John F. Krenz, whose farming interests comprise two hundred and sixty-three acres of valuable land in San Joaquin county, is a native of Atlantic county, New Jersey, born on the 3d of April, 1861. His parents were Emil H. and Dorathea E. Krenz. The father, a native of Prussia, was born September 18, 1835, and is one of the representative German-American citizens of San Joaquin county, now making his home in Stockton. For many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits along the San Joaquin river, near Brandt's Bridge, where he settled in the '80s, and on his retirement from farm life he took up his abode in Stockton, where he is now resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He remained a resident of his native country until after he had attained his majority, and on crossing the Atlantic settled at Baltimore, Maryland. Later he removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and afterward went to Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where he resided for many years or until he came to the Pacific coast, settling in San Joaquin county. He was a tanner by trade, and the earlier years of his business career were devoted to that occupation, but afterward he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and continued to engage in the tilling of the soil until his retirement to private ife. He has been very successful in business, and moreover he owes his prosperity entirely to his capable management and unfaltering diligence, his life record proving what can be accomplished by determined and earnest effort.

Emil H. Krenz has been married twice, and of his children John F. Krenz alone survives. The mother has also passed away. The father is a Democrat and is a public-spirited citizen, who has the deepest attachment for his adopted country and her institutions. He is most loyal to her interests, and in the community where he makes his home has contributed in appreciable measure to the general welfare and upbuilding.

John F. Krenz has been a permanent resident of California since the early '80s. He located in San Francisco and there followed the tanner's trade for a number of years. In 1891 he came to San Joaquin county and settled on his ranch at the Garden schoolhouse. Here he owns two hundred and sixty-three acres of land which is rich and arable and which he has cultivated until now excellent crops are annually garnered in return for the labor he bestows upon the fields. He is a man of resourceful business ability and unfaltering determination, and carries to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

On the 1st of November, 1899, Mr. Krenz was united in marriage to Miss Annie Hornung, who was born in San Francisco, California, and was reared in Stockton. She is a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gaul) Hornung, now of Stockton, and by her marriage she has become the mother of two children, Robert H. and Elsie. Both Mr. and Mrs. Krenz have a wide acquaintance in San Joaquin county and enjoy the high regard of many friends. He gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, but the honors and emoluments of public office have no attraction for him, as he prefers to devote his energies to his business affairs, which, being capably managed, have been the basis of well earned and richly merited prosperity.

Source: History of the New California Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine