Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 14.
 
HENRY ZORN

     who is one of the large land owners in Marion county and who resides a
quarter of a mile north of Champoeg, was born in Portland in 1880, his parents
being Adam and Christina (Sohler) Zorn, the former a native of Hesse, Germany,
and the latter of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The mother's birth occurred in 1852 and
her father was a native of Prussia. Adam Zorn, whose birth occurred in 1841,
came to America with his father in 1853. Immediately upon their arrival in New
York they set out for Wisconsin, and located at Baraboo. The father lived a more
or less retired life. Adam Zorn was one of five children, the others being:
Henry, who is married and makes his home in Hesse, Germany; Casper and Mrs.
Annie Hoefer, both deceased; and Mrs. Catherine Hirsching, who resides at
Baraboo. Wisconsin. To Mr. and. Mrs. Adam Zorn three children were born: Henry,
the subject of this review; Clara, the wife of Isaac Van Dandaigue, of St. Paul,
Oregon; and Adam, deceased. Adam Zorn, the father of our subject, was engaged in
farming until the family removed to Oregon, making the trip via the Isthmus of
Panama and going directly to Portland. His brother Casper and sister Annie had
preceded him to Oregon, settling at Champoeg, where the sister's husband. John
Hoefer, was a carpenter. Casper Zorn worked as a farm hand and his father, the
grandfather of our subject, made his home with him until the time of his death,
which occurred in 1878. Adam Zorn, the father, was married in 1878 and at that
time removed to Portland, where he conducted a restaurant until the death of his
wife ten years later. Subsequently he continued his residence in that city until
his death in January, 1909.
     Casper Zorn and John Hoofer purchased a farm in Champoeg but the former
sold out and removed to Idaho, where he opened and operated a hotel at the
Orafine mines in partnership with C. W. King, of Olds, Worthman & King, of
Portland. They continued in this business until the mining excitement subsided.
They had made considerable money and after selling out Casper Zorn returned to
Champoeg, where in 1862 he purchased a mill in partnership with his
brother-in-law, John Hoefer, on Mission creek, near Champoeg. For eighteen years
they were engaged in operating this mill and during that time Mr. Zorn also
engaged in the real-estate and loan business. Afterward they became interested
in farming and until their deaths they shared equally in the profits of their
various enterprises. The house which they built. upon their farm was at that
time the finest in this part of the country and is still considered one of the
most substantial and best built residences in Marion county. Mr. Hoefer's death
occurred in 1909 and his property was left to thirty-three heirs, and Casper
Zorn's death occurred in March of the following year, his property being left to
four heirs.
     Henry Zorn received one thousand acres from his uncle, upon which he is now
residing, and the value of his holdings amounts to nearly one hundred and
seventy-five thousand dollars. Four hundred of the six hundred and thirty acres
upon which he resides is in a high state of cultivation, being devoted to grain
and hop raising, and he also raises cattle, specializing in Jersey cows and fine
hogs. He has at times given special attention to breeding fine horses. The place
is fully equipped with water works and a lighting system, and has modern and
commodious barns and a comfortable dwelling house.
     On the 28th of November, 1898, in Oregon City, Mr. Zorn was married to Miss
Alfrieda Meyer, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Frederick) Meyer, of Oregon City,
both of whom were natives of Hamburg, Germany. Upon their arrival in New York
they left immediately for Oregon, where Mr. Meyer was employed in the woolen
mills in Oregon City. He retired from active business in 1899 and his death
occurred in 1911, the mother having died one year previously.  Mrs. Zorn, whose
birth occurred in 1880, was one of four children: Martha, who is residing
in Oregon City; one who died in infancy; and Augusta, also residing in Oregon
City. To Mr. and Mrs. Zorn three children have been born: Alfrieda Marie, who
passed away in infancy; Marie, whose birth occurred July 5, 1908; and Catherine,
who was born February 8, 1910.
     In politics Mr. Zorn has always been very active and gives his support to
the republican party, but since holding the, office of justice of the peace for
one term has not sought further offices. He holds membership in the Roman
Catholic church. He is public-spirited and takes an interest in all that
pertains to the welfare of his community and does what he can to further the
progress of those movements which he thinks will do most to raise the social,
moral and intellectual standards of the district.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.