Contra Costa County
Biographies
HENRY HEIDORN
HENRY HEIDORN. Prominent among the most substantial
ranchmen of Contra Costa county is Henry Heidorn, a representative of the type of citizens which Germany
has contributed to the upbuilding of the western world. Entirely through his
own efforts he has acquired a position of financial importance in the county,
by constant and undivided attention to his work and the exercise of thrift and
economy becoming the owner of six hundred and forty acres of choice grain land
in the eastern part of the county, where he is engaged in general farming
operations and the raising of horses, cows, hogs, etc. He is justly considered
one of the successful men of this section.
Born in Hanover,
Germany, June
20, 1841, Henry Heidorn is the son of Fred and Sophia
(Theise) Heidorn. He was
reared to manhood in the fatherland, receiving an education in the excellent
schools of that country. He remained a citizen of Germany
until 1868, in which year he decided to emigrate and cast in his lot with those
who were enjoying the broader opportunities of the western world, and
accordingly came to California.
His first season was spent in Solano county as a ranch hand, following which,
in 1869, he came to Antioch,
Contra Costa county, and rented land near that town
and later at Eden Plains, where he engaged in the raising of cattle. He
continued in this occupation for six years, when he bought a quarter section of
land from Mrs. Lewis and entered into the cultivation of grain. Later he
traded property in Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, for
another quarter section adjoining this land. Proceeding at once to the
improvement of the place he enlarged and remodeled the buildings, and afterward
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the Darby ranch, and later one hundred
and sixty adjoining this, accumulating his fine property since 1869, the year
after his arrival in the state. He is now engaged in stock-raising and general
farming.
In California Mr. Heidorn
married Charlotte Brockhoff, who was also a native of
Hanover, Germany,
and of this union were born the following children: Fred, a farmer; Louisa, who
married Charles Shellenberger, a farmer near
Brentwood; Emma, deceased; Kate, who married Richard Tremboth,
an orchardist near Antioch;
and Minnie, at home.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 22 September 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
781-782. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marie
Hassard.
Contra Costa County Biographies
Golden Nugget Library