John Henry was born Johann Heinrich Heinz to parents Johann Georg and Charlotte Louisa (née Trump) Heinz in Kallstadt of the Palatinate, which at that time was part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

[5] Anna's husband, John Heinz, was a Lutheran, and they raised and confirmed their son to that faith.

[2][3][6] Henry John Heinz began packing foodstuffs on a small scale at Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1869.

[citation needed] Heinz led a successful lobbying effort in favor of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906.

[11] He was a director in many financial institutions, and was chairman of a committee to devise ways of protecting Pittsburgh from floods.

Later in life Heinz worshipped as a member of Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and worked closely with Baptists as well.

He visited a chapel that Wesley founded, later writing that "I felt I was upon holy ground.