Hugo Kranz

Hugo Kranz was, in 1871, a founding member and director of the Economical Mutual Fire Insurance Company, manager for twelve years and president for three.

Born at Lehrbach, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, his father had been treasurer for a noble German family and brought his family to the USA in 1850 and to Berlin in 1855, where he opened a general store in partnership with Henry Stroh.

Kranz joined his father’s business in 1858 and operated it after his father’s death in 1875 until 1893.

A very public-spirited man, he became secretary of the fire department; high school board member for thirty years (twenty as secretary-treasurer); town clerk from 1859 to 1867; justice of the peace; member Board of Trade (president in 1890); reeve in 1869-70 and mayor from 1874 to 1878. He was a federal member of parliament under the Conservative banner from 1878 to 1887.