Godfred Hennig was born in 1881 in Friedland, Germany and immigrated to the United States arriving in Gulfport in 1903 where he began serving as mate on historic Dredge Boat #2 responsible for digging out the Gulfport harbor. Shortly thereafter, he married Sarah “Daisy” Switzer, with whom he bore nine children. The family set up residence in the Handsboro community of Gulfport, where Daisy’s family were founding settlers. By 1907, he advanced to become captain of a dredge working on the channel in Pascagoula and later a blacksmith for the Gulfport and Ship Island Railroad. It was here he learned the new process of electric welding when it was introduced to the company. Responsible for learning and training others, Godfred practiced for hours on end perfecting his electric welding techniques. He was able to prove his mastery when he was called upon to repair a break in the 4x6 steel frame of Passenger Engine No 12. Having worked on that weld for 17 hours, he proved his mastery when the storm of 1915 caused No 12 to crash into the Brooklyn Bridge above Wiggins, MS. While two train workers perished, the frame did not break or even get a crack.
Around 1931, Godfred, foreman welder for Illinois
Central, which had since purchased Gulfport and Ship Island Railroad, was offered a position in their Centralia, Illinois shop. But Godfred, now a naturalized citizen, loved the Coast too well and declined, opening a welding and blacksmith shop in Gulfport. He soon found the Biloxi fishermen were having trouble with their Lathrop engines in the form of busted cylinders. He moved his shop to Biloxi on Beach Drive at the foot of Oak Street.
G Hennig Welding and Blacksmithing was later relocated to 240 Oak Street in Biloxi, where it would remain. In this shop, Hennig set a personal rule of “If you haven’t got it- make it”, inventing and building equipment for all applications, especially those used in the seafood industry. He taught the trade to some of his sons and sons-in-law who later took over the business. But even after retirement, Godfred could be found working in the shop and keeping up with the latest trends in metalworking.
Ever civic-minded, Godfred was a member of Masonic Lodge 120, a member of the Woodsmen of the World Fraternal Order and attended First United Methodist Church of Biloxi.
He and Daisy lived to celebrate 64 years of marriage, Daisy passing away in 1968, and later, Godfred, in 1970.
For his contributions to the entire Gulf Coast in support of the channels, equipment and transportation, Godfred Hennig, Sr. is recognized and honored as tradesman in the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum’s Heritage Hall of Fame.
