Charles Krug (1825 - 1892)

Born 1 Mar 1825 in Trendelburg, Landkreis Kassel, Hesse, Germany

Died 31 Oct 1892 at age 67 in St. Helena, Napa, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Ryan [send private message]

Biography

Charles Krug is variously credited with being the first commercial winemaker in California (1858), and opening the first public tasting room (1882). He was known for an innovative scientific approach to winemaking and for insisting that the industry would be best served by never producing cheap, low-quality wine.

Charles Krug was born in 1825. He came to the United States in 1847 and became a citizen in 1852, according to WikiPedia.^[1] Another article has different details, saying that he was imprisoned in 1848 and came to American in 1851. In any case, his arrival coincided with the beginning of high quality commercial wine production in California, and he is considered one of the leaders in that development. ^[2]

In 1860 he married Carolina Bale. On land she brought to the marriage he started the winery which still bears his name today, under other ownership.

In the 1870 census Charles was in Calistoga Judicial Township, Napa, California, United States. "Solita" in the transcription should be "Lolita".^[3]

In the 1880 census Charles was in St Helena, Napa, California, United States. The family has added son Carl (5) since 1870.^[4]

Krug died in 1892, less than a year after his wife.^[5][6]

Notes

His birthplace appears as either Germany or Prussia, but it appears that Prussia did not annex the Kassel region until 1866.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. (2021, June 24). Charles Krug. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:34, October 16, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Krug&oldid=1030126942
2. ↑ When the valley met the vine: A perfect storm, and the big five Napa Valley Register, 3 Jul 2009 and 26 May 2009. Accessed online 16 Oct 2021.
3. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   FamilySearch (accessed 16 October 2021)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00017
   Charles Krug, 1870.
4. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   Citing enumeration district ED 76, sheet 403D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,069.
   FamilySearch (accessed 16 October 2021)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00814
   Charles Krug, St Helena, Napa, California, United States
5. ↑ Death Registration: "California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000"
   FamilySearch (accessed 16 October 2021)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00089
   Chas. Krug, 1892.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126751168/charles-krug : accessed 16 October 2021), memorial page for Charles Krug (1 Mar 1825–31 Oct 1892), Find A Grave: Memorial #126751168, citing Saint Helena Cemetery, Saint Helena, Napa County, California, USA ; Maintained by BluMoKitty (contributor 46830270) .