After residing in various cities in Europe, Gustave Hecklinger crossed the Atlantic and spent some time in Canada. He then came to New Haven, where he arrived on the 28th of April, 1909, and during the intervening period he has been actively engaged in the bakery business in this section of the state. He is now senior partner in the firm of Hecklinger & Frank, proprietors of the Vienna Bakery, one of the leading establishments of the kind in New Haven. He was born July 16, 1884, in Breisach, Germany, a son of William Hecklinger, who was also a native of that place and a successful farmer, who spent his entire life in Germany. He passed away March 22, 1899, at the age of forty-five years. In early manhood he wedded Catherine Buehler, who was also born in Breisach and is still occupying the old homestead there. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, seven of whom are yet living.

     Gustave Hecklinger was the fifth in order of birth in that family. He obtained a public school education and also attended the trade schools of his native city and spent his early life upon the home farm. When a youth of fourteen years, however, he started out in life on his own account and was apprenticed to learn the baker’s and confectioner’s trade. This he followed as a journeyman in Switzerland for two years and during the succeeding year was in Paris, France. He then went to London, England, where he remained for three years, and during these periods he was employed at his trade in leading bakery establishments. At length he determined to come to the new world and crossed the Atlantic to Canada, settling in Toronto, where he remained for three years. He then came to New Haven, arriving April 28, 1909. He immediately secured employment with Charles Minery, of Fairhaven, with whom he continued for a year. His next employment was with Michael Hessler, who was the founder of the Hessler Bakery, the predecessor of the Hecklinger establishment. Mr. Hessler was one of the most prominent and successful bakers of New Haven and had one of the oldest establishments in his life. He began business in 1882 and successfully conducted his bakery until April, 1916, when he retired. He was succeeded by Hecklinger & Frank, who are proprietors of the Vienna Bakery, located at No. 898 State street, in New Haven. The business is conducted under a partnership arrangement by Mr. Hecklinger and Philip Frank, who purchased the business on the retirement of Michael Hessler. The Vienna Bakery is today the fifth in point of size in New Haven and ranks with the best in its equipment and in the conditions which prevail in the shop. The plant has an output of sixty barrels of flour per week and thirteen people are employed in its operation. They sell principally to the wholesale trade but also conduct a retail store, which is attractively arranged, while the quality of the product ensures a ready sale.

     On the 16th of April, 1916, Mr. Hecklinger was united in marriage to Miss Helena Wilhelmy, a native of Germany. He belongs to the Lutheran church and in politics maintains an independent course but is a naturalized American citizen, having secured his papers in September, 1914. He belongs to the Master Bakers Association, largely concentrating his efforts and attention upon the business in which he embarked as a young tradesman. In fact he has always continued along this line and his experience has been a source of growing success. He has closely studied the trade, the demands of the public, the market and everything relative to his business, and his efforts and energy have carried him steadily forward until he is now in active control of a leading establishment of this character, from which he is deriving a substantial annual income.