California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


LAURITZ LAURITZEN. The manufacturing interests of Fresno are given added prestige by the 
business known as the Krog, Lauritzen Company, an incorporation engaged in the manu- 
facture of carriages, wagons, agricultural implements, etc., as well as carrying on general 
black-smithing. The president of this concern is Lauritz Lauritzen, who was born near Apenrade, 
Schleswig, Germany, October 6, 1867, the youngest in a family of two daughters and one son, 
and the only one in America. His father, Laue Lauritzen, was a sailor who, in 1849, left his 
ship at San Francisco and with three brothers engaged in mining for eight or nine years. He 
met with success and finally returned home with sufficient means to purchase a ship, when he 
engaged in a coasting trade until his death at the age of fifty-two years. His wife, formerly Mata 
Crag, was born 'in Schleswig, Germany, the descendant of an old family of that section, where 
her death also occurred. 

Lauritz Lauritzen was reared in the old seaport town of Gjenner, receiving his education in the 
common schools. At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade 
after the completion of which he continued at his trade in different parts of Germany. In 
November, 1880, he came to America, locating in Racine, Wis., until July of the following year, 
when he came to California and in Fresno entered the employ of H. Ahrensberg. At a later 
date he worked for G. Brainard for four years, in the location of his present business, purchas- 
ing then an interest with H. Ahrensberg on K street. He eventually bought the lot on the corner 
of Fresno and H streets, where he began the manufacture of carriages and followed a general 
blacksmithing business. In 1903 the business was incorporated under the title of H. Ahrensberg 
& Co. Shortly afterward Mr. Ahrensberg retired from the firm, when it was incorporated as the 
Krog, Lauritzen Company, with Mr. Lauritzen as president. Their business has continued profitably 
since and is one of the important industries of the city of Fresno. Mr. Lauritzen has also built a 
residence at No. 180 Valeria street. 

In Fresno Mr. Lauritzen was united in marriage with Anna Christine Jorgensen, a native of 
Shelland, Denmark, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Louisa, Laura and 
William. Fraternally Mr. Lauritzen is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
belonging also to the Encampment, and the Dania Society of California, of which he is ex-presi- 
dent. He is a Republican politically and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, taking an 
active interest in all public movements which have for their end the enhancing of the general 
welfare.