Joseph Heck was born in Germany on July 6, 1822. His parents were Johannes and Emma Haltz Heck. He immigrated to the United States, settling in Quincy, Illinois, where he married Rahina Mueller. Joseph and Rahina moved to Pittsfield in 1855.
The Heck’s opened a bakery in the frame building on the north side of the Pittsfield square, which had been the first courthouse in Pittsfield. It was later replaced by the Heck’s brick store. Heck’s Store was famous for their gingerbread.
They also had the first lunchroom and candy counter. Ice cream was first made and sold in Pittsfield by the Heck’s.
Joseph was instrumental in helping friends from Europe find jobs and homes in Pittsfield and Pike County.
Joseph and Rahina Heck developed a relationship with young John G. Nicolay. Rahina often fried meat for him when she was doing her own cooking and did his washing along with the family wash when Nicolay slept in the half-story garret over the Free Press newspaper office at night.
John G. Nicolay brought Abraham Lincoln to the Heck’s Store where he was given a large square of their gingerbread, which Lincoln said was “mighty good” Lincoln noticed two of the Heck’s daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, playing about the store. He took them up in his arms and said that he though both names were very pretty for the two pretty girls, but Mary was his favorite name.
Joseph often preached at the German Methodist Church. He died on September 15, 1895. Rahina Heck died on March 8, 1900.