Laugesen, Lauge

Lauge Laugesen was born on July 1, 1875, at Brorup, Jylland, Denmark, to parents Christian and Catherine Laugesen. Reared in his native land, he learned the blacksmith trade and briefly operated a shop with his brother Anton before immigrating to California in 1902. Upon arriving in Fresno County, he worked as a blacksmith in Rolinda, Fresno, and the Kutner Colony before managing M. Theo. Kearney’s blacksmith shop for four years.

By 1910, Lauge purchased thirty acres of land in Rolinda, where he established a blacksmith shop, carriage and wagon works, auto repair business, and vineyard. He married Christene Nielsen in Fresno on October 25, 1903, and together they raised two children named Gladys and Einar. A member of the Danish Brotherhood and the Lutheran Church, he became a highly respected community figure and successful agricultural producer in Fresno County.