Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE FRANK
GEORGE FRANK is a leading fruit packer of San Jose,
widely known as a successful business man, and one whose large establishment is
conducted on thorough business principles, conservative yet progressive
methods, and a broad, liberal dealing which has won a wide patronage. A native
of Liverpool, England, he was born August 23, 1868, the oldest in a
family of six children, five of whom are now living, and the only one who makes
his home in America. His father, Peter Frank, was a merchant in Liverpool,
where he now lives in retirement. His wife, formerly Margaret Dutton, the
representative of an old English family, died in Liverpool.
Reared in his native city, George Frank received his
education in Liverpool College, from which institution he was graduated in
1886. After completing his college course he entered an office in Liverpool,
Crow, Rudolf & Co., shipowners of that city,
remaining with them until 1889, when in April of that year he came to San Jose,
Cal. He engaged at once in the fruit business, in 1891 setting out an orchard
of twenty acres at Cupertino, still owning that property as well as fifty acres
at Evergreen, where he has a dryer. From 1894 to 1897 he filled the position of
manager for the Castle Brothers, after which he engaged in drying and packing
fruit on his ranch. His first venture was to open a packing house on San Carlos
street, when, in 1901, he put up a packing house on Meridian road, and with a
modern equipment – steam power, the best grade of pressers, etc. – has since
carried on an extensive business. The capacity of his plant is as large as any
in the Santa Clara valley and is among the first in regard to style and
equipment. In one season he has shipped as high as three hundred carloads of
fruit, his switch from the Southern Pacific Railroad making easy
transportation.
Mr. Frank was married in Los Angeles to Margaret
Tanner, a native of Sussex, England, and two children were born of this union:
George Ross and Dorothy Margaret. They live on the corner of Emory and Chapman
streets, where a cheerful hospitality is dispensed. Mr. Frank is a
prominent man in the city and is identified with various business and social
organizations, among which are the Citizens’ Alliance, St. Clair Club and
Chamber of Commerce. Politically he is a stanch
Republican and belongs to the Episcopal Church.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 July 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1245. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.