Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Kraenick, Edward J. October 12, 1879 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com July 4, 2010, 7:09 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 485 - 486 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company EDWARD J. KRAENICK. A business institution of which Portland has just reason to be proud is the Portland Electrotype and Stereotype Company, which is the largest concern in its line north of San Francisco and west of Minneapolis. This flourishing business has been developed under the able and efficient management of Edward J. Kraenick, president of the company, whose technical ability and progressive methods have enabled him to produce a quality of work and render a service which have been greatly appreciated by the trade. The Portland Electrotype and Stereotype Company was established in 1907 by P. A. Gay, John Waugh, both of whom are now deceased, and Mr. Kraenick, who took over the plant from the American Type Foundry Company, which had established it about 1892. Mr. Kraenick bought out his partners and was the sole owner of the business until June 1, 1927, when it was incorporated, at which time he became president and manager. The company makes lead molds, nickeltypes, electrotypes, stereotypes, multigraphs and curved plates of all kinds, advertising plates, matrix and wax ruling. The plant was first located at 2451/2 Stark street, was later moved to 92 Front street, and in 1920 came to its present location in the Graphic Arts building, at Ninth and Couch streets, where it occupies the entire second floor. There are fourteen employees, twelve of whom are highly skilled, and the weekly payroll amounts to six hundred and seventy dollars. The plant has been operated as a union shop from the beginning. The equipment is in all respects of the most modern type, including an electric boiler that develops thirty pounds of steam at less cost than with gas service, this boiler, which operates automatically, having been designed and built here. The metal used is melted by electric heat, and this company makes electrotype shells in thirty-five minutes, a record not equalled west of New York city. The plant represents an investment of over sixty-five thousand dollars and the company is prepared to promptly and satisfactorily handle any size job. It has many large contracts, including the making of the plates for the Portland telephone directory each year, and all of the leading manufacturers and business houses using plates are patrons of this concern, which has extended its field of operations to include the entire northwest and a number of foreign countries. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Kraenick is a director of the Columbia Tire and Rubber Corporation and the Katmi Packing Company, of Uzinki, Alaska. Edward J. Kraenick was born in Winona, Minnesota, on the 12th of October, 1879, and is a son of Joseph and Anna Kraenick, whose families were pioneer settlers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. His father was long engaged in railroad work in the east, but in 1886 came to Oregon, locating first at The Dalles, and in the following year at Portland, to which city the mother came in 1888. The father is now retired from active work and still lives in this city. Edward J. Kraenick received his education in Portland, graduating from the Clinton Kelly public school and the high school, after which he was for a time employed in a machine shop. Later he learned the stereotyping business, in which line of work he was employed on the Portland Telegram and the Oregonian for eleven years, or until 1907, when he became identified with his present business. He has given painstaking attention to the individual needs of his patrons, has at all times insisted on the highest quality of work, and has specialized in prompt service, so that he has a well established reputation for dependability. In 1902 Mr. Kraenick was united in marriage to Miss May Tomlinson, who was born and reared in Portland, of which city her father, Perry Tomlinson, was a pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Kraenick have two daughters: Alice, who in 1923 won the popularity contest at the Shrine circus, is now the wife of Laurence Skipton, of Corvallis, Oregon; and Lucile, who was the model for the Rose Festival poster in 1924, is the wife of David Peterson, who is associated in business with Mr. Kraenick. In his political views, Mr. Kraenick is a stanch republican and has shown a deep interest in public affairs relating to the welfare and prosperity of his community. He is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken the degrees of both York and Scottish rites; is a life member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Portland Rowing Club, and also belongs to the Advertising Club, the Agenda Club, the Rosarians and the Club of Printing House Craftsmen. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability enter very largely into his makeup and have been contributing elements to the abundant success which has come to him, and in the business circles of Portland he is regarded as one of its solid and substantial men, worthy of the confidence and respect of all. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/kraenick1207gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb