REV. LAWRENCE HEILAND, the able and successful pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, at New Bavaria, Ohio, was born at Newhaus, near Pegnitz, Bavaria, Germany, December 21, 1841, and is the son of Adam and Margaretha (Haecker) Heiland, both of whom were born at the same place in 1810. The family, consisting of the parents and their six children, emigrated to the United States, landing in New York on June 24, 1855, and settled at Avon, Lorain county, Ohio. Lawrence was hired out to one of his relatives, receiving the magnificent wage of six cents per day and poor board in return for hard and wearisome labor. After six months, however, Lawrence quit this service and thereafter worked wherever and whenever opportunity presented. When the Civil war broke out he joined the Home Guards, of which he was a member three months, and then desired to enlist and go to the front, but was dissuaded from doing so by his mother. However, he determined if he could not fight for his country he would fight for his God, and thereupon, with a determination to enter the ministry, he commenced his philosophical and theological studies, which were completed on June 17, 1870, and he was ordained as a priest of the Catholic church. His first priestly offices were performed in the diocese of Cleveland. From August, 1870, to June 21, 1881, he served St. Patrick's congregation, in Seneca county, Ohio, and then until January 1, 1888, he was in care of St. Bernard's church at New Washington, Crawford county, Ohio. He was next at St. Stephen's, Defiance county, Ohio, until June 24, 1900, when he came to the Church of the Sacred Heart at New Bavaria, where he has since so successfully labored. A man of pleasing public address, a good sermonizer and an indefatigable worker among his people, it is not strange that he has attained to so great a popularity or that his labors here have been so fruitful. Regardless of denominational lines, his character and ability are generally recognized and he is well liked by all.