Bio- Coast Counties
SURNAMES: RAHN
A popular and successful business an of San Jose, Louis Henning is
numbered among the substantial, progressive and enterprising citizens
upon whom the commercial prestige of the city may safely rest.
Since 1885 he has been a resident of this place and for nearly this
entire period has been associated with the meat market which now
claims his attention. Born in Hamburg, germany, September 22,
1886, he was the youngest of three children, of whom August and Maria
are now residents of Hamburg/ His parents, F. W. L, and
Christine Henning, were both natives of Germany, the former born in
Mecklenburg and the latter Launeburg. The father was a butcher by
trade, and after his death, when Louis Henning was about eighteen years
old, the business passed in tot he hands of August, a younger son, who
is now conducting a wholesale trade in the old location . Mrs.
Henning survives her husband and still makes her home in Hamburg.
In his native city Louis Henning was reared to the age of fifteen
years, attending and graduating from the high school of Hamburg with an
excellent foundation for the business life which he hoped to
follow. A most important part of his education was a thorough
course of instruction in the English language, which proved of great
benefit to him during the first years of his residence in
America, to which he immigrated in January, 1881. Upon his
arrival in the western world he came at once to Sacramento, Cal., where
he secured employment at his trade. Later deciding to take up
ranching he engaged in this occupation near Cottonwood creek, Tehama
county, for eighteen months, when, in 1885, he removed to San Jose,
determining to make this city his home. Unable to secure
employment at his trade he accepted any work he could find for the
first eight months of his residence here, and at length he obtained a
position as butcher with Henry Dietz. He remained with Mr. Dietz
for about eighteen months, when, in 1887, he engaged in business for
himself, first being located on the corner of Tenth and Santa Clara
streets and afterward buying out the interest of his old employer, Mr.
Dietz, who was located on Santa Clara street, between Fourth and Fifth
streets. For about twelve years he conducted his business in that
location and in 1901 bought property and erected the handsome and
commodious brick building in which he is now located, the dimensions of
the building being 38 x 137 feet. He has also a well-equipped
sausage factory run by electricity and with all modern and up-to-date
improvements, and in the basement under his store he packs considerable
pork In addition to this property he also owns a
comfortable residence in the city.
In San Jose Mr. Henning was united in marriage with Anna Rahn, a native
of Schleswig, Germany, and them were born three children, namely:
Louis, Jr., Alma and Edna, who died at the age of seven years. A
man of progressive ideas and public spirit, Mr. Henning has been the
choice of the people for various offices, among them being a
member of the board of police and fire commissioners of the city of San
Jose, receiving the appointment through Major Worswick in March,
1904. Fraternally he is associated with the Odd Fellows, of which
he is past noble grand; the Encampment; the Turnverien, of which he is
past officer and ex-state officer; and Red Men, of which he is
past chancellor. He is a member of the Merchants' Association,
and was a prime mover in the organization of the butchers' board of
trade, of which he acted as treasurer during its existence.
Politically he is a Republican and is active in the councils of his
party.
transcribed by cdf
History of the
State of California of Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California- Guinn, 1904, page 440
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHY PROJECT
SANTA CLARA COUNTY-- THE VALLEY OF HEART's
DELIGHT