John Frederick / Frederick John DUVALL. [this writer's heritage] "Katy" and JF/FJ are buried in Bennett, Cedar County, Iowa's Inland Cemetery with 2 of 3 dtrs Pauline (William Floyd Blair) and Henrietta (never married). Dtr Viola Katherine married George Ray BAWDEN and is buried in Davenport, Scott, Iowa's Oakdale Memorial Cemetery.
4. William H. born 5 Apr 1868 in Beardstown. He married Hallie SMITH who was born 18 Apr 1872 (no location). Wm died 14 Jan 1907: Hallie died 13 Jul 1938; both are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Beardstown. They had: Erma, Harold, Clifford, Roy, Mabel and Frances.

This surname is somewhat removed from my tree. I'm posting it to help anyone.