Franz Kruschke
Finding Franz in the records wasn't easy. As it turns out, the early 20th century census takers were notorious for typos.
In the 1910 Federal Census for Multnomah County, Oregon, you won't find a Franz Kruschke. Instead, you’ll find a boy indexed under the botched name "Frantz Krusch." He was living with his parents, William (a German immigrant working as a fruit farmer) and Mary, alongside his 14 year old older sister, Freda.
By the 1920 census, Franz was working as a laborer on the family farm.
Franz eventually settled down in Clackamas County, Oregon, and married a woman named Anah.
Franz became an exceptionally talented plant breeder, experimenting with evergreen shrubs. In 1948, he successfully cultivated a brand new hybrid seedling that produced dense, emerald-green foliage and magnificent, deeply saturated reddish-purple blossoms with rich burgundy splotches.
In honor of his wife, Franz officially registered the plant under her name: the Rhododendron 'Anah Kruschke'. It had rugged durability, earning it a reputation as an iron clad plant. It could grow in tough conditions where others failed.
In 1973, a nursery in Canby, Oregon, introduced the plant to a wider market and it instantly became a staple of American landscaping.
Unfortunately, I can't find any record of his death so it's unknown when and where he passed away. Even though he's gone now, his loving tribute to his wife will live forever and I'm thankful his photo made it's way into my collection.
