California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


HENRY DAVID HECKENDORF.� It was not until about twelve 
years ago that there was a blacksmith business established on the Willits 
road between Ukiah and Calpella, as no one had thought of The Forks as 
a good location. It originated in the mind of Henry D. Heckendorf that it 
was a good opening, and the result of his success demonstrates the fact that 
his judgment was not wrong, for he has a large trade reaching over a wide 
scope of country. 

Henry D. Heckendorf was born in Farmersburg, Clayton county, Iowa, 
February 25, 1875, the son of Louis Heckendorf, who was born in Wisconsin. 
The latter's parents came from Germany and were seventeen weeks crossing 
the Atlantic ocean on a sailer. During this time provisions ran short and the 
passengers were put on very short rations during the latter part of the voyage. 

Louis Heckendorf was a blacksmith in Clayton county, Iowa, where he 
married Minnie Englehardt, who was born in Germany and came with her 
parents to Iowa when she was seven years of age. In 1889 they brought their 
family to California and located at Calpella, Mendocino county, where the 
father purchased a blacksmith shop, which he ran for many years. However, 
he also purchased land in the Coyote valley, which with the aid of his children 
he cleared and set to vineyard, and of late years he devotes all of his time 
to viticulture. 

Of the nine children born to his parents Henry D. Heckendorf is the 
second oldest. His first schooling was obtained in Iowa, where he remained 
until he was thirteen years of age, when he experienced the interesting trip 
to California. Arriving in Cloverdale, the family came in an old Concord 
coach to Mendocino county, and it was here that Henry D. completed his 
education in the public schools. While a boy in Iowa he learned the black- 
smith trade, finishing it under his father at Calpella, and in the meantime also 
helping to clear his father's farm. When twenty-two years of age he started 
for himself and worked at his trade in Lakeport, then about a year at Needle 
Rock on the coast and about the same length of time during the building of 
the railroad from Ukiah to Willits. He then put into execution the idea of 
opening 5 blacksmith shop at The Forks, three miles north of Ukiah. Leas- 
ing a half acre of ground he built a shop and soon had a successful business. 
Six years later, not being able to secure a satisfactory lease, he purchased 
eight acres opposite the Central school house, two and one-half miles north of 
Ukiah, and moved his shop on the place, also building his residence on the 
tract. He gives all of his attention to blacksmithing and horseshoeing and 
has a large and satisfactory business. His pleasing personality has brought 
to him a wide circle of friends. 

The marriage of Mr. Heckendorf occurred in Ukiah. uniting; him with 
Miss Ida Brown, who was born in Illinois, and they have one child living 
named Louella.