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 of 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, 19o5, to Miss Helen Southerland Johnston, a native of San Francisco and a daughter of James and Helen C. Johnston. Mrs. Heidorn's father was a prominent contractor in San Francisco, and died in igio. Her mother is still living. Mr. Heidorn's father came to this 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.