Lindrose, Charles

Born in Kongsberg, Norway, in 1870, Charles Lindrose was the third-eldest child born to Ole and Bertha Kathrina (Foshagen) Lindrose. After completing his schooling and working four years in a Norwegian paper manufactory, Lindrose immigrated to California in 1889, joining his half-brother, M. J. Lindrose—a pioneer of Washington Colony—in Fresno County. He initially worked for local ranchers before entering the real estate and horticultural development field, improving and profitably selling multiple orchard and vineyard properties in Easton, Dinuba, and near Reedley.

In April 1908, Lindrose acquired fifteen acres of raw land on Belmont Avenue, three and a half miles west of Fresno in the McKinley district. Through subsequent purchases in 1909 and later years, he expanded the home place to thirty acres, planting peaches, apricots, alfalfa, and fifteen acres of Thompson Seedless and Muscat grapes, while erecting a residence and farm buildings. Married in June 1909 to Lena Dahl, a native of Trondhjem, Norway, with whom he had four children (Frank, Evelyn, Earl, and Katherine), Lindrose was an independent voter and an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company.