Herman John Heiden and his fraternal twin, Bertha Dorothea, were born on Monday, July 31, 1876. They were the fourth and fifth children of August and Fredarecka (Knaack) Heiden and the second and third to be born in America. The family was living at 248 West 8th Street in Monroe, Michigan at the time of the births according to the 1880 census.

He married Friedarecka "Reka" Johanna Christine Rambow on Thursday, February 22, 1900 at St Matthew Lutheran Church in Raisinville Township. Reka, who was 19, was the younger sister of William Carl Heiden’s wife, Mary Hannah Rambow. Reka was born on Wednesday, December 22, 1880.

In 1915, Herman and Reka took a train from Dundee where they were living on Cass Street, north to Isabella County to the town of Shepherd. He eventually bought a farm there and became the only child of August Heiden to live outside Monroe County.

Herman was 81 years old at his death on Wednesday, December 11, 1957. He passed away at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan and is buried in the Salt River Cemetery in Shepherd, Michigan.

Reka died on Friday, October 8, 1964 at the age of 73 in Shepherd, Michigan and is also buried at Salt River Cemetery.

During their 54 year marriage, they had two sons and two daughters.

The August (42) and Rika (39) Heiden family were living on West 9th Street in the City of Monroe, Michigan. Three children, Ernst (12), Willie (6) and Herman (4) were listed as living at home. Heinrich (14) was not included and may have been working and living somewhere else already. August was a carpenter, Rika was a day laborer and Ernst was at school according to the report.

Note: Included on the same pages of the census were several other families who had originated in Mecklenburg, Germany too.

On January 10, 1921, a fire in the Commerce Department building, Washington, DC, resulted in the destruction of most of the 1890 census.
Herman (24) and Fredareka (20) were living on Cass Street in Dundee, Michigan with a border named Jacob Gies (40)
They were still living in Dundee with their children, Lewis (9) and Nellie (3).

Note: Herman and his wife moved to Isabella County in 1915.

Herman and Fredareka Heiden are living on their home farm in Chippewa Township, Isabella County, Michigan. Their children, Lewis (18), Nellie (12) and Bertha (18 months) lived there also.
They are still living on their home farm in Chippewa Township, Isabella County, Michigan with their children, Bertha (12) and Richard Lee (4).
Herman and Fredareka Heiden are living in Coe Township, Isabella County with 13 year old Richard Lee.
Living in Lincoln Township, Isabella County, Michigan. Herman is 74 and Reka is 70. Richard Lee (23) is listed as a farmer.
 

There are two Herman Heidens in the early generations. Herman John Heiden (left), son of August and Rika (Knaack) Heiden and Herman D. Heiden, son of Lewis Heiden and grandson of Herman John.

There are two Richard Heidens in the early generations. Richard Lee was the son of Herman John Heiden. Richard Carl is the son of William Frank Heiden.