History of Fresno County, Vol. 5 - Paul E. Vandor

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later erected a steam plant on Brannan Street. Here he made furniture of all kinds and had a trade throughout California and in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, and in the Sandwich Islands, and employed some seventy-five experienced workmen. He carried on this business successfully until 1887, when on account of ill health, caused by such close application to the business, he had to leave the city.

      In 1881, Mr. Granz had bought a tract of land in Fresno County adjoining the Eisen vineyard; at that time it was raw and undeveloped, and from time to time he set out vines, and when the railroad (which paralleled his land) was completed to Clovis, he had a flourishing vineyard. In 1885 he built a winery and began making wine. In 1887 he left San Francisco and settled on his land and thereafter gave his attention to the manufacturing of high grade wines for which he had built up a good business. This was one of the pioneer wineries in Fresno County. The capacity of the plant was increased from time to time until it had a capacity of 250.000 gallons. Mr. Granz erected a large modern country home, beautified the grounds and in time his became one of the show places on Belmont Avenue, east of Fresno. His example was followed by others and soon the section became one of the most attractive and productive in the county. Later he acquired an eighty-acre vineyard and winery near Dinuba, which is now a part of the Granz estate. This winery has a capacity of 300.000 gallons and is modernly equipped. Optimistic and a firm believer in the wonderful possibilities and future greatness of the City of Fresno, Mr. Granz invested in city property, now owning four business blocks two of which he erected, besides having other business interests in various places. On June 17, 1913, all of the property was incorporated as the Granz Estate, Mr. Granz being president.

      The marriage uniting Herman Granz with Adelaide Bauhofer, a native of Austria, was celebrated in New York. To them have been born eight children: Carl T., vice-president of the Granz Estate and superintendent of the Dinuba Winery; Edward H., secretary of the estate and superintendent of the Fresno plant; Emil, deceased: O. J.; Mrs. Hermina Saier; Mrs. Sophie Gilbert; Adelaide, wife of Dr. F. L. R. Burks; and Clara. Mr. Granz was bereaved of his wife on April 3, 1919, and she was mourned by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Granz is a Republican, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and as a man and citizen is an upbuilder and devoted to the interests of Fresno County and liberally supports all movements for its development. He often extends a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself, and has made and retains a large circle of friends.

      CHESTER C. CRANE.

      This sketch furnishes a splendid example of the business career of what is commonly termed "a self-made man." From a small beginning, C. C. Crane, the enterprising proprietor of the Eagle Laundry, of Fresno, has mounted the ladder of success, rung by rung, until today he has reached the top of the ladder in his chosen line, and has one of the largest and most modern steam laundries in the San Joaquin Valley; employing about fifty people inside and seven drivers of auto deliveries.

      Chester C. Crane is a native of the City of Fresno, born December 30, 1881, on K Street; son of Edgar Crane, a native of Illinois, who crossed the plains in the early 60's, locating at Fresno. He was a carpenter by trade and built the first modern house in Fresno: also the Cooper House and the Ackers Building on K Street. Mr. Edgar Crane died in Fresno aged sixty years; his widow survived several years, dying when forty-two years old.

      Chester C. Crane attended the public school of his native city, and as a boy assisted his father in the building business, later following the trade of a butcher. On October 7, 1895, he accepted a position in a laundry, and for five years worked in the Grand Central Laundry, which was located in the rear of the Grand Central Hotel, afterwards working in different laundries in Fresno, where he gained a thorough knowledge of the business in all its branches. In 1909 Mr. Crane started in business for himself, having built for the purpose, a small wooden building, twenty-four by fifty-five feet in size, in the rear of his home at 328 Thesta Street. As the business increased, he took in rooms from his home, until he added the entire house, using the front porch as an office. In the early days of the business Mr. Crane did all of the work, most of it being done by hand. In 1914 he erected a small brick building on the site of the old home, which was razed to make room for the expanding business. Since then he has been compelled to again enlarge his building, and now has one of the largest and most modern steam laundry plants in the San Joaquin Valley. He named his laundry after the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, of which organization he is an honored member. While Mr. Crane was working for wages, he decided in his mind if he ever was fortunate enough to get into business for himself, he would pay his help the highest wages and require the shortest number of hours for a day's work. His laundry is a "Union Shop" and to his interest in the welfare of his employees, together with good work and prompt service, he attributes his success in business. The Eagle Laundry has agencies established all through the valley. The sanitary conditions at the laundry are the highest, and the machinery of the plant new and modern.

      Chester C. Crane was united in marriage with Anna Lindstrom, a native of Easton, Fresno County, and this happy union has been blessed with two children: Lester, born July 25, 1904, a graduate from the grammar school, March, 1919; and Lorine, born October 11, 1906, attending the public school. Through sheer industry and perseverance, Mr. Crane has achieved the success which he rightfully enjoys today.

      GEORGE P. DYREBORG.

      When the full history of the wonderful development of Central California shall have been written, few names will deserve more honorable mention than that of George P. Dyreborg, the prominent viticulturist, and influential member of the highly intelligent group of Danish-Americans, long among the most substantial citizens of our State. He was born in Bred-Funen, Denmark, March 7, 1870, and from his eleventh year made his own way in the world. He attended the public school until he was fourteen, at the same time he worked on a farm, and at sixteen years of age he started to learn the creamery business in the cooperative creamery. Then he came to Jutland and Horsensfjord, and completed his apprenticeship at Bornholm. At the same time he studied English under a private teacher.

      In 1891, Mr. Dyreborg crossed the Channel to England and went to Droitwich, Worcestershire, intending to learn the art of cheese-making, but was disappointed in the equipment of the place, and so he remained three or four months in the service of a horseman at the breeding stables. At the end of six months he left to learn gardening, and worked for Lord Hindlip for a year. Then he crossed the Atlantic for New York and made his way west to Chicago and the World's Fair; and after that he came west to Fresno, arriving on May 28, 1893.

      Here he worked as a farmer and vineyardist in Washington Colony, south of Fresno, until the fall of 1893, when tiring of this, he went to the foothills in Madera County, where he prospected from place to place, and having made a somewhat precarious living he returned to Fresno in the spring of 1895. Times were hard and he worked on vineyards for as little as fifty cents a day and board. Later he was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad for a time.

      In the spring of 1896, Mr. Dyreborg rented a vineyard of twenty acres set out to muscat vines. This same year he was married, in Fairfield, Solano County, to Mrs. Maggie Johansen Bidstruc, a native of Bornholm, with whom he had been acquainted in Denmark. He continued to manage a vineyard in the Jefferson district, and he bought crops and made some money during the summer of 1896. He bought his present place of forty acres in the Enterprise Colony for $1,550, and soon after began to improve it, and moved onto it.

      Having laid out the acreage, Mr. Dyreborg built his new residence in 1902, and now has eighteen acres of Malaga grapes, fourteen acres of muscats, and the balance of the tract in orchards and alfalfa, with a fine border of fig trees. The ranch is under the Enterprise Canal, and the irrigation is practically perfect. In 1904 he commenced to ship his Malaga grapes and later he was both buying and shipping. He bought eighty-four acres in the Kutner Colony, which he improved with vines, setting out Emperors, muscat and wine grapes, and he has about twenty acres finely improved. He has always supported the various fruit associations, and now belongs to the California Associated Raisin Company. For nine years he was a member of the board of directors of the Fresno-Rochdale Company.

      Mr. and Mrs. Dyreborg have three sons: Lewis B., who did his best to win the

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