Alameda County Biographies

E. A. HERON

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

	One of the commanding figures of the business life of Oakland is E. A. Heron. Coming to 
California at the age of twenty-one, he has ever since made steady progress toward prominence 
and is today connected with many important interests which have made for growth and expansion. 
He has also large financial interests and has been in a large measure instrumental in making 
this city what it is today�one of the most flourishing of the Pacific coast.
	Mr. Heron was born in Galena, Illinois, in January, 1852, and acquired his education in 
the common and high schools and also in private institutions. The lure of the west induced him 
to come to California in 1873 and in 1875 he became secretary to E. C. Sessions, a well known 
banker and real-estate operator in his day. In 1876 Mr. Heron became one of the organizers of 
the Highland Park & Fruitvale Railroad and in the following year, 1877, established an extensive 
real-estate business, in which he was active for twenty-five years with ever-increasing success. 
In that connection he became acquainted with the conditions and needs of the country, acquiring 
a broad outlook as to the financial and commercial situation.  In 1889 he was one of the 
organizers and became the president of the Piedmont Cable Railroad, which was, subsequently 
absorbed by the Oakland Traction system, of which he has served continuously as president since 
its organization in 1895. Mr. Heron has displayed extraordinary executive ability and succeeded 
in building up one of the most perfect systems in the state. He has also other important financial 
interests. He was one of the organizers and until recently the president of the San Francisco, 
Oakland & San Jose Consolidated Railway, now known as the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railroad 
Company, and is vice president of the Realty Syndicate. He is also a director in the Oakland Hotel 
Company.
	In 1892 Mr. Heron married Miss Elizabeth L. Dudley, of Stockton, California, and they have 
two sons, William D. and Ernest A. Mr. Heron is prominent in Masonry, being a member of Oakland 
Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M.; and Oakland Commandery, No. 11, K. T. Careful of his own interests, he 
has always considered those of others and never loses sight of the effect his activities have upon 
the general welfare. He is deeply convinced of the great future in store for California and his 
city and exhibits a healthy enthusiasm which he makes effective in promoting public enterprises of 
worth. He has well earned the proud American title of self-made man and has taken his place among 
the foremost railroad men and financiers on the coast, having brought about his elevation to the 
high and important office he now holds entirely by his own efforts.

Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914, p. 577