Berghoff was born January 6, 1856, in Dortmund, Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany), and immigrated to the United States in 1872, settling in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

However, he came under controversy for his handling of the threat of a water famine in 1901, his refusal to approve the bond of Robert B. Dreibelbiss for his appointment to the Fort Wayne Municipal Court in 1902, and his approval of an ordinance granting a municipal franchise to the Fort Wayne Electric Light and Power company in 1904.

Berghoff died on June 28, 1925, in Fort Wayne, after suffering an apoplectic stroke, survived by his wife and several children.

[3] In 1872, following the lead of his older brother Herman, Henry immigrated to the United States, and settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Henry chose to settle in Fort Wayne supposedly after he was offered a job there when the train he was aboard made a stop in the city.

"[7] By the end of his life, Henry had served as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Berghoff Brewing Company.

[7][8] Henry also entered into a partnership with Artificial Ice Company, was the proprietor of Globe Spice Mills, and was the treasurer of Phoenix Building and Savings Union.

[9] He was re-elected as treasurer of Fort Wayne twice, leaving office on August 31, 1889, after declining to seek a fourth term.

[1][10][8][11] In 1890, he sought the Democratic nomination for Indiana State Treasurer, but was defeated by businessman Albert Gall at the September 3 convention.

The Republican nominee for mayor was Charles E. Reese, a former employee of the Berghoff Brewery, local public official, and army officer.

[1] The News connected Berghoff's German heritage with authoritarianism and corruption, accusing him of being a dictatorial party boss who would run Fort Wayne akin to how Kaiser Wilhelm II ruled Germany.

Considered by the Journal-Gazette to be slander, opponents labeled him an “absolute dictator,” declaring that "the imperialistic policy assumed by Czar Berghoff is distressing to the liberty loving democratic voters".

"[1] Other issues discussed included Berghoff and the Democrats’ opposition to the power granted to the Governor of Indiana to make city appointments, the support for a municipal lighting plant, and the Democratic slogan of “home rule.” The Republican platform centered around criticism of the Scherer administration's management of the city's sewers, finances, public works, water policy, and accountability to the law.

[22][23][24][25] Immediately after taking office as mayor of Fort Wayne at noon on May 9, 1901, Berghoff appointed W. H. Shambaugh as city attorney, Joseph Fox as comptroller, and Peter Eggeman, William Doehrmann, and Henry C. Zollinger as members of the Board of Public Works.

[26] On June 15, 1901, the biennial Indiana District Turnfest (a German gymnastic festival[27]) was held in Fort Wayne.

The first challenge that Berghoff's administration encountered occurred in July 1901, with the threat of a water famine in Fort Wayne, after a fire destroyed the city's reservoir.

[30] However, it was not until February 1904 that the City Health Commissioner, Dr. A. H. Macbeth, alerted the public about the presence of typhoid bacteria in their drinking water.

[8] Berghoff presided over the completion of the construction of the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne, which had begun on November 17, 1897, during the Scherer administration.

[24] In his annual message at the end of 1903, Berghoff indicated that more work had been done for public works in 1903 than any year prior in the city's history (that year, more than 4.16 miles of street improvements had been made, nine and a half miles of sewer had been laid, some public bridges were repaired and painted, and a garbage crematory that had burned down had been rebuilt).

Berghoff's appointees, namely Oscar W. Tresselt, David N. Foster, Joseph M. Singmaster, and Ferdinard Meier, were confirmed by City Council on June 6.

rel., v. Berghoff,[39] declared valid the appointment made by Indiana Governor Winfield T. Durbin of Robert B. Dreibelbiss.

[39] Berghoff, believing the grounds for Louttit's removal were unconstitutional and illegitimate, refused to approve Dreibelbiss’ official bond required by law to serve as judge of the Fort Wayne Municipal (Police) Court, effectively blocking his appointment.

[8][39] In his annual message at the end of 1902, Berghoff stated that, from the beginning of his mayoralty, he had taken sweeping actions to restrict immorality and crime as much as possible in Fort Wayne.

[23] According to the mayor in his annual message at the end of 1903, his policies allowed for Fort Wayne to be “comparatively free from crime.”[24] On July 14, 1904, Berghoff addressed the Indiana State Bar Association at its eighth annual meeting held in Fort Wayne, where he was hailed as "the best mayor of the best city in America" by the association's president, William P.

On August 9, 1904, Berghoff was involved in a physical altercation with a saloon keeper named Willis Doolittle, with the latter being upset that his petition for a new license had been opposed by the mayor with his filing of a remonstrance.

[41]In 1905, Berghoff assisted in the creation of the German-American National Bank, where he served in various roles, including vice president and head cashier.

[43] Berghoff, deciding against running for re-election, chose to pursue the Democratic nomination for City Councilman-at-large in September 1905.

[49][50] After serving as mayor of Fort Wayne, and losing election for City Councilman-at-large, Berghoff left politics for good, and returned to business.

Berghoff held positions at Wayne Oil Tank and continued to serve as vice president of Summit City Bottle Works, renamed to "Rub-No-More Soap Company" in 1912, subsequent to his mayoralty.

[51] Berghoff died aged 69 on June 28, 1925, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, after suffering an apoplectic stroke three days before.