Henry Heppner
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Henry Heppner
Henry Hoppner was born in Prussia in either 1831 or 1843.
Along the way . . .
Henry Heppner came to New York in the mid-1850’s.
In the mid-1860’s, he traveled around the Horn to San Francisco.
He started his own mercantile business in Shasta, California.
Oregon
After 18 months, Henry Heppner moved his business to Corvallis, then to The Dalles for six years.
During the Civil War years, and the opening of mines in Idaho, Happner conducted a freighting business to and from the mines.
This was not easy, as there were conflicts with the Indians of Upper Columbia River.
Heppner ran a 29-mule pack train over the “Canyon City” route, often attacked by Indians.
He discontinued his freighting business in 1872, and returned to mercantile business.
Civic
Henry Heppner settled in the small town of Standsbury Flats, Oregon, in Umatilla County, named after an earlier land owner.
He was involved in the first school newspaper, and also the first hotel.
Heppner opened his first store in 1873, with Colonel Jackson Morrow.
Their store functioned as the first Post Office.
Heppner sold out his interest 18 months later and partnered with a Mr. Maddox.
The townspeople, over his objection, renamed the town Heppner.
They also re-named their county Morrow, after the name of his first business partner in that area.
Morrow County is in the Northeast Corner of Oregon.
Farm Scene, Heppner, OR, vintage postcard
Family
Henry Heppner never married.
He had a brother, Phillip Heppner, and a sister, Fanny Blackman.
Henry Heppner died in 1905 in Heppner, Oregon at Heppner Hospital, and is buried next to his brother, Phillip. Heppner High School also bears his name.
Henry Heppner’s Gravestone
Source
“Biography of Henry Hapner,” Access Genealogy, http://www.accessgenealogy.com/oregon/biography-of-henry-heppner.htm
Gladys Sturman is curator for this Henry Heppner exhibit.
Thank You to Jean Creswick for correcting town and county names.