Edson H. Fox, president and manager of the ranch of the
Central Creamery Company, with offices at corner of Twelfth and Jefferson
streets, Oakland, is a man of much energy and activity. He is held in high
esteem by his large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was born in
Aurora, Illinois, April 6, 1871. His father, Daniel Fox, was a soap
manufacturer during his residence in Illinois. His mother, Jennie (Baker)
Fox, was a native of Illinois. The family came to the Pacific Coast in 1883,
and settled in Oakland, where Edson H. received his education. Laying aside
his books, Mr. Fox worked at the baking business for a time, and later
worked for the Fairmont dairy for six years. The Central Creamery Company
now owns three hundred acres of choice land near Oakley, and has a herd of
three hundred and thirty selected cows. The buildings are of the most modern
and up to date. Politically, Mr. Fox is a Republican, but he has never
aspired to office. He was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Ransom, a native
of Nevada County, California. To this union one son, Ransom Fox, was born in
1899. The stockholders in the Central Creamery Company are J. M. Carr, J. J.
O'Neil (manager and secretary), Mrs. Jayne, George Hickman, and E. H. Fox.
The subject of this review is a public-spirited man and ever ready to lend
his best efforts toward the promotion of any movement calculated to advance
the interests of eastern Contra Costa County.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 502-503.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, August, 2006.
Henry W. Heidorn is an active representative of business
interests in eastern Contra Costa County. He is engaged in the general
mercantile business at Knightsen, and was born July 16, 1876. He is a son of
Christopher Heidorn, a representative rancher, who came to this county in
1868. Entirely through his own efforts he acquired a position of importance
in the county, and by his constant and undivided attention and by exercising
economy he became the owner if a two-hundred-and-forty-acre ranch. Mr.
Heidorn's father was a native of Germany, and came to America when a young
man and settled on the Alfred ranch near Knightsen. Three years later he
purchased two hundred and forty acres and engaged in general farming
operations, raising grain and hay, and had considerable land set out to
fruits, nuts, and vineyard. His death occurred on November 21, 1906. Henry
W. Heidorn, the subject of this review, acquired his education in the public
schools of Brentwood and Antioch, after which he attended college in San
Francisco. After finishing his education he became identified with general
merchandise stores in San Francisco, Crockett, and Antioch, and in January,
1904, he opened a store in Knightsen. In his parents' family there were
three children - Emma, wife of Thomas White, residing on the home place;
Edna, a teacher in the public school of Knightsen; and our subject. Mr.
Heidorn is affiliated with the Republican party, and has served on the local
school board for a period of ten years. He has served six years as deputy
county assessor for the fifth district, and has acted as a delegate on the
county central committee for six years. He has been postmaster at Knightsen
and takes a keen interest in the upbuilding and modern activities of the
eastern part of the county. Fraternally, Mr. Heidorn is a Mason and a member
of No. 345, F. & A. M., a Royal Arch Mason, and is past patron of the
Eastern Star, besides being a member of the I. O. O. F. of Byron and the
Independent Order of Foresters of Brentwood. He was married September 27,
1905, to Miss Helen Southerland Johnston. Mrs. Heidorn's father was a
prominent contractor in San Francisco, and died in 1910. Her mother is still
living. Mr. Heidorn's father came to the country via Panama accompanied by
his brother. His father first settled in Dixon. He later went to Pacheco and
worked for Mr. Loucks, and at a later time worked for the Antioch
distillery. He returned to Germany, where he remained for one year, when he
again made the trip to this country, where he remained and became one of the
leading ranchers in eastern Contra Costa County.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, p. 503.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, August, 2006.