FRED H. HEIKEN

 

An efficient, trustworthy public official who enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, is Fred H. Heiken, the treasurer and tax collector of Yuba County [Sutter County].  He was born on a farm in Sutter County, on August 16, 1890.  His father, Henry B. Heiken, came to California in 1854, while his mother, who was Margaret Egan before her marriage, reached the Coast as a young girl; and in Sutter County they were married.  Prior to his coming to California, Mr. Heiken had been in New Orleans, and had gone through the cholera plague.  After coming to California, he spent some years transporting freight to and from the mines, and then spent the remainder of his life in farming.  He homesteaded land in Sutter County, and part of what he homesteaded is still held by the family.  He died in 1903 and the following year Mrs. Heiken breathed her last.

Fred Heiken obtained his early training in the public schools.  He remained on the home ranch until he was seventeen years of age, when he added to his schooling by attendance at a business college.  He then worked for a while, and afterwards went back to the college, and took a postgraduate course.  Next he entered the employ of the Natomas Company, and was with them, in their accounting department, for five years.  In the meantime, also, he was in business for himself in Folsom.  For another five years he engaged in general merchandise trade at Tudor, in Sutter County; and on selling out, he was appointed to serve as county treasurer and tax collector for the unexpired term of C. D. O’Banion, deceased, being appointed on January 3, 1922, and in the fall of 1922 he was elected to the same office for a four-year term.  Mr. Heiken is the owner of a peach orchard, which he developed from a grain-field.  Interested in civic improvement, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

MRS. LILLIE MAY NIX

 

One of California’s native daughters, Mrs. Lillie May Nix has passed her entire life within the borders of this State and has always been loyal to its interests.  For the past ten years she has been a resident of Hammonton, and in the social life of the community she fills an important place.  She was born at Oroville, in Butte County, a daughter of Fred and Mary (Klos) Kroeger, the former a native of Germany.  The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Nix came to California in 1858, locating at Stringtown, now known as Enterprise, where he embarked in merchandising, and it was there that the birth of his daughter, Mary, occurred.  Fred Kroeger followed the trade of butchering and he was also an early settler of California.  He died when the subject of this sketch was seven months old, but the mother is still living at Oroville and has reached the age of sixty-four years.  Mr. Kroeger arrived in Oroville when it was but a mining camp and opened the Ophir Meat Market, contributing substantially to the subsequent development and upbuilding of the town.  There was but one son in the family, William Kroeger.

The daughter, Lillie May, was reared in Oroville and there attended the grammar schools, afterward entering high school.  On October 5, 1905, at Sacramento, Cal., she was married to Thomas J. Nix, who was born at Cherokee, Butte County, this State, June 14, 1883.  His parents were Frederick and Margaret (Conroy) Nix, the former a native of Georgia, and the latter of Ireland.  The father became one of the early miners of Butte County and passed away about thirty years ago.  The mother is also deceased.  Eight children were born of their union, namely: Ann, Fred, Margaret, Lucy, Kate, Mamie, Thomas J. and Addie.  All are living with the exception of the daughter Mamie.

Mr. Nix obtained his education in the Cherokee Grammar School and when seventeen years of age became a wage earner.  He secured work in the mines of that locality and contributed his share toward the support of the family.  Later he went to Oroville, where he became identified with dredging operations, and has since confined his attention to that branch of activity.  Coming to Hammonton in 1913, he entered the employ of the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields and for the past four years has ably discharged the duties of dredgemaster, being considered one of the most efficient and reliable men in their service.

Mr. and Mrs. Nix have three daughters, Adeline, Mary Jane and Ruth, all of whom are high school students.  Mr. Nix is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West at Marysville and Mrs. Nix is a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West at Marysville.  He is a Democrat in his political views and his wife supports the men and measures of the Republican party.  They are deeply interested in the welfare and progress of their community and the respect which is entertained for them is well deserved.

 

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924