California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


GEORGE RANDRUP. � An enterprising citizen who left railroading 
for agricultural pursuits in Fresno County, is George Randrup, born near 
Dalby, Denmark, on September 6, 1870, the son of Jorgen Randrup, a farmer, 
who had married Anna Vinfeldt. Both parents died where they had lived 
their honorable and useful lives. They had eight children, and six of these 
are now living. 

Brought up on the farm at home, George, the oldest of those still alive, 
attended the public school and assisted his father until he was eighteen years 
of age. Then, in May, 1888, he started for the United States and settled at 
Laramie, Wyo., where he was employed at railroading on the Union Pacific. 
After twenty-three months he was made foreman of the section between Lar- 
amie and Fort Rawlins, and there he made an enviable record. In 1896 he 
resigned to return to Denmark, having previously been married in Laramie ; 
and he bought a farm near his old Danish home, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising. The wife he chose, in 1891, was Miss Gyda Ostergaard 
before her marriage, also a native of Denmark, and an especially helpful 
companion. He continued to farm in Denmark until 1908; and in November 
of that year he sold out and returned to the United States. He located at 
Ogden and returned to railroading under the same old roadmaster, John Mc- 
Entee of the Oregon Short Line, who made him foreman between Ogden 
and Salt Lake. For three years he resided at Kaysville and served the com- 
pany in his conscientious manner. 

At the end of three years, attracted by the advantages of Fresno, he 
resigned and located here. He rented a ranch and engaged in the cattle 
business in Tulare County,' near Dinuba. He also had a dairy and raised 
cattle. In February, 1914, he located in the Houghton district and leased 
two ranches � one a vineyard and orchard of eighty acres, owned by J. H. 
Hudson, and also forty acres planted to alfalfa. He had a dairy and also car- 
ried on horticulture and viticulture. 

In 1917, Mr. Randrup bought the Owen & Kennedy ranch of eighty 
acres, and also a forty-acre alfalfa ranch, making his entire holding 120 acres, 
most of which is in alfalfa. He is raising hay and cattle and running one of 
the most sanitary and up-to-date dairies in California. His ranch is eleven 
miles northwest of Fresno, and a show-place it certainly is for those who 
would desire to study successful dairy-farming. He is a stockholder in the 
Danish Creamery Association, and a member of both the California Asso- 
ciated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc., and also of 
the Danish Brotherhood. 

Seven children are still living to bless Mr. and Mrs. Randrup : Carl is 
in the oil-field at Taft; John served in the United States Navy; Jacob is assist- 
ing his father ; and there are Andrew, James, Margaret and Mary � all of 
whom, like their excellent parents, have many friends.