YUBA COUNTY Biographies

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

p 602

HENRY BLUE

Among Marysville’s loyal sons is numbered Henry Blue, who is a member of an old pioneer family of California and has spent his entire life in his native town, where he is widely and favorably known. He has had broad experience along business lines and is now connected with the Marysville Ice & Cold Storage Company, while he also takes an active part in civic affairs. He was born near Marysville on June 17, 1874, and his parents were James Franklin and Kate Blue, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter, of Germany. The father was reared on a plantation, and while still in his teens started across the plains for California, making the journey with ox-team and wagon. He arrived in San Francisco in 1849 and engaged in freighting from Marysville to the mines, subsequently becoming owner of the old Bithouse ranch nine miles north of Marysville in District No. 10, where his son Henry was born. The mother also came to California in early life. Both parents are now deceased. This worthy couple had nine children, seven boys and two girls; the boys are all living, but the girls are both deceased.

Henry Blue was the fifth in order of birth in his parents’ family. He attended the grammar and high schools of Marysville; and his initial experience along commercial lines was gained in the drug store of Flint & Crane. He remained with that firm for three years and then entered the employ of the P. C. Slattery Meat Company, with which he was identified for five years. For a considerable period thereafter he was connected with the Joseph Schoefer Grocery Store, and later acted as agent for the Union Ice Company. After the ice business was taken over by the Marysville Ice & Cold Storage Company, Mr. Blue joined the police force, of which he was a member for nine years, and then reentered the service of the ice company, with which he has since been associated. He has a thorough knowledge of the business, and his services are of value to the firm, for he discharges to the best of his ability the duties devolving upon him.

Mr. Blue married Miss Margaret Helena McDaniels, a native daughter of California and also a representative of one of the pioneer families of the State. Her parents were John and Nancy (Culbert) McDaniels, the former of whom operated the race-track at Marysville and died at the age of fifty-two years. He met a tragic death, being murdered on November 30, 1878, by a Chinaman who was in the act of robbing their residence when Mr. McDaniels surprised him. On November 13 of the following year the Oriental was hung for the crime. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have a son, Henry Franklin who married Miss Pearl Phelan, by whom he has a son, Robert Franklin. Some years ago, Mr. Blue built a comfortable bungalow at 417 Thirteenth Street, where he resides with his family. In his political views Mr. Blue is a Democrat; and in March, 1921, he was elected city councilman, being chosen for a term of four years. He is intensely interested in the civic life of Marysville, and is giving his time and best efforts to the city’s welfare. He is chairman of the Light and Power Committee, the Sanitary and Drainage Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. These three chairmanships keep him very busy. Mr. Blue originated and started the wild-game aviary on Ellis Lake, in Marysville, and has stocked it with wild geese and ducks of different breeds and with wild swans. To accomplish this, be obtained crippled birds from hunters who are his friends, placed them in his private pens and doctored them, and when they had recovered, transferred them to the lake. These beautiful wild birds, with their lovely plumage, are a rare and pleasing sight to the citizens and tourists, and his work in this direction is much appreciated and warmly commended. Mr. Blue finds recreation in fishing, hunting and baseball. His fraternal relations are with Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E.; the Woodmen of the World; and Oriental Lodge No. 45, I..O.O.F.; and with his wife he is a member of the Rebekahs. Mr. Blue is a valued member of the Marysville Chamber of Commerce, and is serving on its board of directors. He is an active worker for the good of his community, and measures up to the highest standards of American manhood and citizenship.

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