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JOHN B. HEIKEN



Reared to farm life on his father’s ranch of 400 acres, where he was born, John B. Heiken has spent his entire lifetime in agricultural pursuits. His father, Henry B. Heiken, a venerable and highly respected farmer, now deceased, was born in Hanover, Germany, February 8, 1824, and was there reared and educated. Left fatherless at the age of eight years, Henry B. Heiken began life for himself at an early age, for many years working as a wage-earner on a farm. Coming to the United States in 1851, he crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, being ten weeks on the ocean, and landed in New Orleans. Proceeding directly to the Red River district, in Texas, he remained there a short time and then went to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked as a farmer and teamster for three years. Taking the Nicaragua route for California in 1854, he came to San Francisco and spent a brief time there, after which he went to the mines and worked by the day for a while. Not liking this, however, he next went to Sacramento, and from there to Marysville, where he secured a position with a farmer, in whose employ he continued for fourteen months. The following two years, he worked at ranching and hay-pressing; and with the money thus earned he purchased a six-mule team, and for three years thereafter was engaged in freighting to the mines.

Giving up teaming, in 1860, Henry B. Heiken located on government land in Sutter County, but in the course of four or five years had to give it up. He subsequently purchased a squatter’s claim to the present homestead, and there engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Later he added to his original purchase, increasing his acreage to 400 acres. He made substantial improvements on his farm, which became one of the best in its appointments of any in this part of the valley, being a credit to his industry, skill and sound judgment.

On December 10, 1867. Henry B. Heiken was married to Miss Margaret Egan, who was born and reared in Queens County, Ireland, coming from there to Sutter County with her father when about seventeen years old. Of the nine children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Heiken, four are living, namely: Hobart W.; John B., the subject of this sketch; Josephine M.; and Frederic. Henry B. Heiken was a Republican in politics, and fraternally he was identified with Enterprise Lodge, No. 70, F. & A. M., of Yuba City, to which his two older sons also belong.

John B. Heiken was always associated with his father in ranching operations, and he is now counted as among the substantial and prosperous citizens of his locality. In 1920 Mr. Heiken was elected supervisor of the fourth supervisorial district of Sutter County; and he is now serving as chairman of the board. In national politics he is a decided Republican.

Mr. Heiken was married in Yuba City to Miss Inga Hess, who was born in Santa Rosa, and whose parents were well and favorably known pioneers of Sonoma County.

(History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924-pg 602)

Today his descendants live in the Sacramento and Yuba City/Marysville areas.

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