Henry Hennig

Henry Hennig (1858-1922) was born in Neumark, Prussia—or modern-day Poland—to Isaac (1830-1889) and Hilda Neunberg Hennig. He immigrated to New York in 1882 and then moved south to Darlington less than two years later. There, he opened a store in his name and eventually sold groceries, wine, liquor, and cigars. In 1894, he married Lena Witcover (1875-1960), the daughter of Timmonsville merchant William “Wolfe” (1837-1904) and his wife, Eudora “Dora” Cronheim Witcover (1845-1924). Together, Henry and Lena had three children that survived infancy: Julian (1894-1971), Hilda (1896-1980), and Herman (1899-1979). In January 1890, Henry opened another grocery store with Samuel Lewenthal, aptly named Lewenthal & Hennig, on the corner of Pearl Street and the Public Square. The following January, Henry parted ways with Samuel and once again began operating a grocery and liquor store under his name on Pearl Street. By 1900, he and Lena employed a cook and two servants in their home on Broad Street.

When Henry died in 1922, an obituary was printed in The State noting, “He died respected and esteemed by all after spending nearly half a century in this adopted home. During his entire residence here, Mr. Hennig was numbered among the leading businessmen and his record as a citizen and as a friend has ever been above reproach.”¹ When Lena died nearly four decades later, she too was lauded as a civic leader who was instrumental in the establishment of the Darlington chapter of the American Red Cross and the charity, Needlework Guild.

1 “Deaths in South Carolina,” The State, December 14, 1922, 2.