Charles M. Kranz Biography


	This biography appears on pages 460-461 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CHARLES M. KRANZ. 

	Charles M. Kranz, an active business man of Watertown, handling 
insurance and real estate, has continued in that line since 1894 and 
has secured a large and gratifying clientage. Minnesota claims him as a 
native son, his birth having occurred in Dakota county, that state, on 
the 28th of November, 1865, his parents being Matthew and Margaretta 
Kranz. The family came to South Dakota in 1879, the father, however, 
having arrived in the state two years before. He homesteaded in 
Codington county, securing the southwest quarter of section 34, 
township 116, range 51. He also secured as a tree claim the northeast 
quarter of section 4, township 115, range 51, in Hamlin county. He 
afterward acquired other land, becoming owner of the entire section 3, 
and, bending his energies to agricultural pursuits, he continued the 
cultivation and improvement of his farm until 1897, transforming wild 
land into richly productive fields and making of a once barren tract a 
splendidly wooded place with the many trees he set out, thus adding 
much to the attractive appearance of the landscape. Year after year he 
carefully and successfully tilled the soil and then retired to 
Watertown, where he is still living at a ripe old age. His wife passed 
away on the 3d of June, 1914, when about eighty years of age, and Mr. 
Kranz is now eighty-four. There were ten children in their family, of 
whom seven are yet living. 

	In the country schools Charles M. Kranz pursued his education and 
after his school days were over, assisted his father in the work of the 
home farm until 1891. He was a youth of fourteen years when he came 
with the mother and the other children of the family to South Dakota, 
where he has resided continuously since. Working with his father on the 
farm for a number of years, he removed in 1891 to Kranzburg, a town 
named in honor of his father, who had built the hotel there. Charles M. 
Kranz embarked in the grocery business, conducting his store until 
1894. He then located in Watertown, where he engaged in his present 
business, opening a real-estate and insurance office and in the 
interval, covering two decades, he has built up an extensive business, 
negotiating many important realty transfers. His operations have placed 
him among the leading real estate men in his section of the state and 
he has also written a large amount of insurance annually, so that his 
business has for some time been on a very substantial basis. 

	Mr. Kranz was united in marriage to Miss Emma Schultz, a daughter 
of Andrew M. and Annie Schultz, the wedding being celebrated in 
Kranzburg, South Dakota, on the 2d of August, 1892. Their children are 
Edward J. and Esther M. The religious faith of the family is that of 
the Catholic church and Mr. Kranz belongs to the Knights of Columbus, 
in which organization he has held office, and also to Cretin Council, 
No. 858, Catholic Order of Foresters. He also belongs to the Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His 
political allegiance is given to the republican party and while he has 
not sought the honors and emoluments of office he is interested in 
everything that pertains to the welfare and progress of city, county 
and state whether along political or other lines. He has worked 
earnestly for the benefit and upbuilding of Watertown, cooperating in 
many movements for the general good and his efforts have been effective 
and far-reaching. Moreover, he has gained for himself an enviable 
reputation in business circles as a man thoroughly reliable and 
enterprising and is held in high esteem wherever he is known.